New Vrindaban is named after the holy land of Vrindavan in India where Lord Krishna, the Supreme Lord, resided more than five thousand years ago. Till today, Vrindavan is a pilgrimage site for thousands of Krishna devotees from all over the world who pursue the path of devotion to God. 

In 1965, Srila Prabhupada, an elderly monk and an astute scholar of the ancient Vedic scriptures, came to the United States to share the knowledge of God from these primeval texts. In a few years he spread the name of “Hare Krishna” throughout America, giving people a universal message of connecting with God through the chanting of God’s names. 

​

In 1968, when Srila Prabhupada heard about a 133-acre plot of land in the lush countryside of West Virginia, he was reminded of Krishna’s holy land of Vrindavan and suggested that his followers excavate and work on the land and build the first Hare Krishna self-sufficient community in the West. “Why not import Vrindavan to your country,” he said, “just as you have New York, New England, and so many ‘New’ duplicates of European countries in the USA?” Thus, New Vrindaban became a holy place, born from Srila Prabhupada’s eagerness to create a pilgrimage site in the West, giving people, from all backgrounds, the opportunity to connect with God in a mood of love and devotion, called Bhakti-yoga.

​

Srila Prabhupada boldly envisioned New Vrindaban as a sacred village that would be known worldwide for cow protection, simple living, holy pilgrimage, spiritual education, and, above all, loving Krishna.

This vision has manifested and now, after fifty years, New Vrindaban continues to preserve these ideals and have undertaken several projects to further implement Srila Prabhupada’s vision for a God conscious society. Plans to build seven more temples are underway, which will fulfill Srila Prabhupada’s vision of making New Vrindaban an extraordinary pilgrimage site in the West. 

​

Srila Prabhupada boldly envisioned New Vrindaban as a sacred village that would be known worldwide for cow protection, simple living, holy pilgrimage, spiritual education, and, above all, loving Krishna.

​

This vision has manifested and now, after fifty years, New Vrindaban continues to preserve these ideals and have undertaken several projects to further implement Srila Prabhupada’s vision for a God conscious society. Plans to build seven more temples are underway, which will fulfill Srila Prabhupada’s vision of making New Vrindaban an extraordinary pilgrimage site in the West. 

​