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There are fourteen cabins such as this on the New Vrindaban property. Two cabins serve as housing for community devotees, while the other twelve are part of New Vrindaban's retreat center for Hare Krishna pilgrims. Available March through November, people visiting the community may rent the retreat cabins for the weekend, week, or month and have easy access to the temple and Palace of Gold. |
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The palace lodge, traditionally known as the Dharmshalla, is the other main component of New Vrindaban's retreat center. It is a place for pilgrims to rest on their journey from one holy place to another. Many visitors to the community choose to rent rooms in the palace lodge because it is located directly across from the temple. |
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The palace lodge contains 38 guest rooms, ranging in size from four to eight beds. Modest accommodations include linens and air conditioning, with unattached, individual bathrooms located near the guest rooms. |
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The lower level of the palace lodge serves various functions for the community. It houses the lobby for the lodge, as well as Govinda's Snack Bar and a thrift store, which generate revenue for the community. There is also a large, versatile meeting room downstairs where weddings and conferences are held. |
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Located near the temple, these apartments are owned by New Vrindaban and house many of the devotees. |
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This barn is across the street from Bahulaban, the abandoned temple at New Vrindaban. The community once comprised approximately 3,000 acres at the height of its membership. Now holding less than 1,400 acres, the community has sold parcels of land to members who can then build private homes close to the community. Members have also started businesses on these lots - one, a jewelry shop and another, a vegetarian jerky company - and hired devotees. |
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This building was used for living quarters and housed a manufacturing facility. The second floor housed individuals and families in single rooms. The top floor housed shops for stained glass, chandelier making, sewing and various other crafts, while the ground floor contained the casting and molding shop. These workshops were used to make the various components of the palace. |
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Built in 1974 as a second barn, this building is near the cattle grazing fields. Krishnas practice a system of grazing called rotational grazing, which involves methodically moving cattle to different grazing fields. |
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This silo stands next to the second barn. Next to the silo there is an apple orchard, which needs heaving pruning and other care to return it to top production. It does still bear, however, and is still used by devotees. |
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This building is called the Oakdale Schoolhouse. It was the one-room schoolhouse for the pioneer farm families in the area. The Hare Krishnas added the porch-like structure onto the front in the early 1980's for use as a sculpture studio. Also, the original bell used when the building operated as a schoolhouse still hangs in the cupola. |
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Another view of the Oakdale Schoolhouse shows the long addition at the back. The addition was used as a molding shop and metal foundry during the construction of the palace at New Vrindaban. |
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A group of community residents have organized themselves into a neighborhood association and plan to renovate the Oakdale Schoolhouse for use as a community center that will be used for light entertainment. |
