Little Discoveries

I love being from West Virginia. Even with an insatiable appetite for travel, I always come home and feel grateful for the rolling hills. Like John Denver sang, “country roads, take me home, to the place I belong.” Country roads have taken me many places over the years but the one place I always end up is in the state of nausea.

My heightened state of being has always allotted me the opportunity to sit shotgun as to help curb the rolling hills blues and secure the best views. Driving home from a girls’ weekend our car quickly went from paved to gravel to dusty roads; now we were in the real country. With dust flying and pot holes swallowing the tires of my mom’s Honda Accord, we slowly crept to a stop. This wasn’t Buckingham Palace, Versailles, or the Forbidden City; we had arrived at the Palace of Gold.

There are many things to be found in the mountains of West Virginia—flora, fauna, breathtaking views—but it is a well-kept secret that there is gold on one of those hills. The midday sun perfectly peaked from the clouds to shine down on the vast mountains, lush gardens, and a building made of gold. Guarded by lion statues lining the grand entryway, the up-close examination of the palace gave way to stained glass inserts, marble walls, and, of course, gold.

The building design evolved from simple living quarters for a holy man from India to a grand residence befitting of a spiritual master built by unpaid devotees who trained themselves in traditional skills to create the dwelling. Semi-precious stones and carved teak wood guide visitors through the various rooms to tell the story of Swami Prabhupada and how the palace came to life.

Tucked beneath the ornate housing, the fragrance of wood, spices and brass transported us into an exotic Indian marketplace via the quaint gift shop. Walking through the doors, unfamiliar spices tickled our noses while goods in all colors of the rainbow danced along the racks. Authentic music floated in the air as we meandered out into the massive grounds.

The gardens were days past peak bloom but the muted beauty only added to the peacefulness of the grounds. Lilly pads larger than an elephant’s foot rested in the ponds surrounding serene fountains. Those on a journey searching for tranquility have not yet stepped foot onto this treasure.

Namaste.