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Himachal Pradesh

St. John In The Wilderness Church

St. John church in wilderness
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St. John church in wilderness
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map

January

2.4 - 20.2 °C

February

3.7 - 22.7 °C

March

6.3 - 27.6 °C

April

10.2 - 31.8 °C

May

13.5 - 35.2 °C

June

15.9 - 35.5 °C

July

17.3 - 31.0 °C

August

17.0 - 29.5 °C

September

14.6 - 29.0 °C

October

11.2 - 28.2 °C

November

7.1 - 25.2 °C

December

4.1 - 22.5 °C

Major Airports :

Kangra Airport (DHM), Kangra (Gaggal)

Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport (IXC), Chandigarh

Nearest Railway Station :

Pathankot Railway Station (PTK)

Major Airports :

Kangra Airport (DHM), Kangra (Gaggal)

Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport (IXC), Chandigarh

The enchanting forest church

Picture this: A mystical Anglican church more than 150 years old, but not in the middle of a concrete jungle but a breathtaking deodar forest! Welcome to St. John in the Wilderness Church, where spirituality meets serenity in the lap of nature.

Located near Dharamshala, on the way to McLeod Ganj, at Forsyth Gunj, this Protestant church will cast a spell on you when you enter its beautiful, untamed world. Its idyllic setting in the middle of towering trees provides a sacred space conducive to introspection and deep reflection.

Buit in 1852 and dedicated to John the Baptist, the surreal St. John in the Wilderness Church has defied the ravages of years gone by, preserving a world of astounding beauty and nostalgia inside.

Wandering through its neo-gothic halls, indulging in the symphony of colour and light from the Belgian stained-glass windows, while the tranquil sound of the majestic bell reverberates through your soul−all this creates an experience that must be felt to be believed.

Stories within the walls

It's not just the architecture or the stillness of this church that stir the soul; it's the stories that dwell within its sacred spaces. Like the time when the British soldiers found solace in this ideal sanctuary. Or the fact that this is the final resting place of Lord Elgin, an esteemed Viceroy of British India who passed away in Dharamshala in 1863; or that the famed stained-glass windows of the church were a gift from his wife.

Of course, any chronicle of St. John in the Wilderness Church is incomplete without the story of the 1905 Kangra earthquake, which snatched many lives whose remains still lie in the church's quiet graveyard. The church itself largely survived the calamity, but its bell tower was destroyed. In 1915, Mears and Stainbank cast a new bell and brought it all the way from England to be installed within the church's compound.

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Timings

Opening time - 07:00 AM

Closing time - 06:00 PM

Beyond the church

From the thrilling Kareri Lake trek to the breathtaking Triund Hill trek to the refreshing Bhagsu Waterfall, you will find many places in the church's vicinity to make for a memorable trip. Before bidding farewell, don't forget to wander through the charming shops nearby, where treasures await discovery!

Whether your heart yearns for serenity or a deep dive into storied pasts, here you'll find what you seek−an experience like no other.