The church of St. John in the wilderness

4.4

Location: Road to Naddi Village from McLeod Ganj, McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh 176215, India

Estimated Visiting Time: 1 to 2 hours.

Situated in the beautiful valley of McLeodganj, which is at a distance of about 8 kilometers from Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, India The church of St. John in the wilderness is an old Anglican church. The church is known to travelers for its stunning design which is set amidst deodar forests and full of memorial stones of the British soldiers who were posted here.

With the quiet and serene surroundings and mesmerizing picturesque location, this church attracts lots of visitors. Every year a bunch of people comes to visit this place. If you are visiting Dharamsala, you must visit this place.

Attraction

Surrounded by beautiful picturesque locations, this church gives a sense of peace. The peacefulness of this place will make you feel relaxed. Being a pilgrimage site it is very popular among the pilgrimages of the world. It is also a heritage site. The stunning view of this place attracts the tourists the most.

History

Built in the neo-gothic style of architecture the church was founded in 1852. It was dedicated to John the Baptist and also one of the viceroys of India, Lord Elgin was buried here in 1863. It is a part of colonial heritage.

For the British troops that were placed here during that period, it was a place of worship. a major earthquake hit the Kangra area and took the lives of around 19,800 people, in 1905. most of the buildings in this area were completely destroyed but the church was almost untouched without the bell tower which was partially broken. A new bell was reinstalled here in 1915.

Inside/Outside Views

St. John in the Wilderness Church and grave memorial of James Bruce, British colonial diplomat, Governor-General & Viceroy of India.

From the outside, it looks like an old And abandoned structure. But from the inside it is still very well maintained and very attractive. On the outside of the church, the Belgariad stained glass windows can be called the main attraction of the church. The polished wood of the altar railing and old brass oil lamps are converted into electric light holders. It makes the church more elegant.

Along with the walking path, the holy cross symbols are made artistically with pretty colorful stones. The place is under close watch by security guards, so that no one can damage it by any chance.

Opening Hours

The church is open every day of the week. Opening time is from 7 am to 6 pm.

Entry & Others Fees

No entry fee is needed to visit the church.

Near Restaurants

Country Food Restaurant
Naman Restaurant
Jimmys Italian Kitchen in McLeodGanj
Tibet Kitchen
Jimmy’s Asian Kitchen – McLeodGanj

Near Hotels

Hotel Woodville Inn – Hotel in Mcleodganj
Hotel WOODz VILLA
Hyatt Regency Dharamshala Resort
Surbhi Guest House
Best Western Plus Revanta

How to Reach

By air: The nearest airport to this church is Kangra. It is situated at a distance of about 21 KM from the church. You need to book a taxi or board the bus or train towards Dharamsala from the airport

By train: The nearest station to this place is Nagrota. It is at a distance of 32 kilometers. From the railway station, you can hire any local transport to reach the place.

By road: The church is located at a distance of just 6 KM from the main bus stand. You can easily go there by road.