About St. John in the Wilderness Church
St. John in the Wilderness is a historic Protestant church dedicated to John the Baptist, built in 1852 in neo-Gothic architecture. Located at Forsyth Gunj on the way to McLeod Ganj, it is set amidst deodar forest and features Belgian stained-glass windows. The churchyard contains the memorial of Lord Elgin, former Viceroy of India, and survived the 1905 Kangra earthquake.
Visitors guide
Visitors can explore a 19th-century neo-Gothic church surrounded by dense deodar forest. The interior features Belgian stained-glass windows that create colorful light effects. The churchyard includes a cemetery with British colonial-era graves and Lord Elgin's memorial. A bell cast in England in 1915 stands in the compound. The setting offers tranquility and scenic Himalayan views.
Key highlights
- 01
Neo-Gothic architecture from 1852
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Belgian stained-glass windows donated by Lady Elgin
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Memorial and grave of Lord Elgin, Viceroy of India
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Set amidst deodar forest with serene surroundings
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Survived the 1905 Kangra earthquake
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Historic bell cast in England in 1915