St. John in the Wilderness Church

St. John in the Wilderness Church is an Anglican place of worship built in stone with Gothic architecture in Dharamshala. The structure displays pointed arches, wooden interiors, and stained-glass windows from Belgium, nestled among cedar trees at Forsyth Gunj.

The church was built in 1852 and survived the 1905 Kangra earthquake, though the quake destroyed its bell tower. A replacement bell was installed in 1915 after the natural disaster.

The church is named after Saint John and serves the local Anglican community. It remains a place where visitors can experience both spiritual life and historical layers woven together.

The church opens to visitors from Monday through Saturday in the morning until late afternoon. On Sundays it begins welcoming visitors in the morning and stays open until evening.

A bell cast in England in 1915 stands outdoors on the grounds as a replacement for one destroyed during an earthquake. It was made by the London founder Mears and Stainbank and remains a striking link to the church's past.

Location: Dharamshala

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

GPS coordinates: 32.24282,76.31812

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:43