St John Church, A beautiful church in the backdrop of the Dhauladhar mountain range of Dharamshala is a beautiful place that you can add to your basket of wishlists.
A Protestant church dedicated to John the Baptist was originally built in 1852 by British army officers. It was renamed and named after St. John.
Architecture
The neo-Gothic architecture in the midst of a deodar forest is a beautiful place of calm and serenity. A church stained glass window famous for its design was donated by Lady Elgin.
In 1915, a new bell, brought from England by Mears and Stainbank, was cast outside the church compound.
Memorial
Lord Elgin, who served as governor-general of India in the mid-19th century, was buried in the churchyard. During the British Raj, he died on November 20, 1963.
Destruction
The 1905 Kangra earthquake destroyed most buildings of Kangra, Dharamshala, and McLeodganj but fortunately, the church survived the earthquake
By Road:
Dharamshala is well connected to the major cities of North India by road. You can hire a taxi or take a bus from nearby cities like Delhi, Chandigarh, and Amritsar to reach Dharamshala. From there, St. John’s Church is located around 3.5 km away and can be easily reached by hiring a taxi or taking a local bus.
By Train:
The nearest railway station to Dharamshala is Pathankot Railway Station, which is around 90 km away. From Pathankot, you can take a taxi or bus to reach Dharamshala. Alternatively, you can also take a narrow-gauge train from Pathankot to Kangra, which is around 17 km away from Dharamshala.
By Air:
The nearest airport to Dharamshala is Gaggal Airport, which is around 13 km away. Several airlines operate daily flights from major cities in India to Gaggal Airport. From the airport, you can take a taxi or bus to reach St. John’s Church.