Standing tall in the wilderness

Dharamsala: The Church of St. John situated in upper Dharamsala; just a walking distance from McLeodganj, is a centre of attraction for large number of Indian as well as foreign tourists, especially descendents of Britishers who served in India and were buried here. The cemetery, which is attached to this church, has been the ‘final resting place’, for the Christian community here for over 150 years.

The church in the ‘wilderness’ (as the signboard at the entrance says), was built around 1852. There is a memorial here to JAMES BRUCE, EARL OF ELGIN or LORD ELGIN, as he was popularly known, the 2nd Viceroy of India, who died at Dharamsala on 20th November, 1863. He was so enchanted by the forests and mountains of Dharamsala that he had desired to be buried here, saying it reminded him of Scotland. The monument in memory of Lord Elgin in the compound of the church was got erected by his widow.Read Full Story