St. John in the Wilderness Church Nainital Entry Fee

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St. John in the Wilderness Church Nainital Phone

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St. John in the Wilderness Church Nainital Address: Kaladungi Rd, Sherwani, Nainital, Uttarakhand, 263002, India

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St. John in the Wilderness Church Nainital Timings

Day Timing
Monday 7:00 am – 6:30 pm
Tuesday 7:00 am – 6:30 pm
Wedesday 7:00 am – 6:30 pm
Thursday 7:00 am – 6:30 pm
Friday 7:00 am – 6:30 pm
Saturday 7:00 am – 6:30 pm
Sunday 9:00 am – 6:30 pm
Links: | Map

Rated amongst the topmost destinations under Nainital tourism and a perfect go-to place for the nature enthusiast, St. John in the Wilderness Church is one of the oldest buildings in Nainital. Built in 1846 the church is dedicated to St. John, the Baptist.

History of St. John in the Wilderness Church

The foundation stone of this church was laid by Bishop Daniel Wilson of Calcutta (now Kolkata) in the year 1844 and is named after him. As the legend goes, Bishop Wilson had to stay in an unfinished cottage at the corner of the adjacent forest during his visit due to his illness. Hence, the church got the name St. John in the Wilderness Church as the bishop had to live in the wilderness of the forest for a long time. The famous hunter and naturalist Jim Corbett was a strong follower of this church and used to come for prayers on a regular basis.

Image Gallery of St. John in the Wilderness Nainital

Architecture of St. John in the Wilderness Church

The beautiful Neo-Gothic architecture, tall deodar and pine trees, divine ambiance, stained glass windows and eerie yet positive aura of the graveyard, these are the essential and principal trademarks of the St. John in the Wilderness Church, Nainital.

Being one of the oldest buildings, this church is highly frequented by architects to understand the Neo-Gothic architecture. On the backside of the church is a graveyard dedicated to people who lost their lives to the deadly landslide of 1880. A brass memorial is erected within the premises of the church with their names on it.

The calmness of this church attracts a lot of followers who seek peace and tranquillity in life. The beautiful architecture of St. John in the Wilderness Church is commendable and holds its heritage of earlier times.

The St. John in the Wilderness Church shares the similarity of its architecture and name with a church in North California which is among the most followed churches in the country.

The divine aura of the church empowers one to feel the connect within and seek answers to life questions. Confession sessions held at the St. John in the Wilderness church are something not to miss onto. They help you bond inside out and relieve you of the undesired stress and burden.

Entry Fee and Timings of St. John in the Wilderness Church

There is no entry fee to visit the church. You can visit on all days of the week. The timings for Monday to Saturday are 7:00 am to 6:30 pm and for Sunday 9:00 am to 6:30 pm.

Things to do at St. John in the Wilderness Church

1. The church is famous for its prayer service which adds a new dimension to life and changes your perspective of looking at things.

2. You can take a tour at the cemetery which is a token of honor to the lives lost to the landslide of 1880.

3. Take pictures of the beautiful architecture as this church is built on and speaks of the old heritage.

4. Speak to Fathers and Brothers at this church who are happy to tell the culture this place beholds.

Best Time to visit St. John in the Wilderness Church

The Church welcomes its followers and visitors throughout the year. Although summers are the most comfortable and pleasant season to visit Nainital, it remains open all year long.

How to Reach St. John in the Wilderness Church

The St. John in the Wilderness Church is just 2 km away from the Nainital Mall Road. You can easily walk to the church or hire a cycle rickshaw or auto rickshaw to reach here.

From Bus Stand: The church is only 3 km from the nearest bus stand, Tallital Bus Stand. You can hire a cycle-rickshaw or auto-rickshaw or a taxi cab to reach the church from there. You can also hire a private taxi.

From Railway Station: The church is 26 km away from the nearest railway station, Kathgodam Railway Station. Local taxi cabs are available from the station there to reach the church.

From Airport: Pantnagar airport is the nearest airport to St. John Wilderness Church, located at a distance of 59 km. You can take a cab or traveler from there to the church via NH 109.

You can also book a private cab from top car rental companies in Nainital during your stay in this hill station for commuting and visiting all the popular sightseeing places of Nainital in a hassle free manner.


Nainital Tourism, a division of Holidays DNA has curated various Nainital Tour packages that offers the best experience in this beautiful hill station. To know more about the packages, please fill the Contact Us form.

Location Map for St. John in the Wilderness Church Nainital