Christ Church, Kasauli — Attraction in Himachal Pradesh

Christ Church. What makes this church unique is the fact that it is the oldest church of Himachal Pradesh. Its picturesque structure and scenic beauty attract nature lovers from all across India. Dedicated to St. Francis and St. Barnabas, the present structure of the church was designed in the emblematic Gothic style architecture. Divine services of the church were started on 24 July, 1853, by Chaplain Thomas John Edward Steel, M.A., St. John's College, Cambridge. However, the church was revered as a holy place by Authority of the Bishop of Calcutta in 1857.

Since 1970, the church has been regulated by the Church of North India (CNI), diocese of Amritsar. As soon as the sun shines, its rays enter through the painted mirrors of the church, which are vivid enough to rejuvenate the tourist. The stained glasses are imported from England when the church was built. The tombstones date back to the 1850s and earlier.

The gray building of the church is ornamented with fantastic mirror work while the green color shack looks dramatic. The simplicity and charm of the building simply take the tourist back to the era when the British were ruling India. The church is made in a cross shape by British families who stayed in Kasauli, and its foundation, was laid by them in the year 1842.

The distinctive church of the architecture includes a clock tower with a sundial in the front, main hall, cruciform floor, beautiful stained glass windows and an aisle which will lead to the beautiful altar sculpture, in which Jesus Christ is bound by Joseph and Mary. There are stained glasses over the altar image of Jesus Christ which depicts the Crucifixion where the image of Christ is flanked by those of Joseph and Mary.

Most thrilling part of the church is its exteriors which are surrounded by a cemetery with graves dating back to 1850s and earlier. Since it's a contamination area, tourists are not allowed to make any noise or speak loudly here. Tourist can enjoy bird watching here or can relish the beautiful landscapes of Kasauli. Stop here awhile amidst the fragrance of pine and wood-smoke; and treasure the view of lush...

The development of Kasauli began in 1841, and is attributed to Sir Henry Lawrence, after the death of her daughter in Subathu. Christ Church Kasauli came into existence in 1844 when Dr. Daniel Wilson (the great Metropolitan Bishop of Calcutta) appointed Rev MJ Jennings a chaplain to the new station Kasauli for the 1st time in March 1844 who started worship services in barracks as there was no church building. At the end of October 1844 Dr. Wilson, the Bishop of Calcutta paid his 1st visitation of Kasauli and on 26th October 1844 laid the foundation stone of future Christ Church. For the construction of the Church building it took about nine years. In these nine years many missionaries came but the contribution of M.J. Jennings, Rev Spry, Rev. Parker (Principal of Lawrence School Sanawar) and Rev Thomas John Edward Steel, were remarkable, who raised funds from different resources for the Christ Church Kasauli. On 24th July 1853 the roof of the church was completed and on that day the church was used for the worship services for the 1st time. In 1857 Christ Church was consecrated by Dr. Thomas Dualtry Bishop of Madras by letters Dimissory from the metropolitan Bishop of Calcutta, Dr Lynch. By the time, bit by bit the church was beautified. Stained window glasses have been imported from London depicting Christ, Mary, Saint Barnabas and Saint Francis. In the early 1880s the church tower was raised and the public clock was placed by importing the same from W.H. Bailey & Co of Manchester, England. A sundial was also installed in the church compound at the same time, probably for the calibration of dials of the clock. After remaining in hibernation for many decades, this Tower Clock was restored in 2015. The clock still works on original weight driven mechanical gear assembly and now in Limca...

Kasauli is a beautiful, picturesque town and cantonment, situated in the district of Solan, in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Even though there are a lot of unique attractions in Kasauli, it is primarily known for its scenic beauty and serenity. This town is accessible both from Chandigarh, which is 65km away and Shimla, which is 77km away from Kasauli.

The most convenient way to travel to Kasauli is by train since it is a railway junction itself. The Kalka Mail, which is one of the most important trains in the country connecting cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Amritsar, is a great way to reach Kasauli, as the town is a mere 40 km away from the town of Kalka in Haryana. If one wants to reach by air, then Chandigarh Airport is the nearest airport from where you can easily hire cars or avail buses to take you to Kasauli. Buses are also frequently available from Delhi and Chandigarh, making trips to Kasauli easy and convenient.

Despite Kasauli being a small town, it has many spectacular places to visit, which has made it a popular tourist destination. The main attractions of Kasauli are Manki Point (a Hanuman Temple), the Gilbert Trail on Kachcha Road, Sunset Point, the Gurkha Fort, Baba Balak Nath Temple Christ’s Church, Shirdi Sai Baba Temple, and the Central Research Library which is famous for its virological research and studies in the fields of immunology.

Since the town is located in the foothills of the Himalayas, it experiences moderately cool to humid climate throughout the year. Therefore, the best time to visit this beautiful town is from March to June, and again during September, October and November. The town has several comfortable hotels and lodges that range from moderately priced to luxury accommodations, depending on the budget and requirement of...