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A wizard once cursed the town which led to its destruction – one of the many ghost stories and supernatural experiences you will hear about when you visit Bhangarh, the “ghost town” of India which is considered to be one of the most haunted places in the country.

We all love listening to stories and the thrill of a horror story can’t be expressed. Even though we are scared with every new detail that is revealed, we still continue to listen with great interest. Supernatural activities never fail to attract some extra attention, and when you get a chance to visit a place which is believed to be one of the most haunted places in the country, I’m sure you will be reluctant but wouldn’t be able to stop yourself from going there at least once!

India is a country of stories. We have millions of folk tales and stories to share. And some stories take on the identity of a place. This is the story of Bhangarh, one of the India’s most haunted places. It is believed that the place is home to many spirits and ghosts and no one dares to enter the fort after sunset.

Bhangarh is located between Jaipur and Alwar in Rajasthan. The fort is ruined but still looks beautiful due to the calm and green surroundings. It is now merely the deserted remains of what once was a beautiful kingdom built by Madho Singh, younger brother of the great Mughal general, Man Singh of Amber.

My first trip to Bhangarh was full of curiosity and anxiety. As we came closer, the way became more isolated with every passing minute and we became more and more thrilled as we approached the much-hyped destination.

We did not have any rendezvous with the ghosts but there was an unusual vibe that we could only feel but not express. The regular visitors and locals talked about the stories of the town and the ghosts that reside in the fort. We listened with great interest to all the fascinating stories of how people have gone missing and how unknown voices are heard from inside the fort.

As the sun was about to set we hopped onto our vehicles and went back to the city as the board put up by the Archaeological Survey of India (who are in charge of its upkeep) at the entrance said “Entering the borders of Bhangarh before sunrise and after sunset is strictly prohibited.”

There are many stories behind this haunted fort. One story goes back to a time when a wizard lived in the village and commanded that no house on the grounds of the fort should be taller than his house. The moment the shadow of a taller house touches his house, the whole town will be destroyed. Ajab Singh, grandson of Madho Singh, ignored this warning and greatly raised the height of the fort. As a result, the shadow of the fort touched the forbidden house of the wizard and led to destruction of the town.

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Another version of the story states that the wizard who had black magic powers fell in love with Ratnavati. One day the wizard replaced the princess’s scent with some potion to make her fall in love with him. Ratnavati discovered the wizard’s trickery and threw the bowl of potion on a boulder nearby, which started rolling down and killed the wizard. Before dying the wizard cursed that Bhangarh would be destroyed and no one will ever be able to live here.

These are some fascinating stories that make the place even more attractive for a visit. The main gate that leads to the fort is followed by the ruined parts of the city and gives a bizarre feeling. The fort has various havelis, temples and deserted marketplaces within the premises.

Many visitors and tourists have confirmed that there is a strange feeling of restlessness and unusual energy in the fort. There have been many documentaries made on this unique site of Rajasthan.

Bhangarh is the only place in India which is recognized as “legally haunted” and one has to take permission from the government to enter the premises after sunset or before sunrise. Locals believe that whoever has entered the fort in the dark has never been found again.

How to reach there?

Bhangarh is around 78 kms from Jaipur. You can book a cab to the destination and don’t forget to carry a spare tyre as there are high chances of flat tyres along the way.

The nearest airport is Jaipur International airport which is around 88 kms. Nearest major bus stop and railway stations are also in Jaipur. Know more such fascinating and unusual places of India? Do share with us in the comments below.

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