Rajasthan is well-known for its forts, deserts, and monarchy. But even as you swoon over the magnificent beauty and majesty of the forts and palaces that still stand intact, there is one location that has the power to alter the entire scene drastically. Located on the perimeter of the well-known Sariska Tiger Reserve, the Bhangarh Fort is situated in the Alwar neighborhood of the Indian princely kingdom.
Bhangarh, infamous for being the most haunted location in India, was once a thriving town. Bhangarh Fort was once a marvel of beauty and strength. In the 17th century, Madho Singh, one of the nine gems of Emperor Akbar’s court, built it for his son Man Singh I. Before it purportedly became deserted overnight, Bhangarh was home to more than 10,000 people, according to estimates. This 400-year-old majestic building is in ruins, and the sprawling community around it owes its current situation to the dreadful Bhangarh Story, which foretold its doom.
Rajasthan’s top locations are one-of-a-kind and remain popular tourist destinations. The Bhangarh Fort, also known as the ‘Bhangarh Ka Kila’, was constructed in Rajasthan in the 17th century and has a long history. It is one of the most haunted places in Asia, and just hearing the legend alone may make you shiver.
According to mythology, Guru Balu Nath, a mighty ascetic who once lived on the site where Bhangarh Fort now stands. Madho Singh decided to obtain his consent before building the fort and was even given it, but with one stipulation. The ascetic set a restriction that said his house could never be under the fort’s shadow, or a terrible calamity would occur.
Unfortunately, Madho Singh’s ambitious successor ignored the warning and built higher walls around the Bhangarh Ka Kila. As a result of the ascetic’s abode being overtaken by shadow, Bhangarh as a whole was cursed.
According to legend, there once lived a princess of Bhangarh who was said to be a beautiful lady. A necromancer in the area was captivated by her stunning beauty and fell in love with her. He cast a black magic spell on the massage oil the princess intended to use to capture her. However, before his cunning plan could be carried out, Princess Ratnavati tossed the magical-infused oil onto a nearby large boulder. The tantric was killed when the boulder crushed him due to the evil magic at work. However, before he died, he gradually cursed the entire town for breaking into total desolation, just as he had.
The whole town’s population was slaughtered, and an enemy assassinated Bhangarh’s monarch with the help of his entire army. The princess’s whereabouts are unknown, though she is said to have been sentenced to wander the confines of Bhangarh in limbo. Everyone is destined to stay there forever, sad and restless in the frigid surroundings.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) keeps reminding people to vacate the area before dusk. It is forbidden to stay in the Bhangarh vicinity before sunrise and after dark, as stated repeatedly on the signs. The precaution is necessary because of several reports of people dying and becoming lost in the area.
Bhangarh Ka Kila is the only tourist destination in India where international visitors are not permitted to enter freely. You must have a one-of-a-kind authorisation to enter the building and Bhangarh Fort. Aside from the Bhangarh Ka Kila story, many of the visitors who got lost in the area were foreigners. Because of their contempt for the law, the government officials were enraged and took extreme action.
Roofs are missing from all the houses in the area. No house has a complete roof over its head. It is widely assumed that the sage who cursed the town to its demise is to blame. The villagers claim that building a roof on these dwellings is difficult because once one is made, it collapses and has claimed many lives in the past.
The Bhangarh Fort neighborhood has about six temples, which provide a small respite from the area’s ubiquitous eerie vibe. These historic temples are dedicated to Hindu deities such as Lord Hanuman, Keshav Rai, Lord Gopinath, Mangla Devi, and others. Many sages and priests have been drawn to Bhangarh by the mythical curse and the temples that exude a spiritual aura in a futile attempt to cure the land of its curse.
In addition to being a centre of archaeologically noteworthy discoveries made by a few archaeologists, Bhangarh is thought to be a hotspot for paranormal activity. They said that the area had uncovered several stone sculptures, paintings, and artefacts made by the area’s first men. It has also been found that the Lord Someshwar temple, which is close to Bhangarh Fort, is a location of natural springs and even waterfalls.
The villagers tell the legend of three daredevils who chose to remain on the grounds of Bhangarh Fort at night. One of the three guys fell into a deep well despite having a torch. Fortunately, his companions quickly came to his aid and took him to the hospital to be treated. However, as fate would have it, the three of them perished when their car was crushed in a bizarre traffic accident.
Locals claim that a group of friends out touring in Bhangarh Fort saw what appeared to be the illusion of a child in a house without a door but with a grilled window.
Several locations in Bhangarh Fort have signs posted by ASI warning people not to linger on the property after dark or before sunrise. At night, odd noises may be heard inside the fort’s walls, and the air becomes oppressively heavy. At certain times, it is rumoured that ghosts roam inside the locked gates, causing a flurry of paranormal activity to take place there.
Despite all odds, the fort is lovely and worth seeing. It is said to be the site of paranormal activity and sightings, but it is also home to several architectural marvels. The Bhangarh Fort region and its surroundings are among one of the popular places to visit in Rajasthan. The fort’s four massive wooden doors in each direction identify the fort that brings to mind Old Delhi’s Shahjahanabad. The relics of a rich past worth experiencing are the Johari Bazaar, gorgeous temples, a commanding fort, and Dancer’s Haveli.
The town closest to Bhangarh Fort is Alwar, which is 90 miles away. The most convenient way to get from here to Bhangarh is to take a bus or a pre-booked cab.
Bhangarh can be reached in 4 to 5 hours from New Delhi. There are two ways to get there: via Neemrana and Alwar. Even though the latter is a faster route, it takes longer due to poor road conditions. The most convenient way to get to Bhangarh Fort from Delhi is to drive there.
If you live nearby Jaipur, you can easily travel 83 kilometres to Bhangarh Fort in a single day. The trip there takes about two hours from here.
The best months to go to this mysterious, beautiful, haunted place in India are October to March. Even though Rajasthan’s tourism season, winter is the most delicate time to view Bhangarh Ka Kila in all its splendor.
The Fort is open every day from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm. Entry to the fort is free. However, video recording costs somewhere between 20 and 40 rupees.
The small Rajasthani tourist destination Bhangarh has hardly any lodging options. Although the absence of hotels in Bhangarh, the state of Rajasthan has a sufficient number of resorts in surrounding cities like Alwar.
In these modern times and the new age, God, and science, have trained our modern brain to ignore everything illogical. If you believe such things are real or fascinating, go to Bhangarh, India’s most haunted place. Regardless of stories or ghosts, Bhangarh is a magnificent time capsule. We implore you to visit its forgotten alleyways at least once in your life, if not for the legends, then for its stunning beauty and mystifying dissolution.
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