The famous haunted fort of Bhangarh in Rajasthan is located in the Alwar district on the border of the Sariska Tiger Reserve in the Aravalli range of hills. It was built in the 17th century by the Kachwaha ruler of Amber, Raja Bhagwant Singh for his younger son Madho Singh.
This fort has many haunted stories to it’s credit. These amazing stories are so fascinating that they have put Bhangarh in the global list of famous haunted tourist spots of the world. This place is a special favorite of many paranormal experts who have always tried to establish the truth behind existence of ghosts and spirits.
The paranormal incidents are especially linked to two legends which carry authentic tales about how and why the fort is haunted.
First story of haunted fort of Bhangarh
According to this legend, in those days saints and sages were considered to be very powerful spiritually and had an important role to play in the administration of a kingdom. Such a renowned sage named Balu Nath, lived in the vicinity of the place where Bhangarh fort was built.
A king named Madho Singh who got this fort built, had to take the approval of Balu Nath before constructing the fort. The sage had a small stone hut and he agreed on one condition that the fort should be constructed in such a way that the shadow of the fort should never fall on his cottage.
Madho Singh agreed and the Bhangarh fort was constructed. However with the passage of time, one of the successors of Madho Singh, Ajab Singh got ambitious and built a wing of the palace vertically thus casting its massive shadow over the sage’s hut.
The enraged sage cursed the entire clan and the city saying that no one will ever be able to live here peacefully. Legend says that the impact of the curse was so great that different types of natural calamities befell like drought, famine, sickness, etc. The people of that area were forced to abandon Bhangarh and it was left uninhabited.
The Second story of haunted fort of Bhangarh
This was the story of Princess Ratnavali and the Sorcerer, Singhia. Madho Singh, the owner of Bhangarh fort had a son named Chatr Singh. Ratnavali was the beautiful daughter of Chatr Singh. She was considered to be the jewel of Rajasthan because she was loved by the people of Bhangarh not only for her beauty but her kind heart.
Her fame as the most beautiful woman spread far and wide thus earning her many suitors who wanted to marry her. Nearby lived a sorcerer who practised black magic. He too fell in love with Ratnavali knowing full well that he was not eligible for her. Being a very wicked man, he decided to win her love by casting a magical spell on her.
One day when Ratnavali had gone to the local market with her friends wanting to buy a bottle of scented oil for herself, the tantric blew a spell on that bottle of oil. However Ratnavali’s intelligence made her see through his trick. She took the bottle and threw the oil on a boulder.
The magical spell which was meant for Ratnavali had it’s effect on the boulder which rolled towards the tantric and crushed him to death. Before dying, the tantric cursed Ratnavali and the entire city.
Soon after, Bhangarh was attacked by Ajabgarh killing Ratnavali and many others. Bhangarh was abandoned as no one could live there anymore. Those who chose to defy this, lost their lives. Whenever someone tried to build a house or renovate the abandoned ones, the roof used to collapse.
There was a time when Bhangarh was a hustling and bustling township with a population of nearly 10,000 people. This has become a ghost town now.
Even the Government authorities have issued strict rules and regulations regarding visitors who are interested to go there. Nobody is allowed to enter the premises of the Bhangarh fort after sunset or before sunrise.
Yet Another Folklore
There is also a folklore about a beautiful dancer who used to perform in the King ‘s palace. She supposedly fell in love with a prince.
When she was rejected, she cursed the royal family saying that music and dance shall no longer be heard in this fort. Visitors have experienced an eerie silence inside the fort inspite of the wind blowing outside.
What locals say about the haunted fort of Bhangarh
Local people claim to have heard sounds at the site of the market place from a distance such as bells ringing, people talking, selling and buying. But as you go closer there is silence.
Visitors have commonly perceived the feeling of being followed or watched, a sudden drop in temperature inspite of the hot weather outside, eerie whispers and tormented cries from within the walls of the fort.
Some have seen a woman clad in black clothes passing by quickly. The sounds of windows and doors opening and closing can really be a scary experience.
Yet these stories have been refuted by skeptics who believe that there is no scientific evidence to prove these stories as true. Whatever be the truth behind such theories, the Bhangarh Fort is worth visiting as it is extremely beautiful creating a sense of nostalgia about the glorious days these silent walls must have witnessed.
However it is best to visit this place during the daytime by paying heed to the caution issued by Government. Bhangarh Fort thus continues to remain one of the most haunted places in India.
