The glorious state of Odisha, situated in the Eastern part of India, is well known for it’s temples, rivers and spirituality. People from India and abroad flock to Odisha for it’s scenic landscape.
For food bloggers Odisha is their ultimate destination as Odia food is a soulful blend of subtle spices. Exquisite coastal sea food is popular along with an array of lentils and varieties of sweets prepared from cottage cheese.
Famous for the Jagannath Temple, Odisha is considered as one of the four dhams or pilgrimage sites of India. However, Odisha is also a land of mysteries and is a host to a number of paranormal activities.
Paranormal is something that has no scientific justification or explanation. It is something beyond normal. There are several haunted places in Odisha which brings out it’s darker and mysterious side. Today, in this article we shall take you to the top 5 haunted places of Odisha where night tells a different story.
1. Jatan Nagar Palace in Dhenkanal
This palace features in the top 5 haunted places of Odisha. It consisting of 100 rooms built by prince Narasingh Pratap Deb, in early 20th century, is situated on a hilltop. The palace is steeped in mystery, chilling ghost stories and dark past history.
Legends claim that the prince used forced labor and tortured the labourers who built this palace, so much that it led to the death of some of them. Locals believe that it is one of the scariest places, haunted by the spirits of those people who had been tortured to death by the Prince.
As a result, neither the Prince nor his family members were able to enjoy the luxury of residing there peacefully, after which the palace was abandoned and reduced to ruins. Visitors and nearby residents report to have heard strange sounds and painful cries followed by drafts of cold breeze.
2. The Mangaljodi Tree, in Khorda
This tree is notorious for it’s haunted reputation. Local folks claim that the tree is the abode of an angry female spirit, very vengeful in nature. The villagers said that the spirit was responsible for several unexplained and accidental deaths near the tree, especially during the Dussehra festival.
The tree was eventually cut down by the local authorities due to rising fear in the people. Mangaljodi is now a popular tourist spot famous as a sanctuary of migratory birds on the northern shores of Chilka lake.
3. RIE Haunted House, in the precincts Bhubaneswar
This place is believed to be haunted by spirits of students who once lived there and who had committed suicide under mysterious circumstances.
Reports say that the spirits have been seen roaming on the terrace and grounds of this house. The place gets really eerie and spooky after sunset, hence it is advisable not to visit the place during evenings.
4. Stretch of State Highway between Bhubaneswar and Puri
This is among the 5 haunted places of Odisha and is believed to be one of the most scary where drivers have reported seeing a pale looking woman who asks for lift at midnight and vanishes as they approach closer.
Locals believe that in early 2000s a young woman lost her life in a severe hit and run case and the unidentified body of the woman kept lying on the road for hours till police intervention.
Many accidents have occurred as a result of this haunting usually between 1.00 am and 3.20 am. Many night time commuters have reported strange incidents like engine failure, head lights flickering in that particular area.
Many have reported intense cold air inside closed cabins and the feeling of being watched, sometimes resulting in single vehicular accidents. People planning to travel by night are advised by local authorities to avoid stopping for anyone asking for help in these isolated dark patches of the Highway which are a sharp contrast to the scene during daytime.
5. Chandpur Village in Nayagarh
Last but not in the list is Chandpur Village in Nayagarh, Odisha. It’s a quiet rural village with a reputation of having a number of frightening tales which revolves around a cursed banyan tree supposedly possessed by an evil spirit.
The havoc created by this malevolent spirit led to abandonment of the houses near and around that tree. Today these abandoned houses are a silent witness to the paranormal activities which continue to take place.
Many years back, this village named Chandpur did not have any ghostly occurrence. People lived a happy, contented and peaceful life. However in the late 20th century, some uncanny incidents changed the reputation of this village.
According to local belief, two young villagers named Shivu and Jhilli fell critically ill after taking rest under a huge banyan tree on the outskirts of the village. The fever which afflicted them had different types of manifestations like seizures, hallucinations and fluctuations of temperature which baffled the local doctors.
A distressed and angry Shivu decided to cut down the tree thinking that an evil spirit residing in that tree was responsible for their illness. But it so happened that Shivu was found dead under mysterious circumstances and soon after even Jhilli succumbed to her illness. This came as a great shock for the villagers. Fear of this incident made the villagers living close by abandon their houses forever giving the village a reputation of being cursed.
Ancient folklore lying buried so far started making its rounds which said that a young woman had died untimely in the nearby forest and it was the vengeful spirit of this woman known as Kichhini or Chandi. The elders of the village believed that she demanded solitude and was intolerant towards anyone who attempted to disturb her.
Various interesting stories started circulating which created fear in people’s minds. Local villagers claim to have seen a women dressed in bridal attire walking in a procession from the tree to the abandoned houses.
Sometimes people have observed a strange stillness near the tree when not even a single leaf of the tree moves inspite of windy weather conditions. Passers-by have sometimes heard soft whispers of female voices calling them by name. Domestic animals like dogs and bullocks show much agitation when brought anywhere close to the tree.
The massive banyan tree with it’s thick growing aerial roots appear like a curtain hiding the secrets of the tree from the world outside.
All attempts through pujas, priestly rituals including animal sacrifice done to appease and calm the spirit have been to no avail. Thus people are advised that it is best not to venture close to that accursed banyan tree.
Thus, these 5 haunted places of Odisha are not worth a visit for the weak-hearted. The State is home to several popular urban legends and locations widely known for their paranormal activities and at the same time also has a magical attraction for visitors of varied interests.
Disclaimer: This feature explores local legends, folklore, eyewitness accounts and stories associated with places reportedly considered haunted in Odisha. The claims of paranormal activity mentioned in the story have not been independently verified or scientifically established. The article is intended for informational and cultural-interest purposes only and should not be taken as a factual confirmation of supernatural occurrences. Readers are advised to exercise personal judgment and avoid visiting restricted or unsafe locations.
