India is home to ancient temples, majestic forts, majestic palaces – and spine-chilling haunted places! Alongside vibrant festivals and an intriguing heritage are darker corners that continue to confound paranormal experts and thrill-seekers.
Over centuries, stories of ghost sightings, mysterious deaths, and haunted places in India have created legends about them. Here, we present three such places as we explore them–each boasting its haunted tale to test your courage and curiosity!
Do you believe in ghosts? By the end of this post, perhaps not. But by keeping reading, you may just change your mind!
Bhangarh Fort, Rajasthan (One of the Most Haunted Places in India )
Location: Alwar district, Rajasthan
Bhangarh Fort tops every list of haunted places in India–and with good reason! Situated along the Sariska Tiger Reserve at its edge, this 17th-century fort has earned its spot as an unsettling site due to the town’s legendary curse.
Built by Raja Bhagwant Das for his son Madho Singh in 1573, Bhangarh once enjoyed great prosperity before its demise was sealed by an influential tantric priest who fell madly in love with Princess Ratnavati, whom the tantric had an affair with and eventually married her as wife.
As legend has it, a priest attempted to seduce Princess Durga into falling for him through cosmetic oil she would use; she recognized this deception and threw the bottle onto a rock, where it rolled back on him, crushing him beneath its weight before dying he cursed Bhangarh to destruction before succumbing.
Soon thereafter, however, an intense clash occurred between Bhangarh and one of its neighboring kingdoms, leading to widespread death and eventually forcing Bhangarh out. As a result of these battles and Bhangarh’s subsequent abandonment by its army commanders, many lives were lost, as was its fort.
Paranormal Activity
- Residents and visitors report witnessing whispered conversations, shadows appearing out of thin air, or experiencing the sense that something or someone is watching them.
- The Archaeological Survey of India has posted a board to warn visitors against entering between sunset and sunrise.
- Electronic devices, including phones and other phones, may occasionally lose signal or stop functioning completely within an area.
- Tourists have reported experiencing unusual energies, sudden temperature drops, and, on rare occasions, even possession.
Notable Incidents
- A group of teenagers camping inside the fort during the night went missing for several hours before eventually being found unconscious and later returned.
- Paranormal investigators have come upon EVPs (electronic voice phenomena), and photographs have shown unexplainable figures that cannot be explained away by scientific explanation.
Bhangarh Fort is more than just an unassuming ruin; it also serves as a portal into one of India’s longest-running ghost stories.
Shaniwarwada Fort, Pune
Location: Pune, Maharashtra
Shaniwarwada Fort dates back to Peshwa times, and its grandiose facade conceals a history of political betrayal, violent deaths, and one of India’s most bizarre hauntings – something its grand facade fails to convey.
Historical Context…
When built by Peshwa Bajirao I in 1732, Shaniwarwada became the seat of power of the Maratha Empire in western India. For generations of Peshwas who followed Bajirao I as its Peshwar leader, its glory faded until tragedy befell it in 1773.
Narayanrao was only 16 when he fell victim to his uncle Raghunathrao and aunt Anandibai’s plot for his execution by palace guards. According to court historians, what initially meant an arrest became “kill.” Palace guards then butchered Narayanrao.
On full moon nights, his last pleas of “Kaka, mala vachva!” (“Uncle, save me!”) can still be heard echoing through the halls.
Paranormal Activity
- Night guards and residents report hearing what sounds like a child crying for help from within their neighborhood.
- Visitors have reported feeling unseen hands tugging at their clothing, chills, and nausea as soon as they entered a haunted location.
- Tourists claim they saw an opaque figure running along corridors at nighttime.
- Paranormal teams have recorded EMF fluctuations and cold spots in the room where Narayanrao was murdered.
Fire Won’t Go Out
Unstopping its unnerve-inducing quality further is the mysterious fire that destroyed most of Fort Henry in 1828. However, its cause remains elusive, and many believe its source to have been disgruntled souls lingering within its halls.
Shaniwarwada stands as an emblematic reminder of ambition, betrayal, and injustice, an emblem that continues to call out for justice today.
Dow Hill, Kurseong, West Bengal
Location: Kurseong, near Darjeeling
Dow Hill stands out among Kurseong’s foggy hills as an almost terrifying location – complete with haunted woods, ghostly children, and an unnerving school corridor – one of India’s scariest locations.
Victoria Boys’ High School Legend
Victoria Boys’ High School was originally established during the British colonial era; since its opening, however, Victoria Boys’ has long been shrouded in mysterious stories, and locals often claim they hear footsteps echoing throughout its halls during school holidays when it is deserted.
Some witnesses report seeing an unfamiliar, red-eyed boy staring from their window even when the school is locked and secured.
Haunted Death Road
A forest stretch linking a school with the town–popularly known as Death Road–is notoriously haunted by sightings of the headless ghost of a young boy walking and then disappearing into trees. Woodcutters and forest guards have reported seeing strange apparitions or hearing voices during silence time on Death Road.
Paranormal Activity
- Sudden temperatures drop even during summer days, indicating paranormal activity is present.
- People report feeling chased and experiencing unexplained headaches and dizziness.
- Drivers report seeing a woman dressed entirely in white crossing the road before suddenly disappearing into thin air.
- Multiple suicides and mysterious deaths have taken place within this location, fuelling its image as being cursed.
Dow Hill’s haunting silence and thick, persistent mist add supernatural allure, so this attraction should only be explored with caution by those willing to experience its aura of terror and mystery first-hand. It is not recommended for the faint of heart!
What Makes These Places So Haunted?
Each location here embodies all the classic hallmarks of haunting:
- Violent or unjust deaths (murder, curses, and suicide) occur frequently around the world.
- Tragic love stories or political betrayal.
- Nature has taken back control of abandoned architecture that had fallen into decay.
- Recurring, intelligent hauntings and poltergeist activity
Psychologists cite isolation, history, and suggestion as contributing factors in unexplained phenomena – yet even skeptical individuals question what lies beyond.
Tips for Visiting Haunted Places in India
If you’re keen on planning your ghost-hunting expedition, keep these helpful and ethical guidelines in mind:
- Never venture alone: For optimal experience, always visit with a group or guide.
- Daylight is safer: Comply with any local restrictions regarding nighttime access in Bhangarh.
- Carry essential items with you, such as a flashlight, water, phone, and first-aid kits.
- Be culturally respectful: Do not offend spirits at sites considered sacred or protected. Instead, act responsibly by respecting and appeasing these entities.
- Trust Your Instincts: If fear becomes too great for you to bear, take a step backward. It is okay – and even prudent – for you to leave an activity without taking further steps.
Haunted Tourism in India: A Growing Trend
Due to rising interest in paranormal phenomena, India is experiencing an upsurge in “haunted tourism.” Tour companies now provide tours that specialize in “haunted” experiences:
- Ghost Walk
- Night photography tours
- Paranormal investigation workshops
These locations aren’t simply haunted; they also hold special meaning within India’s cultural, historical, and emotional landscape.
Conclusion: Do You Dare?
India’s haunted places go beyond ghost stories: they serve as witnesses of real lives and tragedies–from Bhangarh Fort to Shaniwarwada and Dow Hill–each location invites one to question what it means for someone’s existence as opposed to that of death.
Willingness to visit any of these destinations?
Do let us know in the comments which haunted location or experience you would explore, or share any paranormal encounters you’ve had! Don’t forget to subscribe for more ghostly adventures around the globe!
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