Bhangarh Fort in Rajasthan
Located at the border of the Sariska Tiger Reserve in the Alwar district of Rajasthan, Bhangarh Fort is a 17th-century fort, infamous all over India for being the “Most haunted place in India“. Because of the numerous ghostly experiences and happenings in the fort premises, villages have sprung up far away from the fort, due to the fear of what lies within. Even the Archaeological Survey of India or the ASI has forbidden the locals and tourists from entering the fort at night. This completely ruined, haunted fort of Bhangarh does have a very eerie, negative aura to it. Several legends have attested to the paranormal happenings inside the fort.
Bhangarh Fort History
The history of the fort dates back to centuries. Built in the 17th Century in Rajasthan, the Bhangarh fort is an ancient specimen. It was believed to have been erected by Man Singh I, one of the Navratnas of Akbar’s court for his son Madho Singh I.
There are always two sides of the story of the Bhangarh Fort, haunted for generations. Let me relate the story first. The two sides can wait for some time.
Main palace, Haunted Bhangarh Fort, Bhangarh fort stories
Bhangarh’s principal palace (Source)
Bhangarh Fort Haunted Stories
Coming back to the dual facets- there are two stories still surviving in the form of legends, which have tried to give a meaning to the eerie atmosphere which surrounds the haunted fort of Bhangarh.
Haunted Story 1: A Place Lost in the Shade
The first legend claims that a king named Madho Singh raised the Bhangarh fort after obtaining due permission from an ascetic named Bala Nath who lived there; having agreed to a condition which said that the shadow of the fort must never fall upon the home of the ascetic. But as fate would have it, one of the ambitious successors of Madho Singh added to the fortifications vertically, thereby causing its ominous shadow to engulf the abode of the ascetic. Lo and Behold, once it came to pass, the fort was doomed within no time. The alleged prophecy stood fulfilled, and the Bhangarh Fort became haunted.
Haunted Story 1: A Place Caught in a Limbo
A second legend behind the Bhangarh Fort haunted, more popular than the first one, claims that Princess Ratnavati of Bhangarh was responsible for the apocalyptic situation which befell the fort. A local black magician fell in love with her (the princess is believed to have been very beautiful) and once tried to bewitch a cosmetic she was supposed to use, to make her fall in love with him. The princess smelled suspicion and foiled the entire conspiracy of the black magician by pouring the bewitched cosmetic over a massive stone boulder, which then supposedly crushed the ‘tantrik’ to death. Before the magician breathed his last, he placed a curse upon the entire landscape that no soul would ever be able to live in peace there. The entire landscape around the Bhangarh Fort has been haunted since.
Ruins of Fort, Haunted Bhangarh Fort, Bhangarh fort stories
Ruins of Bhangarh town (Source)
Legends of the Haunted Bhangarh Fort
Ruins of the fort, Bhangarh Fort Haunted , Bhangarh fort stories
Ruins of the Bhangarh fort (Source)
The Bhangarh Fort haunted is like other forts in Rajasthan, and is surprisingly well preserved. Its ramparts and fortifications stand amidst the ruins of the ghost town by the same name. Legends have it that the fort and the surrounding establishments around it once buzzed with life. Then something happened along with a chain of other unfortunate incidents which led to the doom of the place within a very short span of time.
Ruins of the haunted Bhangarh Fort, Bhangarh fort stories
A ruined palace within the fort (Source)
Bhangarh Fort at Night
No one is allowed to enter the fort after sunset or before sunrise. The entire landscape is subsumed by a pall of gloom and a chilling hollowness once the last ray of sunlight bids adieu until its arrival the next morning. There are many local tales about the paranormal activities in the fort. It totally depends on a person whether he would believe it or not. It is said that the spirits roam in Bhangarh fort at night and various strange noises are heard. Also as it is said, anyone who enters the fort at night would not be able to return in the morning.
One constantly feels as if their movements are being watched, and the air is charged with a dizzying heaviness. A board put up by the Archaeological Survey of India cautions the visitors not to venture within the premises of the fort during the dark hours.
Bhangarh Fort at night, bhangarh fort haunted stories
Bhangarh Fort at night (Source)
The haunted fort of Bhangarh has had several stories associated with it. Believing on of them is akin to believing that the fort indeed is haunted, and this is a tale that has been in circulation for years. There is evidence to support the claim of those who say that those tried their luck either went missing or weren’t able to explain anything coherently. You might say that the entire episodes were mere figments of imagination by ruminating minds, but the fact remains a fact.
The Brighter Side
The fort is situated at the edge of a lusciously green expanse of Sariska Tiger Reserve between Alwar and Jaipur, and is not very far away from Delhi either. The fort was clearly modelled upon the medieval city of Shahjahanabad, with four massive wooden gates in every direction. The precincts of the fort have ornately carved a miniature waterfall and temples which lend an air of tranquillity to the place during the better part of the day. The remnants of some palaces within the fort are clear indicators of the fort’s prosperity during its heydey. The fort would have been a tourist hotspot for its serene atmosphere during the day and the architectural marvel that the fort is, and as a matter of fact, it is. It is a tourist attraction and it does attract hordes of tourists during the day, but for all the wrong reasons. Local folks would have you believe that no one dares to build a house with a roof in the vicinity of the fort. The roof collapses shortly after being built.
How To Reach
Bhangarh Fort From Alwar
The nearest town to Bhangarh is Alwar in Rajasthan. The distance from Alwar to Bhangarh is about 90 Km, for which taxis and buses are available from Alwar. Alwar Tourism
Bhangarh Fort From Delhi
Bhangarh is located around 269 km from Delhi via Neemrana route and 242 km via Alwar route. Alwar route, even though shorter takes slightly longer time because of the road conditions. From Delhi, one should take the NH8 route and head straight and continue even after Neemrana and take the NH11A. Drive on NH11A for around 50 km and then take the Rajasthan State Highway SH 55 for another 20 km to reach the destination. Overall, Bhangarh takes about 4 to 5 hours of driving from Delhi. On return, you can come via Alwar and stay back there. Explore the Sariska Tiger Reserve and Alwar Fort on the next day and be back in Delhi by evening. Delhi Tourism
Bhangarh Fort From Jaipur
Bhangarh Fort is just 83 km from Jaipur and it’s a good place to go for a day trip with friends. Take the NH11 and continue onto Agra Road. From Dausa, take the NH11A and continue for about 15km. From there, take the SH 55 and you can reach the destination. Overall, it won’t take you more than 2 hours from Jaipur to reach Bhangarh Fort. It will be a totally fun trip knowing the haunted stories of Bhangarh. Try to talk to locals and see if they can recite the haunted story in Hindi. Jaipur Tourism P.S: I do not have a penchant for dramatics, but while I was writing this post on Bhangarh Fort, the electricity decided to play truant. The icing on the cake was added by a fiercely blowing wind that almost shattered the windowpanes of my flat, and left me wondering. Coincidence, was it?