When you read or hear the word India, what comes to your mind might be Bollywood, yoga, their famous foods, travel destinations, Taj Mahal, and their traditions and festivals.

Among all the other fascinating things about India, you might have never heard about this but India is also known as the home of one of the most haunted places on earth – the Bhangarh Fort.

The Bhangarh Fort. (Link: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/columns/the-most-haunted-fort-in-india/article20231373.ece)

History Of Bhangarh Fort

The Bhangarh Fort was built in the 17^th century in the state of India called Rajasthan. It was built by a certain Bhagwant Das for his younger son named Madho Singh.

The fort has four huge wooden gates and precincts of the fort have carved miniature waterfalls and temples on them. Many are saying that the fort is actually an architectural marvel because of how intricate the details are but it’s a shame that it is infamously known as a haunted place.

The front gates of the Bhangarh Fort. (Link: http://creative.rakhduu.com/indias-most-haunted-place-story-of-bhangarh-fort/)

The Legend Of Bhangarh Fort

Bhangarh Fort is located at the border of the Sariska Tiger Reserve and it is known in India as the “most haunted place” in the country. This is because of the ghost stories that are believed to be true by the people of India. In fact, because these people are too scared of the fort, they decided to live away from the fort.

According to one traveler who went to Bhangarh Fort, the drive to the fort was eerie because there were little to none inhabitants in the surrounding areas. The sign by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) makes it much eerier because of the sign that says, “It is forbidden to enter borders of the haunted Bhangarh Fort before sunrise and after sunset.” Many tourists then do not dare go against this warning because they are scared of what could happen next. Accordingly, once the sun has set, the area is pitch black because there is no electricity in the area.

Also, no vehicles are permitted to enter from a certain point. One of the signs adds, “Failure to comply with this instruction can have serious legal consequences.”

One of the warning signs at Bhangarh Fort. (Link: https://www.quora.com/Why-has-the-Government-of-India-banned-people-from-entering-the-premises-of-Bhangarh-Fort-after-sunset-and-before-sunrise)

Now, let us talk about the legends that have been passed from one mouth to another.

The first legend regarding Bhangarh Fort says that the man who built the fort, Madho Singh started to construct the fort when he got the permission from an abstainer named Bala Nath but there was one condition: the shadow of the fort must never fall upon the home of Bala Nath. Madho Singh did what was asked of him but one of his successors added improvements to the fort, thus casting a shadow to the home of Bala Nath. Because of this, the fort became haunted.

The next legend is a bit more popular and more Indians use it as their story when asked about Bhangarh Fort. Accordingly, one princess named Princess Ratnavati is the one who should be blamed for the fort being haunted. A local black magician wanted the princess to feel the same feelings that he is feeling towards her. The magician then tried to give to the princess a form of cosmetic that had a spell on it that will make the princess fall in love with him. However, the princess had a gut feeling about the ill intentions of the magician and foiled the plan. The cosmetic was then poured by the princess on a huge boulder and so the magician was crushed to death. But before the magician died, he was able to place a curse upon the fort and the area where it stands. The curse was that no soul would ever live in peace in the area. That was when the fort started to become haunted.

Princess Ratnavati of Bhangarh Fort. (Link: https://www.ecstaticindiatours.com/blog/bhangarh-fort-in-rajasthan/)

Per the stories, the fort and its surrounding establishments were full of life but because of the supposedly true stories, life was stripped off of the area little by little.

Also, many villagers claimed that they tried to build a roof over the fort but it just mysteriously collapses soon after they have built it.

Why No One Is Allowed At The Bhangarh Fort At Night

Some say that they have heard strange noises coming from the fort at night and that spirits roam the fort once the sun sets. People are allegedly not allowed to be at the fort at night because they won’t be able to return anymore in the morning.

Bhangarh Fort at night. (Link: https://www.makemytrip.com/blog/haunted-bhangarh-fort)

A group of boys dared to explore the fort at night but a guard prevented them from doing so. The guard said that for all the years he served as such for the fort, there were never any paranormal experiences that he witnessed. Also, the guard told the boys that the only reason why people are not allowed at night at the fort pertains to the presence of wild animals in the area such as panthers and tigers.

What People, Tourists Are Saying About The Bhangarh Fort

Those who have gone to the fort all say common things: The air is heavy, they get a dizzying feeling when exploring the fort, the feeling of restlessness, and unusual energy. Others also claimed that they felt as if they are being watched by someone or something.

If you want to visit Bhangarh Fort, you must drop by from 6 A.M. to 6 P.M. Also, it is best to go there during October through February because of the chilly weather so walking around the fort won’t be too difficult due to the heat.