Located in the jungle of Sariska region of India, Bhangard Fort is located between the cities of Jaipur and Alwar. Remains of what was once a fascinating kingdom, the castle was built by the then ruler for his youngest son in 1573. However, local legends state that the reason for the collapse of the kingdom in 1783 was that the castle was cursed. In fact, this is the only legally recognized haunted place in India. Therefore, special government permission is required to visit after sunset and before sunrise.
Bhangard Fort has an informational and warning sign placed by the official authorities. Authorities had to hang this warning sign, as tourists insisted on visiting the castle at night to see the ghosts. The sign is written in Hindi and reads “It is forbidden to enter and walk around Bhangrad Fort between sunrise and sunset hours. Legal action will be taken against those who do not heed the warnings.” gives a warning.
In addition to factors such as the lack of artificial lighting and wild nocturnal animals in the area, what mysteries are still waiting to be discovered in the depths of the ruins. According to locals, spirits enter there after sunset and therefore no one is allowed to enter the borders of Bhangarh during this time. It is not known whether the castle is really mysterious or if this is a story made up to attract tourists to the area. But many tourists visit the castle to see ghosts and experience adrenaline.
History of Bhangard Fort
Bhangarh is a village located in the Indian state of Rajasthan and is located in the Rajgarh municipality of the Alwar district of Rajasthan. Bhangard Fort was built by Raja Bhagwan Das for his son Madho Singh in 1573. Madho Singh has participated in many campaigns along with his father and brother. After the death of Chhatra Singh, the next ruler of Bhangarh, in 1630, Bhangarh gradually declined. With the weakening of the Mughal Empire, Jai Singh forcibly incorporated Bhangarh into his own state in 1720. After that, Bhangarh’s population decreased and the town remained uninhabited after the famine of 1783.
at Bhangard Fort; There are four entry points named Lahori Gate, Ajmeri Gate, Phulbari Gate and Delhi Gate. The fort also includes a dancer’s palace called Nachan Ki Haveli, a market place called Jauhari Bazar, and many Hindu temples. The fort is located 235 km from Delhi and 88 km from the nearest airport. Among the old structures of the village are Hindu temples called Gopinath, Shiv (Someshwar), Hanuman, Ganesh, Vishal Devta, Lavina Devi and Keshav Rai. Other buildings include shops and dhabas along the main road, several havelis, a mosque and a palace. The palace is protected by two inner walls running along the valley. The village is separated from the plain by walls with five gates.
The Story of the Cursing of Bhangard Fortress
According to the first story told about the castle; Singhiya, an Indian magician who practices black magic, falls in love with the Bhangarh princess Ratnavati as soon as he sees her. Princess Ratnavati is a perfume lover. One day the princess goes to the market to buy perfume. Singhiya, on the other hand, replaces the bottle containing the potion she prepared to make him fall in love with her for a perfume bottle. However, the princess, realizing this, throws the bottle to the area where the rocks are and breaks it. The mysteriously dislodged rocks crush Singhiya to death.
According to the accounts, Singhiya curses the princess, her family and the entire village before she breathes her last under the rocks. Afterwards, the princess, her family, and most of the villagers soon die, and the village is in ruins. However, some locals still believe that princess Ratnavati will be reborn and the village will return to its rich and beautiful old days.
According to the second story; During the construction of the fort, a saint named Baba Bala Nath, who lived near the foothills, appeared and allowed the construction of the fort. However, there is only one condition; The shadow of the castle must not fall on its own temple. Builders who accept this condition work for days to complete the construction of the castle. However, after a while, the shadow of the pillars of the castle falls on Baba Bala Nath’s temple. For this reason, they are cursed by Baba Bala Nath and cause the castle to be destroyed. Shortly after Baba Bala Nath’s curse, the castle and village fall into ruin. Today Baba Bala Nath’s temple stands next to the fort and is visited by locals.
Ghost Stories of Bhangard Fortress
After the castle was completely abandoned, some people claim that at night the castle was haunted by the sounds of crying women, the sounds of dancing people’s bracelets, and the ghosts of deceased people. Some people who entered the castle at sunset could not get out again and disappeared. There is no conclusive proof as to whether these events are real or not, but many still believe that Bhangarh Fort is cursed and dangerous to enter.
Paranormal activities in the castle and the beliefs of the local people also attract the attention of tourists. Some tourists say that they experience strange sensations when touring the castle and feel like they are a follower. Others claim to have heard the voices of women crying and screaming in the dark. However, some tourists think that these stories are just a legend and they dare to visit the castle.
Bhangarh Fort is considered one of the scariest places in India, with its years of unsolved mystery and claims to be cursed. Many tourists and paranormal researchers claim that they experienced strange happenings in the castle and felt like beings watching them. However, some also try to refute these claims and argue that there is no paranormal activity in the castle.
Some people like Gaurav Tiwari say that after their visit to Bhangarh Fort, they experienced strange happenings and were pulled by an evil force. Tiwari’s suicide further reinforced the belief in the castle. Although the mystery of Bhangarh Fort is still unsolved, it is considered one of the most impressive historical structures in India and attracts tourists.
