The Bhangarh fort is situated 50 km from the Sariska Sanctuary, halfway between the cities of Jaipur and Alwar. The fort was constructed in the 17th century by Raja Madho Singh, the younger brother of Man Singh of Amber. Along with the royal palace, Bhangarh had over 9,000 homes as of 1720, but after a while the city's population fell off quickly. The ruins of lavish havelis, temples, and deserted markets on the fort's grounds testify to its former glory.
Legend has it, that a sadhu lived in the fort area and ordered that no building be erected within the fort's perimeter that is taller than his own. If the shadow of any such building fell on his home, the fort town would be destroyed. The sadhu's home was thrown in shadow when columns were added to the fort, which led to the devastation of the fort and neighbourhood.
There is another local folklore that says the fort's haunting can be traced back to a tragic love story involving a magician and a princess. It is believed that the magician, who was infatuated with the princess, attempted to use dark magic to win her over. However, the Princess discovered his intentions and foiled his plans. In a fit of rage, the magician cursed the fort, declaring its doom and the death of everyone within its boundaries.
Since then, Bhangarh Fort has been enveloped in an aura of fear and supernatural phenomena. Stories of strange sounds, including whispers, footsteps, and screams, have been heard within the fort's crumbling walls. The cursed reputation of Bhangarh Fort has also led to several stories of unexplained events and bizarre occurrences. Visitors have reported episodes of sudden nausea, dizziness, and anxiety, as if some unseen force is influencing their emotions.
Due to the haunted reputation of the fort, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has prohibited entry into Bhangarh Fort during nighttime. There is a sign at the entrance warning visitors of potential dangers and the legal repercussions of staying within the fort premises after sunset. Locals firmly believe in the curse and avoid the fort after dark, adding an air of mystery and intrigue to the site.
As ASI prohibits visitors and residents from remaining in close proximity of the fort after the sun has set, this lead to spawn of various stories of people claiming to have heard ghosts scream, wailing women's voices, bangle sounds in the quarters, and strange scents after dusk. Ghostly shadows, odd lights, and strange music and dance sounds have also been observed. Tales of brave souls who stayed behind after dusk did not return the next morning and many more such stories are linked to the Rajasthan's most haunted fort.
While some skeptics argue that the haunting tales surrounding Bhangarh Fort are purely based on superstition and folklore, the eerie ambience and numerous reported experiences continue to fuel the fort's haunted reputation.
Whether one believes in the supernatural or not. The Bhangarh Fort remains a captivating destination, offering a blend of historical significance and spine-chilling legends that have captured the fascination of people from around the world.
* Please contact the article's author for attribution or to request the removal of images as the image source or publication date are not obtainable*
Comments
Post a Comment