The Cursed City

Jan 29, 2023

The Promise of a King

Once upon a time, in the hills of the lush Alwar district in Rajasthan, India, a king built a magnificent palace in the heart of a great fort city. The sandstone city of Bhangarh was indeed great, with a grand Bazaar, serene temples and a crisp checkerboard network of village homes. The Emperor Madho Singh, choosing this location to construct his home, first had to make a pact with one of its residents. A holy man, a Sadhu by the name of Balu Nath, also lived in the city and used its grounds to meditate and worship. Emperor Sinhg, seeking to gain the blessing of Balu Nath and to stay in the good graces of the deities, made a deal with him: Balu Nath would bless the construction of the palace, on the singular condition that no structure within the fort would ever cast a shadow on his home. Madho Singh was quick to agree, and promptly began building his fortress. With grand sculpted pillars, high sprawling staircases and furnishings of silk and cashmere, the king did indeed build a royal home fit for the gods; but on the day construction had finished, and as nightfall approached, the afternoon sun dipped behind the fortress and cast a dark shadow onto the rest of the city. Sadhu Balu, in his wrath, furious that the emperor had betrayed their bargain, blighted the city of Bhangarh, swearing that from that day forward, no structures would survive within the fort’s boundaries. The sky turned a dark, swirling hue of purple and ash, and the grand fortress immediately crumbled into ruins, followed in turn by each and every home, market and temple within the walls of Bhangarh—the city forever cursed in a ruined state of its former splendor.

The Princess and the Magician

Once upon a time, there lived a beautiful princess. In addition to her unparalleled beauty, she was well-loved by her people, good-natured and clever. Princess Ratnavati had countless smitten suitors and received dozens of marriage proposals by the day. One of her admirers however was an evil tantrik priest by the name of Singhia who was skilled in the black arts. Knowing that he was no suitable match for the princess, he attempted to win her over with his dark magic.

One day, Singhia followed the princess and her maid into the Bazaar as they shopped for perfumes. As the princess chose one, Singhia cast a spell on the scented oil and turned it into a love potion. The Princess caught sight of his sorcery however and quickly threw the enchanted oil into the sand. As the liquid seeped out from the bottle, the sand rose up and formed a great boulder, which began to roll towards the sorcerer, attracted to his presence through his own enchantment. Though Singhia tried to evade the boulder, it was futile, and the giant rock crushed him. Before he was killed however, the evil magician cursed the princess, the royal family and the city of Bhangarh, citing that the city would be forever doomed, its inhabitants cloaked in grief, and that no reincarnation would take place within its boundaries ever again.

A year later, a fierce battle waged between the anguished people of Bhangarh and the neighboring city of Ajabgarh. Princess Ratnavati was killed, and the city was destroyed. Through Singha’s curse, the fallen people of Bhangarh were condemned, unable to move on and forever trapped in the spirit world within the bounds of the city. Although the city fell to ruins, people have maintained the belief that Princess Ratnavati would yet one day be reborn— reincarnated elsewhere— to come back and restore the city to its former grander and release the restless spirits within.

The Fort City of Bhangarh: the Most Haunted Place in India

These two stories are actual legends that are told about the real-life ruins of Bhangarh. Bhangarh is said to be one of the most haunted places in India, and one of the most mysterious places in the world. Bhangarh stands on the edge of the Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan, India, in the district of Alwar.

Built in 1573 by King Bhagwant Das, the city was gifted to and ruled by his youngest son, Madho Singh. The architecture within the fort, though in ruins today, is breathtaking, and visitors flock to the city throughout the year. A long, broad bazaar road still runs through its center, Grey Langur and Rhesus Macaque monkeys inhabit the land, and glorious banyan trees pepper the area. P.S., if you don’t know what a banyan tree looks like, take a sec to google one. They are seriously impressive. The fortress itself, while undoubtedly destroyed, boasts three beautiful floors that are open for visitors to explore, and which showcase broken pillars and other remnants of the once magnificent structure. Next to the fortress stands the Temple of Someshwara. A grand set of steps ascends to the sancturary’s entrance, and visitors are often surprised to see how intact the walls of the temple have remained.

Mysteries of the Fort City

One of the first things one may notice when entering Bhangarh is that each and every building within its walls is roofless. One of the greatest mysteries of the city is that it is impossible to build a roof within its limits. Each time the construction of one is attempted, it collapses in, and has ended up the cause of many fatal accidents within the city. Another one of the city’s mysteries is that it is forbidden after dark. In fact, the government has strictly prohibited entrance to the ruins after sunset until sunrise, with the promise of legal repercussions for violators. It is said that those that venture into the ruins after dark, never come back out again.

There is a story of a group of thrill-seekers who hid within the fort’s walls as it was being locked at dusk, set on staying the night in the city. Though they managed to evade the fort’s security, one of the men fell down a well and had to be rescued by the other two members of his group. Obtaining substantial injuries, the man’s two friends rushed him to the hospital. None of them made it there, however, as they were all killed in a car accident en route.

Trapped Spirits

Many visitors say they feel paranoid, restless and anxious upon arrival to the fort. The legend of the princess and the sorcerer will tell you that the spirits of the dead Bhangarhi’s are trapped within the city, doomed to never be reborn— it is believed in Hindu religion that when you die you are reincarnated into another body to live again— until princess Ratnavati returns to restore the city to its former glory and release the trapped souls. People report strange sounds, voices, crying and jewelry clinking, as well as unearthly shadows, ghostly music and the smell of perfume and incense.

*

So that is the story of the cursed city of Bhangar. 🏰 And my list of places to visit grows longer. 😉

Have a great day, friends, and may you and your town never be cursed by a crazy dude. 🤞

[🧡DT] ☕️