Haunted Sites in India

What is haunted site means?

A haunted sites is a house or other building often perceived as being inhabited by disembodied spirits of the deceased who may have been former residents or were familiar with the property. Parapsychologists attribute haunting to the spirits of the dead and the effect of violent or tragic events in the building's past such as murder, accidental death, or suicide.More scientific explanations for the perception that a house is haunted include misinterpreting noises naturally present in structures, waking dreams, suggestibility, and the effect of toxic substances in environments that can cause hallucinations.

1. Bhangarh Fort, Rajasthan

 

Who’s place was it?

The Bhangarh Fort is a 17th century fort built by order of King Sawai Madho Singh in Rajasthan.

There are two legends narrated to the history of the fort city which is reported to be haunted and no one is allowed to remain the precincts of the fort at night as per a notice board put up by the Archaeological Survey of India at the entrance.

Reasons for haunting

One version of the legend is that a sadhu named Baba Balanath lived within the fort area. It was his injunction that any houses built in the precincts of the fort should not be taller than his house and in case the shadow of any such house falling on his house would result in destruction of the fort town.

In another version, Singhiya, the wizard who was adept in black magic fell in love with the Ratnavati, the princess of Bhangarh who was very beautiful and had suitors to marry her from many royal families of the country. One day while the princess, 18 years of age, went shopping with her friends and was buying Ittar (perfume). The wizard saw this and replaced the scent with some potion in order to ensnare the princess. He offered the potion to her so that she took a liking for him and marry him. However, the princess saw through the wizard's trickery and when he offered her the bowl of potion, she threw it on a big boulder nearby and as a result the boulder started rolling down towards the wizard and crushed him. Before he died he cursed that Bhangarh would be destroyed soon and no one will be able to live within its precincts. Subsequent to the curse Bhangarh Fort was invaded by the Mughals from the north and the city was surrounded and sacked; 10,000 people lived in the fort city at that time. All the people in the fort including the princess were killed. The present state of the fort is attributed to the curse of the wizard and people believe the ghosts in the fort are that of the princess and the wizard.  Since from that day at the night time there are some paranormal activities are said to take place, some people have reportedly died by these paranormal activities.

 

2. Dumas Beach, Surat – Gujarat

Dumas Beach is an urban beach along the Arabian Sea located 21 km southwest of Surat City in Indian state of Gujarat. This beach is famous for its black sand. It is a popular tourist destination in south Gujarat. Apart from the beach, places of interest at Dumas including the Dariya Ganesh Temple located adjacent to the main beach.

Many people lost their lives here as per the belief of local people. As per the belief of the local people, if you don’t believe in this story then spend a night at the beach. Dumas Beach was also reported as one of the most haunted places in the Gujarat state.

Reason for haunting

If one goes by the story, Hindus burn their dead bodies on the beach, and this area has been reported numerous of times for its paranormal activities. People have reported experiences like hearing strange whispers on Dumas beach. It`s like the wind around this area is full of spirits of dead people. Some tourists have been even known to have disappeared while taking walks on the beach at night.

 

3.Dow Hill Kurseong, Darjeeling – West Bengal

Dow Hill in Kurseong is often reported to be a centre of paranormal activities as reported by the locals. The Victoria Boys High School is believed to be the place where spirits reside. People opine that sound of footsteps emanating from the school can be heard even when the school is closed for the three long months from December to March. Countless people have been found murdered in the forests near the school. Locals believe that the spirits will not spare them and thus their days are spend in worry and anxiety. While some locals have started enjoying the myths and take pleasure in frightening other people, the rest prefer to remain ignorant. Persistent enquiries by the tourists and researchers only add to the list of unanswered questions

 

4.Lambidhar Mines

 

The Lambi Dehar mines are located at the outskirts of Mussoorie. A few years ago there were mines and lime quarries in this area but they were shut down following innumerable truck accidents and irregularities in safety precautions. It is estimated that more than 50,000 workers lived in this area but a lot of them died a painful death due to lung diseases caused by improper mining. People no longer live here and during night time, some tourists have reported hearing strange noises. Many travellers met with fatal road accidents while driving and the most recent one being the shocking crash of a helicopter near the Lambi Dehar mines site

 

What are the other legends /folkore about this site??

Ghost that is believed to be haunting these mines is that of an Army officer who used to live in Mussorie with his beautiful wife. Whether this officer belonged to Indian or the old British Army, no one knows. His wife was cheating on him with another man and wanted to get rid of her husband. So they planned his murder and one day the wife took the officer out for a walk at the mines. Her lover was waiting for them on top of a cliff and as the couple passed down below, he hurled a huge boulder towards them. Wife knew what was coming so she jumped to safety however the poor husband got crushed under the boulder. What happened to the unfaithful wife and her lover is unknown but it is believed that ghost of that Army officer is still trapped at the mines, forced to repeat the scene of his death every night, over and over again for eternity. People talk about how he has been heard still by several people, crying out in pain, every night. They say that he still doesn’t know what happened, that the woman he so dearly loved broke his trust and murdered him. Per the local belief, he is stuck in a death loop unless he finds out the reality

The next legend is of a witch who has taken shelter in the mines and has been responsible for several deaths that occurred here. Interestingly enough, this woman was also an unfaithful wife in her life. She was the wife of a local miner and mother of two. One day her husband found about her extra-marital affair and the wife, out of fear and guilt, unable to face her husband ran to the mines and hid there for days. Her husband and other villagers looked and looked for her but she couldn’t be found. What she didn’t know was that her lover had also taken off and it created an impression of both of them leaving the village together. This further infuriated the husband and out of anger he killed both their children, not able to decide if they were his own or other man’s. Days later, the wife stepped out of the mines only to learn about the death of both her children. Ashamed of what she has done and how her acts destroyed her family, she ran to a nearby cliff and jumped off it. Ever since, it is believed that her soul is still trapped in the mines and is getting violent day by day. People say that right after the death of the wife, strange happenings started to occur in the mines. People started to die in strange and freak accidents every other day. Then there came a time that everyone feared for their lives and not even a single person was ready to step in this mines which by them had earned the fame of being called a death pit.

Then there is also the tale of a woman, wife of a miner, who one fine day heard an explosion at the mines. She immediately ran to the place where her husband was working to enquire of his safety. It turned out that there was no explosion and it was just her hallucination that she explained to her husband who was working his shift in one piece. After listening to what his wife had to say, the miner went down to enquire and ensure that everything was safe and sound and this is when the blast happened that killed him. Since then, people say that the ghost of this woman runs to the mines every evening trying to save her husband from the blast that she had a premonition of.

 

5.Shaniwarwada Fort, Pune

Shaniwarwada is a royal palace in the city of Pune in Maharashtra, India. Built in 1746,it was the seat of the Peshwa rulers of the Maratha Empire until 1818 when the Peshwas surrendered to the British. The fort itself was largely destroyed in 1828 by an unexplained fire, but the surviving structures are now maintained as a tourist site.Following the rise of the Maratha Empire, the palace became the center of Indian politics in the 18th century

Legends

Haunted by young Prince who was killed by his own relatives in the fort. As per the tales of the local people, supernatural activity increased in every full moon. Most of tourists visit this place during the sunlight i.e. day time. It is not advisable to enter in the fort during the night.

 

6.Agrasen ki Baoli

 

Agrasen ki Baoli , designated a protected monument by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) under the Ancient Monuments and Archeological Sites and Remains Act of 1958, is a 60-meter long and 15-meter wide historical step well on Hailey Road near Connaught Place, a short walk from Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, India. Although there are no known historical records to prove who built Agrasen ki Baoli, it is believed that it was originally built by the legendary king Agrasen during the Mahabharat epic era and rebuilt in the 14th century by the Agrawal community which traces its origin to Maharaja Agrasen.

As per the tales of local people, the step well was filled with black water. As per the beliefs of the local people, the water hypnotizes people to commit suicide in the step well.

 

Other Haunted places in India

 

Brijraj Bhawan Palace, Kota – Rajasthan

It is one of the haunted royal palaces of Rajasthan since. As per the news reports and beliefs, British major Mr. Burton was killed in the palace before the India’s independence. His son was also killed along with him. That’s why both of them have made this place as their home.

 

D’Souza Chawl Mahim, Mumbai – Maharashtra

D’Souza Chawl is the most haunted place in Mumbai as well as in Maharashtra state. As per the tales of the residents of this chawl, a woman has lost her life in the well when she was trying to get water from the same well.The residents of D’Souza Chawl have also reported, that she is not harming anyone. They have also added that, she just walks from the area during midnight. The ghost of this lady also disappears when the sun rises and again appears at midnight.

 

Vrindavan Society, Thane (Maharashtra)

It is believed that a man had committed suicide in the building no. 66 B of the society. Vrindavan Society is also considered as one of the most haunted place in Thane.A bad incident was happened in the society which proves it. The security guard was doing his duty i.e. patrolling in the society, someone has slapped him so much hard while he was sitting on the chair. He was thinking that other guard who was sitting near to him slapped him, he immediately slapped the other guard.

 

Gujarat Technological University (GTU) Campus, Ahmedabad

GTU is the most popular university in the state of Gujarat in India. GTU administrative staff and security personnel recently faced an unusual ghost experience in the building. As per the claim of security guard, he has heard voices of women. Even the doors were automatically opened and closed, furniture being thrown over and there. This news was reported by the Ahmedabad Mirror, a prominent newspaper of the city.

 

Three Kings Church, Goa

The 3 Kings Church is situated on the hill of the Cansulim village in the South Goa. This church is famous for the feast of the three kings. The celebration is also held on 6th January of each year. Three Kings Church is mostly visited by the local people and a few tourists.According to the local people, this church is haunted. Long time ago, 3 Portuguese kings were living in the state of Goa. They want to gain power at any cost. King Holger Alvunger, one of the kings has invited two other kings in the palace. He poisoned both of them and both died there. After some time, he also committed suicide by consuming poison. This place becomes one of the most haunted places in Goa.

Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai

Sanjay Gandhi National Park is the only national park with a large protected area in the city. It is located in the Borivali East in Mumbai. People often visit this place as their weekend getaway in Mumbai.Leopards and other dangerous animals have eaten people staying in the forest. If believed to be true, a phantom hitchhiker spirit is haunted in the national park. Forest Guards are also insisting that it is true. It is also considered as one of the most haunted places in Mumbai city in Maharashtra.

 

Writer’s Building, Kolkata

Kolkata was the major center of power during British rule in India. To accommodate junior writers and clerks, British Government built writer’s building as the official residence. It is located on the center of the city i.e. BBD Square, Kolkata. It is currently used by the Government of West Bengal as the secretariat of the state.

As per the tales of the local people, Indian revolutionaries Binay, Dinesh and Badal has killed Captain Simpson who was working in the British East India Company in this building. Due to sudden death, his spirit is still roams in the building. None of the officials stay here after the office hours or after dusk. It is one of the most haunted places in Kolkata, West Bengal.

South Park Street Cemetery, Kolkata

South Park Street Cemetery is another haunted place in the city of Kolkata. This cemetery is the oldest in the city, which was constructed in 1767. As per the reports, a group of friends visited this place and they have clicked group photo in the cemetery. Soon the weird things started happening with each of them. The one who clicked the group picture had an asthma attack. As a shocking, he wasn’t asthma patient at all!

GP Block, Meerut

GP Block is one of the haunted places in the state of Uttar Pradesh. It is located in the city of Meerut. As per the tales of local people, four boys were sitting inside the house with a single candle light. They were drinking beers.

Vijayanagar :One of the Forgotten Empire (1336–1646)

 

The Vijayanagara Empire  referred to as the Kingdom of Bisnegar by the Portuguese, was an empire based in South India, in the Deccan Plateau region. It was established in 1336 by Harihara I and his brother Bukka Raya I of Sangama Dynasty. The empire rose to prominence as a culmination of attempts by the southern powers to ward off Islamic invasions by the end of the 13th century. It lasted until 1646 although its power declined after a major military defeat in 1565 by the Deccan sultanates. The empire is named after its capital city of Vijayanagara, whose ruins surround present day Hampi, now a World Heritage Site in Karnataka, India.The writings of medieval European travelers such as Domingo Paes, Fernão Nunes and Niccolò Da Conti, and the literature in local languages provide crucial information about its history. Archaeological excavations at Vijayanagara have revealed the empire's power and wealth.

 

The empire's legacy includes many monuments spread over South India, the best known of which is the group at Hampi. The previous temple building traditions in South India came together in the Vijayanagara Architecture style. The mingling of all faiths and vernaculars inspired architectural innovation of Hindu temple construction, first in the Deccan and later in the Dravidian idioms using the local granite. Efficient administration and vigorous overseas trade brought new technologies such as water management systems for irrigation. The empire's patronage enabled fine arts and literature to reach new heights in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil and Sanskrit, while Carnatic music evolved into its current form. The Vijayanagara Empire created an epoch in South Indian history that transcended regionalism by promoting Hinduism as a unifying factor.

Brief History of the Vijayanagar empire

Differing theories have been proposed regarding the Vijayanagara empire's origins. Many historians propose Harihara I and Bukka, the founders of the empire, were Kannadigas and commanders in the army of the Hoysala Empire stationed in the Tungabhadra region to ward off Muslim invasions from the Northern India. Others claim that they were Telugu people first associated with the Kakatiya Kingdom who took control of the northern parts of the Hoysala Empire during its decline. Irrespective of their origin, historians agree the founders were supported and inspired by Vidyaranya, a saint at the Sringeri monastery to fight the Muslim invasion of South India. Writings by foreign travelers during the late medieval era combined with recent excavations in the Vijayanagara principality have uncovered much-needed information about the empire's history, fortifications, scientific developments and architectural innovations.

Before the early 14th-century rise of the Vijayanagara Empire, the Hindu states of the Deccan, the Yadava Empire of Devagiri, the Kakatiya dynasty of Warangal, the Pandyan Empire of Madurai, and the tiny kingdom of Kampili had been repeatedly invaded by Muslims from the north, and by 1336 they had all been defeated by Alla-ud-din Khilji and Muhammad bin Tughluq, the Sultans of Delhi. The Hoysala Empire was the sole remaining Hindu state in the path of the Muslim invasion. After the death of Hoysala king Veera Ballala III during a battle against the Sultan of Madurai in 1343, the Hoysala Empire merged with the growing Vijayanagara empire.

In the first two decades after the founding of the empire, Harihara I gained control over most of the area south of the Tungabhadra river and earned the title of Purvapaschima Samudradhishavara ("master of the eastern and western seas"). By 1374 Bukka Raya I, successor to Harihara I, had defeated the chiefdom of Arcot, the Reddys of Kondavidu, the Sultan of Madurai and gained control over Goa in the west and the Tungabhadra-Krishna River doab in the north. The original capital was in the principality of Anegondi on the northern banks of the Tungabhadra River in today's Karnataka. It was later moved to nearby Vijayanagara on the river's southern banks during the reign of Bukka Raya I.

With the Vijayanagara Kingdom now imperial in stature, Harihara II, the second son of Bukka Raya I, further consolidated the kingdom beyond the Krishna River and brought the whole of South India under the Vijayanagara umbrella.The next ruler, Deva Raya I, emerged successful against the Gajapatis of Odisha and undertook important works of fortification and irrigation. Italian traveler Niccolo de Conti wrote of him as the most powerful ruler of India. Deva Raya II (called Gajabetekara) succeeded to the throne in 1424 and was possibly the most capable of the Sangama dynasty rulers. He quelled rebelling feudal lords as well as the Zamorin of Calicut and Quilon in the south. He invaded the island of Lanka and became overlord of the kings of Burma at Pegu and Tanasserim. The empire declined in the late 15th century until the serious attempts by commander Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya in 1485 and by general Tuluva Narasa Nayaka in 1491 to reconsolidate the empire.

 

 

After nearly two decades of conflict with rebellious chieftains, the empire eventually came under the rule of Krishna Deva Raya, the son of Tuluva Narasa Nayaka. In the following decades the Vijayanagara empire dominated all of Southern India and fought off invasions from the five established Deccan Sultanates. The empire reached its peak during the rule of Krishna Deva Raya when Vijayanagara armies were consistently victorious. The empire annexed areas formerly under the Sultanates in the northern Deccan and the territories in the eastern Deccan, including Kalinga, while simultaneously maintaining control over all its subordinates in the south. Many important monuments were either completed or commissioned during the time of Krishna Deva Raya.

Krishna Deva Raya was followed by his younger half-brother Achyuta Deva Raya in 1529. When Achyuta Deva Raya died in 1542, Sadashiva Raya, the teenage nephew of Achyuta Raya was appointed king though real power was wielded by Rama Raya, Krishna Deva Raya's son-in-law. When Sadashiva was old enough to claim absolute power, Aliya Rama Raya had him imprisoned and became the de facto ruler. Eager to take advantage of the disunity among the Sultanates of Bijapur, Ahamednagar, Berar, Golkonda, and Bidar, Rama Raya involved himself in the political affairs of the powers across the Krishna river to the north. His ploy of supporting militarily one Sultanate against another, often changing alliances, brought rich rewards for a while. However, by 1563, exhausted with his intrigues, the bitter rivals from the north formed an alliance. They marched against Rama Raya and clashed with the Vijayanagara's forces in January 1565.The capture and killing of Aliya Rama Raya in the famous Battle of Talikota, after a seemingly easy victory for the Vijayanagara armies, created havoc and confusion in the Vijayanagara ranks, which were then completely routed. The Sultanates' army later plundered Hampi and reduced it to the ruinous state in which it remains; it was never re-occupied. Tirumala Deva Raya, Rama Raya's younger brother who was the sole surviving commander, left Vijayanagara for Penukonda with vast amounts of treasure on the back of 1500 elephants.

The empire went into a slow decline regionally, although trade with the Portuguese continued, and the British were given a land grant for the establishment of Madras.Tirumala Deva Raya was succeeded by his son Sriranga I later followed by Venkata II who was the last king of Vijayanagara empire, made his capital Chandragiri and Vellore, repulsed the invasion of the Deccan Sultanates and saved Penukonda from being captured.
His successor Rama Deva Raya took power and ruled until 1632, after whose death Venkata III became king and ruled for about ten years. The empire was finally conquered by the Sultanates of Bijapur and Golkonda. The largest feudatories of the Vijayanagar empire – the Mysore Kingdom, Keladi Nayaka, Nayaks of Madurai, Nayaks of Tanjore, Nayakas of Chitradurga and Nayak Kingdom of Gingee declared independence and went on to have a significant impact on the history of South India in the coming centuries. These Nayaka kingdoms lasted into the 18th century while the Mysore Kingdom remained a princely state until Indian Independence in 1947 although they came under the British Raj in 1799 after the death of Tipu Sultan.

Poorly maintained memorial of Emperor Raja Raja Chola

Raja Raja Chola I(985 AD-1014 AD)  born Arunmozhi Varman (also called as Raja Kesari Varman Raja Raja Devar and respectfully as Peruvudaiyar), popularly known as Raja Raja the Great, is one of the greatest emperors of the Tamil Chola Empire of India who ruled between 985 and 1014 CE. He established the Chola Empire by conquering the kingdoms of southern India expanding the Chola Empire as far as Sri Lanka in the south, and Kalinga (Orissa) in the northeast. He fought many battles with the Chalukyas in the north and the Pandyas in the south. By conquering Vengi, Rajaraja laid the foundations for the Later Chola dynasty. He invaded Sri Lanka and started a century-long Chola occupation of the island. He streamlined the administrative system with the division of the country into various districts and by standardizing revenue collection through systematic land surveys. Being an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva, he built the magnificent Peruvudaiyar Temple (also known as the Brihadeeswarar Temple) in Thanjavur and through it enabled wealth distribution amongst his subjects. His successes enabled his son Rajendra Chola I to extend the empire even further.

Statue of Raja Raja Chola outside Brihadeeswarar Temple

 An emperor who has history for this kind and still remembered by the Tamil people has a very sad story in end of his life, the burial ground where the Raja Raja Chola was buried was a Siva temple in Udayalur, Kumbakonam(Tanjore district)  and this burial ground(Memorial) of this great king who had built hundreds of temple doesn’t even has a proper shelter for this place where he was buried.

The banner displaying the information about the Emperor

Banner displaying the location of the Siva Temple

The place which was believed that Raja Raja Cholan was buried under this Siva Lignam

 

Caretaker of the Siva Temple

Location Of Siva Temple

Documentary On Raja Raja Chola