Bhangarh Fort, located 90 Km away from Jaipur, is claimed to be India’s most haunted place. Locals refer it as Bhangarh Ka Kila. It takes close to 2 hours to reach Bhangarh Fort from Jaipur via Agra Highway and involves taking a detour from Dausa town. The road connecting Dausa to Bhangarh is not really in top condition, thereby reducing the speed on this 40 km stretch.
Bhangarh Fort ruins are surrounded by the Aravali hill ranges.The nearest human habitat is located approximately 5 kilometers from these ruins, in a village called Gola ka baas. This kind of adds to the Bhangarh Fort ghost stories.
Upon entering the main gate of Bhangarh Fort, there is a temple on the right side. This temple is dedicated to Hanuman ji. There are many other temples in the Bhangarh complex. Religious rituals are performed in only few of these. In the rest, the deity is missing and are dysfunctional temples like Gopinath Temple.
The first thing you notice when you enter Bhangarh Fort ruin is the row of unfinished shops of Jauhri Bazar. Roof is completely missing in these shops! As per popular Bhangarh Fort story it is a result of a magician’s curse. I’m not sure if this is true!
There is a popular story behind Bhangarh Fort but it’s hard to believe in absence of any strong evidence. The most popular one is about a curse by a Tantric and Ratnavati the princess of Bhangarh. Another story claims there were gold mines in the vicinity and once the mining stopped (due to exhaustion of ore) the people decided to move out of the Bhangarh. It’s hard to believe this too, as this region is pretty strong in agriculture giving people little incentive to relocate. I will refrain from going into details of mystery of Bhangarh Fort as internet is replete with such stories.
This is information board affixed near the entrance of Bhangarh Fort by ASI (Archaeological Survey of India).
The site is frequently visited by locals as well as tourists. Even on a weekday, locals outnumber tourists. You will also come across students and youngsters who come here to meet Bhangarh Fort Ghosts! Usually these are students from Jaipur, Alwar or Dausa.
Bhangarh Fort complex is well maintained by ASI. The lawns are well maintained too. You will not find any litter in the complex . Do note that toilet facility is almost absent in Bhangarh Fort complex.
The Bhangarh fort is fortified with three different level of walls.
The 5 story Bhangarh Palace is the focal point of these ruins.
On entering the palace section of Bhangarh Fort, one encounters a terrible stench. It is difficult to figure out the precise reason or origin, but one likely reason could be the bat droppings. Yes, there are lots of bats in the palace complex.
Once you cross this level, you reach the intermediate level. This seems to be the main part of the palace which is evident from the architecture and the detailing on the stones. This entire level is in dilapidated condition.
In monsoon, the surrounding area is carpeted with green color.
There is a temple in the center of this floor which now is in a ruined state.
It is not uncommon to find pieces of broken bangles, perfume, clothes, nail polish etc inside this temple indicating that people visit this place for witchcraft and occult practices. Many locals say that often many babas visit Bhangarh Fort during midnight to perform black magic. Visiting Bhangarh Fort after sunset is prohibited as per ASI board.
From this floor, you can have an expansive view of the surrounding area. It is being claimed that the floors beyond this level were completely destroyed and it seems convincing too. Bhangarh palace was supposedly a 7 story building. Here are few wide angle Bhangarh Fort images.
Locals frequent Bhangarh Fort. It’s best to avoid Bhangarh on Sunday or any national holiday due to crowd. It’s bound to spoil your “Bhangarh Fort experience“.
Do keep in mind that food is not available in and around the Bhangarh Fort complex. May be you can buy packaged chips, biscuits and tit bits in few shops located in the nearby village… that’s it! There are no decent restaurants/ dhabas or eateries around the Bhangarh Fort. The lawns inside the complex make for a perfect picnic spot if the weather is pleasant and you are carrying the food basket with you! However, the ever present monkeys are a big deterrent! Don’t even attempt it!
Edit: Oct 2017- Some restaurants and Dhabas have recently sprung up owing to large tourist influx. Hotel Raj Palace near Bhangarh Fort parking is probably the best around.
Though I can’t claim to have experienced anything paranormal in Bhangarh Fort but one gets a very eerie feeling out here….something that’s not normal and difficult to describe! People often claim to have captured Bhangarh fort ghost videos, which in my opinion are fake. So, you need to experience Bhangarh Fort yourself which is claimed to be most haunted place in India.
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Beautiful pictures and the descriptions are spot on! Yes, you are right perhaps people need to visit to see for themselves.
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Thank you swetambara! I like words and description on your blog better! 🙂
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That’s really kind! But I like the way you have described the entire complex, I wouldn’t be able to recount all the features with such clarity. So loved reading this 🙂
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I’m happy that you liked it. Thanks for stopping by.
🙂
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I have heard so much about Bhangarh. It is so intriguing. Nobody stays there after sunset it seems. Thanks for sharing the pictures and post.
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Its a nice getaway from Jaipur. also, ghosts tend to ensure that it’s never crowded. 🙂
I have many friends who don’t like the idea of venturing anywhere near bhangarh. ghosts, they say….
Yes, one is not allowed to stay after sunset. I have been to kuldhara, another supposedly ghost town in jaiselmer, but bhangarh is certainly better. I’m happy that you liked it.
🙂
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Yes I have heard of Kuldhara too. Apparently these two places are the favourite spots of ghost hunters.
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I have read about ghost hunters but how reliable their claims are, is a different matter.
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Well…I couldnt help wonder…if you observed any spooky behaviour in the monkeys which I observed in your photographs…and they seem quite populous in the Fort!!! If the ghosts are maintaining a residence inside the fort…they must be tormenting the monkeys also!! Or, is it that they only favour humans? 😉
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There were no spooky incidences, however there’s an eerie feeling. Yes there are lot of monkey around, they’re harmless except when you’re holding edible stuff. As such there are no officially reported incidences of ghosts tormenting humans. Whatever we do hear has no credentials. what I can tell you for sure is that monkey’s maintain safe distance from the palace building. They never venture this section of ruin. So may be they can see,sense or experience what humans cannot. Appreciate your observation skill… Thanks for liking and following. 🙂
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Ahh…that’s very interesting! 🙂
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🙂
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This surely makes an interesting read.
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Since it’s India’s no one haunted place… it does. And otherwise too! 🙂
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I would so love to visit Bhangarh one day, i want to experience that feeling. I have heard about it and even saw some videos on the paranormal activity…but being in person will be different!
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You must! I have been to bhangarh many times.if there is any opportunity to visit again, I will grab it because there is some strange pull. Nothing paranormal but it’s so detached from vicinity. 🙂
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what a beautiful place
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It sure is… 🙂
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Excellent pictures and a great narrative to go with it! Love the fact that you did shed more light on the beauty of the place instead of the unsubstantiated stories surrounding it 🙂
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I think many of the stories are crap unless they are substantiated with some proof. I have chosen to go with what we can see and appreciate! Thanks for sharing your views! I’m happy you liked it 🙂
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Great post, with some excellent descriptions and stunning photos. Bhangarh looks an extensive site, and very isolated. I can see why it attracts so many local visitors in particular. It must have been truly magnificent in its original, pristine condition.
It’s funny how so many ruins and abandoned buildings acquire a collection of ghost stories. It’s hard to know whether any are based on reality, or are just someone’s fertile imagination, and a story told to be passed around. I’ve never seen a ghost, or sensed paranormal activity, so I tend to dismiss ghost stories as nonsense. But it’s hard to really know.
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You are so right Millie. Most stories we hear about ghosts, are passable. Unless you have your own experience, it’s hard to tell.
I’m sure this fort and village must have been magnificent in it’s hay days! There are so many stories related to Bhangarh and why it became haunted. But it’s hard to actually verify which one is right.
Who can tell better than you Millie, for UK has reputation for so many haunted houses and castles that there is a whole lot of “haunted tourism” surrounding it all!
Have you ever been to many of these haunted places?
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Oh wow, I love exploring sites like this! The area looks huge too! How long does it take to explore the whole place? I’d like to hear more about that curse too…
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It is spread out in huge area as you pointed out. It takes around one to two hours to explore the entire area. You want to hear the curse story ? Will post info on that too!
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This sparks the sense of wanderlust in me to visit Bhangarh. I just have to see this! It does look like a good setting for a horror movie. Very well written and beautiful descriptions.
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Thank you. It’s a remarkable place. Do visit if you can. Have you ever visited any other haunted site ?
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What an interesting place! I have never heard of this before! To me it looks more beautiful than creepy so I guess I’d dare to visit it! Very interesting to hear those stories. Thanks for sharing!
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Thank You Enni. If buildings and architecture is what you love…you’ll enjoy a trip to Bhangarh. 🙂
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Very interesting read – I love your narrative about the entire complex. Its details almost make me feel like I visited! Curses and ghosts definitely provide some intrigue, those kinds of things definitely interest me.
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I will recommend you to experience it in person. It’s better than reading or watching images. thank you for sharing your thoughts here. 🙂
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I would be afraid to go here alone but would be worth the trip in a group setting! The architecture is unique and love learning the history behind Bhangarh!
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you are welcome Shane. I will recommend you to visit Bhangarh someday and experience it in person. It’s worth it. 🙂
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I made so many plans to visit Bhangarh when I lived in Delhi, but it never happened. Great to get a visual tour through your pics 🙂
Also, super happy to note that ASI has maintained it so impeccably. It’s not always that heritage is given due respect..
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you are right. Bhangarh and Khajuraho are good examples as far as maintenance by ASI is concerned. I’m hoping you’ll get to visit Bhangarh someday Sid. Thanks for sharing your views here 🙂
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I was recently in Rajasthan for about 2 weeks but completely missed exploring the sites surrounding the Bhangarh. Loved going through this post with quite a lot of information supported by beautifully captured pictures. The ruins look so beautiful with the surrounding greenery. I shall plan my next trip post monsoons to explore this location .
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Great Sindhu. I’m happy you liked this post. Let me know if you need any information for planning this trip. 🙂
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Love the images of this beautiful yet haunted heritage site. I have heard so much stories from my friends. Some really chilled my bones. However, this fort needs some restoration.
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Sandy, the restoration will spoil the place. Some parts have been restored and conserved but the palace section has been left as it is. I’m hoping you’ll visit it someday. 🙂
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I have always heard that nobody can stay after 5 at Bhangarh fort as its a Ghost town. And feel that is not true. Can you feel anything unusual? I liked the way you have described the complex in the post and loved your pictures.
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Well, I never felt anything unusual on any of my trip. Sometimes, I did feel eerie at some locations. Nothing more. I haven’t stayed at this place beyond 4.30 Pm…ever so can’t verify this claim. I hope you visit Bhangarh someday. Thanks for sharing your views here 🙂
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Ya will surely plan in this or next year.
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Great 🙂
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I had not heard about Bhangarh Fort before. So, this post was really eye opening. Sounds like a mysterious place. Worth a visit 🙂
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Surely, it’s worth a visit, Raksha 🙂
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Is this the same place they show in one of the Rajasthan tourism ads? It is such a pity that the whole place is abandoned and in ruins. We can never know which story to believe.
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There are many places being featured in Rajasthan Tourism’s advert. If I’m not mistaken they have chosen to feature Kuldhara which is near Jaiselmer rather than Bhangarh. Kuldhara is considered as ghost village. Personally, I found the place to be over hyped with nothing much to offer. Bhangarh in contrast is better managed.
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