Bhangarh Fort - India's most haunted place
Since we were late for early morning Jungle Safari at Sariska National Park, we decided to take 2nd Jungle Safari which stats at 3pm. To spend that time, we decided to visit Bhangarh.
We reached Bhangarh
around 11am in the morning. While we
were on the way to Bhangarh, the weather suddenly changed and it started
raining. This has made the atmosphere very pleasant and when we reached the
site of Bhangarh, it was still drizzling out there.
On the way to Bhangarh, traveling by Road side and witnessing the
culture – Got absorbed in Nature. LEARNING!
One thing I realized
while traveling on those narrow roads from Sariska Tiger Reserve to
Bhangarh and watching the never ending
Aravalli Mountain Range - each mountain has its own history. These mountains
tell stories of themselves - these mountains have witnessed different kingdoms,
these mountains have witnessed different clans fighting for pride, fighting for
land, these mountains have witnessed the origin of colorful culture of
Rajasthan, these mountains give us hint about life in ancient times – these
mountains telling us no matter how much hardship come, but we should stay firm. These mountains in Aravlli Range are one of
the oldest mountains in the world. No wonder why this place has always
attracted people from all over the world.
While on the way, I also
observed local people engaged in small activities like farming, arranging woods,
selling tea-snacks, selling water, and
thus showing they are contend with their natural surroundings and resources.
There was no hustle-bustle like a city, no mad rush, everything was just at
peace. Because of rain, the wind was
quite chilly and it made the entire stretch so beautiful. I admired Mother Nature for its sheer
brilliance. My respect for Mother Nature has grown many folds after this trip.
We stopped at a restaurant for Tea-snacks and got to know this taste of Rajasthan. This is hot kachauri dipped in yumi kadi. The taste was really good. I wanted to have one more plate but resisted. Try this and it will definitely satisfy your taste buds.
Rajasthani people love the crispy snacks. We were got introduced to some of them while our 15 minute stay at this restaurant.
Simplicity at its best
Where is Bhangarh Fort?
Bhangarh is a village in India that is famous for its historical ruins. It is in the Rajgarh municipality of the Alwar district in the state of Rajasthan. Bhangarh is at the edge of the Sariska Tiger Reserve.
The Bhangarh Fort is located on the border of the Sariska Reserve in the Aravali range of hills in Alwar district of Rajasthan. The fort is located 235 kilometres (146 mi) from Delhi." - Wikipedia
"Entry to Bhangarh is legally prohibited between sunset and sunrise. A signboard posted by ASI (Archaeological Survey of India), which is a Government of India organization, specifies the instructions. "Entering the borders of Bhangarh before sunrise and after sunset is strictly prohibited. Legal action would be taken against anybody who does not follow these instructions". Some other rules are there according to which no one is allowed to graze their animals after sunset.
What I liked in Bhangarh?
While
we visited and roamed the entire area, I realized that it was not a fort only; but
it was a complete city being laid in ancient times. When I entered from main gate, I didn’t get
much clue about the what the construction is about, however when I reached
inside and from there when I entered the main fort and looked from top, I
realized it was a whole kingdom altogether. I checked the broken houses (from
entry gate till main fort) and analyzed the pattern – all of them were quite
common in construction (entrance, a room and kitchen). Main Fort was being made in such a way so
that one can have a bird eye view of the entire kingdom. There is a Lord Shiva
Temple as well in main area which gives the hint that it was being made for
people living in Royal Palace (or fort).
I also spotted a temple like gable which was being laid down on the peak
of a nearby giant mountain. I believe this was a place from where soldiers used
to track for any intruder or enemy attacks. Really, we can only wonder by
thinking how these people made construction at such high peak on those days and
how they used to deliver message from that high point to another point below in
the kingdom.
Welcome to the Fort
Is it a temple or what? I just wonder, how people in ancient times have made this construction at such high point. I believe this gable give us hint that this construction must have been done to keep a vigil eye on the city
Entering to the main fort
I believe this temple in main fort area was built for the royal people living in the palace
Wondering how people in that time have constructed such magnificent work - from where they got the machines to cut the stone with such fine edges in ancient times?
Looking at the fort
View from Top
From top, we can get the idea how the concept of the city is being laid down here
Have I spotted any paranormal activity?
No. I haven't seen anything abnormal. Although the entire place have been maintained to be in its natural state, but yes it does give the idea of a ruined city.
What is the story behind Bhangarh and why it is called India’s most haunted place?
“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.
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 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 (scent). 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.” - Wikipedia
