About the Fort
Bhangarh fort was built in the 17th century by Raja Madha Singh, the younger brother of the great Mughal general, Man Singh of Amber. It is located on the border of the Sariska Tiger Reserve, in the Alwar district of Rajasthan, and is a popular tourist destination for its historical significance and the legends of ghosts and curses.
Besides, the royal Bhangarh fort had over 9,000 houses until 1720, after which it gradually diminished in population.
The fort was designed by Man Singh, one of the Navarathnas of Emperor Akbar’s court. The fort’s architecture is a fusion of Rajput and Mughal styles, including temples, palaces, and courtyards. The fort is constructed using sandstone and marble and is adorned with intricate carvings and paintings. The fort’s main gate, the Hanuman Gate, is an imposing structure that leads to the central courtyard of the fort.
Bhangarh Fort is encircled by many mysteries and myths. This has contributed to its reputation as one of the most haunted places in India.
The curse of the tantrik
The curse of Bhangarh fort is said to be one of the reasons behind the fort’s deserted state. According to the legend, Bhangarh Fort is cursed by a hermit named Guru Balu Nath. The spot where the fort was built once served as the meditation spot of the sage, and when the king pleaded with him that he wanted to build a fort here, the sage agreed on one condition that the fort’s shadow should not touch him. The king persuaded him that the fort’s shadow would not touch him at his place, which sadly didn’t happen, and the curse if the hermit followed, which led to the entire village being destroyed.
Princess Ratnavati
Another popular legend associated with the fort is that of Princess Ratnavati. She was very beautiful and had a number of suitors from the royal families of the country. A wizard, adept in black magic, fell in love with the princess. As she went shopping with her friends, the wizard saw her buying ittar and replaced it with a love potion. The princess, however, came to know of the wizard’s wicked trickery and threw the potion into the
boulder nearby. This resulted in the boulder rolling toward the wizard and crushing him to death. But before his death, he cursed the city, stating that it would be destroyed soon and no one would be able to live within its precincts. The kingdom was later sacked by the invading Mughal forces, killing all the inhabitants of the fort along with the princess Rathnavati.
Haunted experiences
It has attracted many thrill seekers and curious visitors over the years. Many claim to have experienced paranormal activities within the fort’s walls, while others remain skeptical. One of the most common experiences reported by visitors is the feeling of being watched or followed. Some experienced a sudden drop in temperature, despite the hot and humid weather of Rajasthan. Also heard some strange noises, footsteps, whispers, and screams from the abandoned buildings.
Some visitors witnessed the apparitions, ghostly figures in and around the fort. One of the most commonly reported apparitions is that of the black saree-clad women, who’re said to roam the fort’s premises. Others have claimed to see shadow figures, misty forms, and even full-bodied apparitions of soldiers and princesses. There are also reports claiming that objects move on their own, doors and windows open and close by themselves, and even instances of possession and physical attacks by unseen entities.
It’s completely forbidden to venture or stay inside the Bhangarh fort at night. As a matter of fact, the Archaeological Survey of India has even put up boards at several spots in Bhangarh to warn people against staying in the premises after sunset and before the sun rises. As per the locals, anybody who managed to go inside the fort at night never returned to tell their tale, as it is believed that spirits roam there at night, which turns this place into a hotbed for paranormal activities.
It is very strange to witness that every house located in the area is roofless. It is believed that the sage who cursed the town to its ultimate devastation is responsible for it. Referring to this, locals stated that it’s not possible to construct a roof on these houses, and even if one is built, it collapses, and such incidents have killed people in the past.
The Beauty of the architecture
The fort is situated at the edge of a lusciously green expanse of Sariska Tiger Reserve between Alwar and Jaipur, and is not very far away from Delhi either. The fort was modeled upon the medieval city of Shahjahanabad. With four massive Wooden gates in
every direction. The precincts of the fort have ornately carved a miniature waterfall and temples, which lend an air of tranquility to the place during the better part of the day. The remnants of some places within the fort are clear indicators of the fort’s prosperity during its heyday. The fort would have been a tourist hotspot for its serene atmosphere during the day, and for the architectural marvel that the fort is. And as a matter of fact, it is a tourist attraction, and it does attract hordes of tourists during the day, but for all the wrong reasons. Local folks. Would have you believe that no one dares to build a house with a roof in the vicinity of the fort. The roof collapses shortly after being made.
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