Aranya Doloi
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Mysteries of the unknown have always intrigued the human psyche and India is often considered an undiscovered land surrounded by mystical energy. The country holds the secrets and stories of palaces and their kings, of treasures and their keys, of painful deaths that are now a part of the broken timeline that is reality.
Screaming sounds or silent disappearances – once the sun goes down, you can never guess what goes on inside India’s most haunted places. And they are everywhere; starting from the magnificent hills of Ooty and Mussoorie, the parched Rajasthan desert, the bustling lanes of Mumbai and Delhi to Pune, the Oxford of India, Nizami Hyderabad and even the industrial juggernaut that is Gujarat.
So, what’s your pick – the hunter or the hunted? Make your mind up after taking a peek at India’s most haunted places right here:
Bhangarh Fort, Rajasthan
Situated near a forest, the spooky town of Bhangarh is one of the most haunted places in India and it’s luring visitors from all over the country, for all the wrong reasons. The story goes back to a magician who fell in love with the princess of the area. Since the match was impossible, the magician being quite the master of dark magic, decided to cast a spell on the princess to make her surrender to his love. The princess after learning about his plan killed him but the latter, before his death, cast a dark spell on the palace which caused its doom.
However, in spite of being regarded as haunted, Bhangarh Fort is officially promoted as a tourist destination. But, once night falls and darkness takes over, visitors are not allowed to enter the palace, leaving it as prey to the supposed paranormal.
Jamali-Kamali Masjid, Delhi
Imagine someone closely keeping an eye on you from behind the pillars but vanish in a wisp of air as you approach them. This is exactly what happens at Jamali-Kamali Masjid where Jinns are believed to reside. Visitors who dared to walk within the walls of the Masjid at night talk about sighting apparitions, lights and animals growling. Some have even experienced the eerie feeling of someone’s breath on their necks.
According to Islamic legends, Jinns are born and made out of fire and exist in a parallel universe to that of humans. However, they have the power to cross worlds and at times they just decide to stay behind in the human world. When troubled by our presence, they hurt people and hence the best supernatural activity people experienced in Jamali-Kamali Masjid is getting slapped by an invisible force.
Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad
One of India’s biggest film cities, Ramoji is home to many hotels which have been home to a lot of supernatural controversies. There are reports of lights turning off frequently, scattering of food left in rooms and strange marks on the mirrors. Females are more targeted than men as there are reports of an invisible force tearing off their clothes in broad daylight as well. While some speculate that the eerie presence is that of the crew members who’ve lost their lives at work, other think it is the soldiers and generals who died fighting for the Nizam of Hyderabad as the studio campus was once a battle field.
Mayong, Assam
Known as The Black Magic Capital of India, Mayong is all about wizardry, mystery and tradition. According to legend, witches and saints of black magic took shelter in the woods of Mayong, centuries ago and passed down sorcery and magic to the next generation and it’s been going on ever since. There are tales of men disappearing in front of people’s eyes, turning a man into an animal and many more. Swords used to sacrifice humans are also found by excavators in this part of the country.
The Shaniwar Wada Fort, Pune
Shaniwar Wada Fort, known for its sheer architectural brilliance is believed to be on its zenith of supernatural activity every full moon night. The story goes back to the brutal murder of a young prince in the fort which is why maybe his spirit still haunts the place. Shrieks of the young prince are heard coming from the fort after night fall and hence it’s preferable to visit the fort during the day time.
Dumas Beach, Gujarat
Dumas Beach, along the Arabian Sea is famous for its black sand and the mystical energy surrounding it. Weird incidents like whispers being heard, people disappearing at night only to be never found again are known to occur at this place. In fact, many lost their lives while exploring this mysterious beauty. It is believed by many that the beach was once a Hindu burial ground and hence is the resting place of tortured souls. If you’re daring and curious enough, you can test the waters yourself by taking a midnight stroll along the beach but you will be greeted with warnings asking you not to cross a certain line on the beach for sure. However, if you love the paranormal, you’ll have the time of your life.
Raj Kiran Hotel, Maharashtra
Situated right in the main city, this haunted hotel in Lonavla is one of the hit zones when it comes to supernatural occurrences. Residents of one of Raj Kiran Hotel’s rooms claimed to have their bed sheets were pulled over while they were sleeping and the constant feeling of someone’s presence in the room kept them on edge. Some people also recount waking up in the middle of the night to a strange blue light near their feet. In case you’re planning to visit the hotel, the room is right in the corner behind the reception on the ground floor.
