What comes to your head when you think about a “vacation”? Or when you think about taking a short trip? It might be going to a place filled with natural beauty, or one of the popular destinations to visit, mountains, serene places, waterfalls, and other similar things- right? But do you know a lot of people do think about spooky places too!
And that’s the reason why people search, visit, and explore- the most haunted places in India and across the world. Call them bravehearts or differently thinking people, whatever you feel like, but it’s true that people do plan and take trips to spooky places as well.
This might give them a kick or some kind of adrenaline rush but one thing is for sure, these places are a must-visit due to the stories that are attached to them.
Note: It is advised to take the warnings and signboards seriously while visiting here. With a little caution you will enjoy taking trips to these places.
Here are some of the most haunted places to visit in India:
1. Kuldhara
Khuldhara was not as you see it today, but it was a very lively place with thousands of villagers thriving here. But then something happened and Kuldhara became one of the spookiest places in India.
Tale behind Kuldhara
The story of Kuldhara dates back to approximately 200 years ago when rich Paliwal Brahmins left the entire place abandoned and in the hands of ghosts. The reason behind the doing of such things is in the legends of this place. According to the legends, the chief of Jaisalmer wanted to forcefully marry the head of Kuldhara village’s daughter. He also warned this head of the village that if he would not marry his daughter to him he would forcefully take him to the palace.
But even after repeated efforts the chief of Jaisalmer was unperturbed and knowing about his arrogance the villagers had no other choice but to abandon the place. But before leaving, they curse the land in such a way that no construction has been successful till date.
If you want to believe the legends, it is said that approximately 1500 people migrated from Kuldhara which means 85 hamlets, in a single night. When the chief returned to possess the daughter from the head of the village, he saw that the entire place was barren. Obviously, after this he searched for them for months but couldn’t find them at all.
Since then it has been a mystery how and where the entire population of 85 hamlets went in a single night.
Location: 18 km from Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
Sightseeing Timings: Daybreak to Evening
2. Bhangarh Fort
The Bhangarh Fort is a legendary attraction in the Alwar district of Rajasthan. Named as the most haunted place in India for several years by many reputed organisations- Bhangarh still gives chills to a lot of people.
Haunting Stories of Bhangarh Fort
Rajasthan has a long, strong, and a dark history at many places. Bhangarh is one of those places where you get a lot of stories. If you visit here and have a word with the local lights they would tell you several stories but two of them have been prominent and people recite it too many times.
The story of Bhangarh Fort dates back to the time when the beautiful and charming princess Ratna Vati came to the palace. A wicked magician fell in love with the princess and wanted to marry her. Because he knew that he was in no state to marry the Princess, he used his black magic to get her by his side.
In order to do this, he put a spell in a perfume that was used by the princess too often. The plan was, when the princess would use this perfume she would fall in love with the magician after getting hypnotised. But as she was a princess, she had people to warn her about this trick used by the magician. So, when she got that perfume in her hands, she threw it out of the window and it landed on a boulder. It is said that, due to the strong magic, the boulder tumbled its way to the magician and crushed him.
In his last breath, the magician cursed the princess as well as the entire place of its destruction. He cursed the place by saying that the entire palace will be doomed and everybody will die. And that’s the same thing that happened here. And from then till date Bhangarh has been haunted by several ghosts.
Location: Alwar District, Rajasthan
Sightseeing Timings: Day break to Evening
3. Dow Hill, Kurseong
Kurseong is a very beautiful and enchanting hill station but there is a black sheep in the entire hill station and that’s Dow Hill. As it is one of the ghostly places in India and one that cannot be messed around with.
The Story of Dow Hill
There are a lot of stories that relate to the popular dowhill. But the most prominent of them all aside by the locals. They believe that there are a lot of spirits in the region and whenever someone passes by they can hear the footsteps following them. Even in the past, a lot of mysterious murders that have been witnessed here. Even the officials do not have a clue as to how these killings happened.
Many times when the wood cutters and labourers worked here they felt that shadow was always looking at them. A lot of people have also cited a headless boy loitering in the forest. All of these abnormal experiences and haunting activities have led to people believing in ghosts and their presence here.
Location: Kurseong, West Bengal
Sightseeing Timings: Daytime
4. D’Souza Chawl
Unlike the other haunted places in this list, D’souza chawl is a bit less haunted because people still live around the place. This is one of those haunted places where the story is streamlined and everybody says the same thing.
The story of D’Souza Chawl
The story behind this haunted place is that there was once a drought in the city and this was the reason for the water problem. Due to this the people who lived around the base Daga well which didn’t have any boundaries. One night a woman walked up to the went to fetch some water and stepped inside.
This resulted in her death after calling out for help for a long time. It was too late for her. And after that day a lot of people have sighted her presence and ghost near the well.
Location: Mahim, Mumbai
Sightseeing Timings: Anytime
5. GP Block Meerut
You might have already expected closure of this haunted place of Meerut in this list. Undoubtedly, it is not a place where you should mess around.
Tale of GP Block
According to a story that is also one of the most popular here amongst the locals, there is Lady in with a saree that haunts the place. There was once a family who lived here and due to some mental problem the man of the house slaughtered the entire family. Which constituted the wife and 2 kids. It is also said that the wife pleaded with her husband to spare the kids but he didn’t listen even a word.
And since then there has been a sighting of the same lady over and over again. Neither anyone has been able to live there nor renovation could be done. The place remains barren and empty since the event in 1930. What’s true is still unknown!
Location: Meerut, Uttar Pradesh
Sightseeing Timings: Only from the outside
6. Dumas Beach
Dumas Beach in Gujarat is one of the most eerie and haunting places in India, thanks to the enigmatic stories that shroud its shores. This picturesque beach, known for its black sand and tranquil beauty, carries with it a spine-chilling legend. Locals claim that it has been a site for paranormal activities, with numerous unexplained occurrences.
Tale of the Dumas Beach
One of the most well-known tales revolves around the spirits of the departed. It is believed that the beach was once a cremation ground, and the souls of the deceased continue to linger here. Visitors have reported hearing whispers, strange apparitions, and footsteps in the sand at night. While some may dismiss these accounts as superstition, the stories and experiences have given Dumas Beach a reputation as a place where the line between the living and the supernatural seems to blur, making it a site of both beauty and mystery.
Location: Surat, Gujarat
7. Shaniwarwada Fort
Shaniwarwada Fort in Pune, India, is steeped in history and an eerie legend that adds to its mystique. The haunting story is linked to the young Peshwa prince, Narayanrao, who met a tragic end.
Tale of the Shaniwarwada Fort
It is said that his death was a result of a conspiracy within the palace, and his ghost is believed to still wander the fort’s premises, especially on full moon nights. Locals and visitors claim to hear his cries for help echoing through the fort, creating an unsettling atmosphere. The legend of Narayanrao’s ghost has made Shaniwarwada Fort one of India’s most haunted places, and it adds a chilling layer to the historical significance of this magnificent Maratha architectural wonder.
Location: Pune, Maharashtra
8. Ross Island
Ross Island, a picturesque destination in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, holds a haunting secret from its colonial past. Once the administrative headquarters of the British in the region, the island was abandoned after an earthquake in 1941.
Tale of the Ross Island
The eerie story involves the supernatural realm. Visitors have reported inexplicable occurrences, such as hearing disembodied footsteps, whispering voices, and witnessing ghostly apparitions dressed in colonial-era attire. Some believe that the spirits of former British officers and their families still inhabit the island, unable to move on. These ghostly encounters have contributed to Ross Island’s reputation as one of India’s most haunted locations. Amid its stunning natural beauty, a sense of the paranormal lingers, adding an intriguing layer to its history.
Location: Andaman and Nicobar
Conclusion
So now how many of these places have you already visited and more importantly how many of these do you dare to visit in your lifetime. These haunted places of India are amongst the best and top most destinations. Although you will see a lot of people visiting here throughout the day, as soon as it starts getting dark now just humans but even the animals and birds move away from the perimeter of these places.
So if you want to explore these places do not overlook the sign boards that are given. And do not disobey any of the precautions that are asked by the organisations handling these places. So, make your plans and visit here because these are also some amazing destinations to visit.
