Haunted Locations That Will Make You Pee Your Pants: Bhangarh Ruins, India

  One of the things I love the most about paranormal research is learning about other cultures in a great big world and India has always fascinated me the most.  India is still a country that many in the west still find puzzling although we have a large Indian population living in North America.  Their culture and their religion which is largely Hindu is firmly steeped in mysticism and mystical legends of gods and heros interacting with one another is a big part of their faith.  I first heard about our next stop the Bhangarh Ruins, in the Alwar district in the state of Rajasthan from a former co-worker who had lived nearby.  Sanjay, grew up in Rajasthan and he had many eerie and frightening tales to tell concerning the ancient ruins.  Stories that he said to this day still makes him shudder.

  Most who visit the ruins, which is only open during the day, agree that they are a sight to behold a hidden city that speaks volumes of ancient India and a sense of tranquility overwhelms all those who visit here.  However the ruins hold a much darker secret and a history so frightening that is all those who knew it would never return again.  On the main gate a sign is placed that reads, “Staying after sunset is strictly prohibited.”  Now I know that to the casual observer this may seem like any sign that would be placed at any location of historical significance.  However those who placed the sign are not fearful of some vandal breaking in and destroying the ruins, the signs is placed there to protect those who dare venture into the ruins at night due to an awful curse that has been known to take the lives of hundreds if not thousands.

  One of the problems with researching the ghostly legends of other cultures is that it is oftentimes difficult to seperate subjective myth from cold hard objective fact  and Bhangarh ruins certainly is no exception to the rule.  What exactly caused these otherwise harmless ruins to be known as the most haunted site in India?  And what dark secret do they hold that forces people to believe in a malicious curse?  Let’s explore these questions and find out what makes the ruins so badass and why it may make you pee your pants.

  The city of Bhangarh was founded centuries ago by Madho Singh, a gentleman of high social standing and a relative to the ruling family of India.  Although in Singh’s time the city was a thriving center of commerce and art something caused the city to be completely abanded in a day in night.  The legend says that Princess Bhangarh Ratwani, was considered the hottest babe in the entire region.  When the princess turned eighteen she became eligible to begin receiving suitors, young men of high caste who would do just about anything to receive the coveted hand of such a famous beauty and make her their wife.  But young princes were not the only ones who found the young princess so desirable someone far more sinister had designs on the young women, a diabolical practioner of the dark arts.

  One day as the princess was shopping in the city market for a hard to find scented oil, Singhia the black magician followed the princess closely thinking of ways to make her his for all eternity.  When the princess found the oil, Singhia placed a spell on the scent that when Princess Ratwani applied the oil to her skin she would fall in love with the sorcerer and make her way to the mountains where Singhia lived.  However there was one thing that Singhia had not counted on, Princess Ratwani the most beautiful girl in all the land was amazing clutz.  Sanghia watched as the princess trip over her own feet and dropped the vial of scented oil on a large boulder covering the large rock with it’s cursed scent.  All those present watched in amazement as the boulder came to life and chased the black magician down the street before it caught up and crushed the man under it’s immense weight.  Sometimes even the best laid plans can get you killed if your intentions are solely focused on yourself.  As Singhia lay dying under the crushing force of the love starved boulder he was able to speak, “Those who live in the city will all taste death and their souls would forever remain.  They will never know the joy of rebirth.”  To a culture that believes heavily in the cycle of death and rebirth such a curse was a fate worse than death.

  The following year a great war broke out between the cities of Bhangarh and it’s neighbor Ajabgarh and the words of the black magician became true, all those who resided within the city were killed including the princess and the royal family.  The Prime Minister of the country was so horrified by the absolute destruction of the once great city that he prophesied that the city would forever be cursed and those who sought to build a house on the land would suffer death when the roof would cave in.

  Allright, I know what you are thinking, this story sounds like a myth and a fairytale.  I certainly have to agree with you however certain things have taken place withon the ruins that appear to defy logic and would appear to be a part of the world of the paranormal.  Those who have paid the ruins a visit have walked away to report stories of strange black figures that dart about the ruins.  One visitor claimed that one of these dark figures possessed her and made her want to jump to her death from the highest peak in the city luckily her husband was able to bring her back to her senses.  Visitors who have taken snapshots of the ruins reported brightly colored orbs and even full bodied apparitions dressed in traditional ancient Indian garb.  But the real fun begins at night when all the tourists have left and the ruins stand silent. or so they should.  Those who live in the area claim to hear what sounds like anguished yelling and screaming as if hundreds were being slaughtered and if the legend is true perhaps this is the residual energy of those who were killed in the battle many centuries ago.  And last but not least many have reported brightly colored ghost lights dancing among the ruins as well as apparitions.

  Bhangarh ruins is considered to be a place of great evil by those who live by and they avoid it like the plague and do not understand why anybody in their right mind would ever want to visit such an ancient place of death.  The ruins are so feared that the Archeological survey of India will only visit the ruins at night and are the ones responsible for placing the ominous sign at the front gate.  Many years ago the ASI discovered that they should build their offices over a mile away from the ruins, and why you may ask?  Simple the first building’s roof collapsed in killing everyone inside.  Ancient curse or modern fact?

                                                            Rick E. Hale

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