The Haunted History of Bhangarh Fort: Legends, Curses, and Mysteries
Do you know the actual history behind why the Bhangarh Fort in Rajasthan, India, is considered haunted?
Whenever haunted places in India are discussed, the name of Bhangarh Fort in Rajasthan is taken first. This fort, which is about 500 years old, instills such fear in people that many are even afraid to visit it during the daytime. It’s often said that whoever enters the fort at night never returns. That’s why the government has officially placed a sign prohibiting entry into the fort after sunset. Interestingly, even though the area is a protected zone, the Archaeological Department has never built an office there—perhaps out of fear.
So let’s explore the mysterious history of the haunted Bhangarh Fort.
Friends, Bhangarh Fort was built in 1573 by Raja Bhagwan Das of Amer for his younger son, Madhav Singh. At that time, the fort was a place of prosperity, and many people lived there. But something so tragic occurred that it completely changed the fate of the fort. Once a place filled with life and laughter, it suddenly turned haunted. Fear settled so deeply into people’s hearts that they began abandoning the fort one by one, and the surrounding area became deserted. Even today, the fort lies abandoned and has a very eerie vibe. It is also said that strange noises like crying, screaming, and the sound of anklets can be heard from the fort at night. Some claim that people who have entered the fort after dark have never returned. Because of these stories, very few dare to visit the fort, even during the day.
So the question arises—what really happened that made the fort cursed and haunted?
There are many stories behind the fort's haunting:
1. The story of Queen Ratnavati and black magic (the most famous story):
This is the most well-known story among all of them. It is said that when the fort was built, a beautiful princess named Ratnavati lived there. She was 18 years old and was known far and wide for her beauty. Many princes wanted to marry her, and she would receive countless proposals, but she never accepted any of them. One day, while she was shopping for perfumes with her friends, a man named Sindhiya Sevda—who was skilled in black magic—saw her from a distance. The moment he laid eyes on her, he fell in love and vowed to make her his. Using his knowledge of dark arts, he enchanted one of the perfume bottles she picked up. His aim was to use black magic to make her fall for him, and he was almost successful because the princess did not notice anything suspicious. However, one of her friends had seen Sindhiya casting the spell and later told Ratnavati. Enraged, the princess threw the bottle against a rock. Since the spell was meant to attract whoever used the perfume toward Sindhiya, the magic affected the rock instead. The rock flew toward Sindhiya and crushed him to death.
Before dying, he cursed the fort and everyone living in it, saying that they would soon die a painful death and their spirits would forever roam the fort. Not long after, a battle broke out between the Bhangarh and Ajabgarh kingdoms. Ajabgarh’s army was much stronger and invaded the fort, killing every man, woman, and child inside. Princess Ratnavati also perished in the battle. It’s said that after this massacre, the fort became cursed and haunted by the souls of those who died there. People around the fort started hearing strange sounds and seeing unexplainable things, and eventually, even nearby villagers abandoned their homes.
2. Curse of Baba Balaknath:
Another story linked to the haunting is that of a sage named Baba Balaknath, who lived near the land where the fort was to be built. He warned the king not to build the fort so high that its shadow would fall on his hut. But the king ignored the warning, and when the fort’s shadow eventually fell on the sage’s dwelling, he cursed the fort, saying that it would one day be completely destroyed. Many believe that it is this curse that caused the downfall of Bhangarh.
3. Treasure rumors and mindset:
Yet another theory suggests that when the fort lost a major battle, the royal family fled, leaving behind treasures inside the fort. To prevent anyone from searching for it, they may have spread rumors that the place was cursed and deadly. Over time, these rumors were believed, and the fort came to be considered haunted.
4. Facts and evidence:
It is true that the Archaeological Department prohibits entry into the fort at night. A large signboard is also put up there. But there must be some safety issue behind this. This ban may be due to superstition or to prevent accidents in the forest at night.
To date, no scientific investigation has proven the existence of "supernatural powers" in Bhangarh, yet the mystery surrounding this place persists.
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