What is the legend behind the Indian Bhangarh Fort, and what terrifying events took place there ?

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 Rajasthan is located in northwestern India and shares its western border with Pakistan. It is the largest Indian state by area, covering approximately 10% of the country's total landmass. Rajasthan is renowned for its numerous historical and cultural sites.

One of the most prominent of these is Bhangarh Fort, which is surrounded by numerous legends and folk tales about paranormal activities. A government sign warning people not to stay within the fort after sunset has only added to the mystery and fear surrounding this place.

Bhangarh Fort: India's Most Haunted Place

Bhangarh Fort is located in Rajasthan, India, on the road between Jaipur and Alwar. Today, it is known for its ancient ruins and as one of the most haunted places in India, with many reported paranormal activities.

In the past, Bhangarh was a prosperous city, and its fort was considered one of the strongest and most beautiful. However, its inhabitants abandoned it suddenly one night, leaving no trace.

Local people believe that the reason for the exodus of the fort's inhabitants is a curse that was placed upon it, forcing them to flee centuries ago. No one dares to stay there after sunset. Many visitors feel uneasy and anxious when visiting the fort, and some claim to have witnessed paranormal activities such as strange noises, screams, and crying.

One of the strange things that adds to the mystery of the fort is the complete absence of roofs on any of the houses there. Local people believe this is also due to the curse, and that any roof that is built collapses immediately. This has caused many people to be injured in the past.

Mysterious Tales and Sightings at the Fort:

The First Tale:

A group of young people, enthusiasts of mystery and horror, decided to visit Bhangarh at night. However, subsequent search efforts failed to locate them. The search team only found their car and a camera containing a dimly lit night-time photo of the location, seemingly illuminated by the car's headlights. They also found a diary containing the following:

"The place was completely dark. We parked our car where we could use its headlights for light. Then, we entered through the iron gate, and this wasn't a hasty decision. After that, we were far from the car, and we had no light source except for the screen light of our mobile phone. We ventured further, and then we felt a deep sense of dread. We didn't dare enter the caves; there were bats. We decided to stay away from the wild bushes and shrubs because snakes, lions, and leopards are common here.

The guard had told us the story of Bhangarh and how a sorcerer cursed the town, causing its inhabitants to die suddenly. According to the curse, there would be no roofs on any of the houses. We verified this by noticing the absence of roofs on the old houses, except for the temples. At that spine-chilling moment, he walked us to the gate and let us leave. We left and slept on the road, unable to forget the nightmares that night."

The diary concluded:

"I woke up at around 7:00 AM to find myself lost in the middle of nowhere. When we looked back, we realized that we had lost our way back. My friend stopped the car because he had fallen asleep. I was angry, but the sunrise made us feel safe, even though we had no idea where we were. There were no people around, and we didn't even have a phone network to make calls. All of this could be managed, but the car breaking down was unexpected.'"

The Second Tel: 

"Local residents also recount another tale of three individuals who decided to stay in the fort after nightfall. Tragically, one of the men fell into a deep well despite carrying a torch. Fortunately, his friends were quick to rescue him and rushed him to the hospital for treatment. However, perhaps it was destined to be, as the three were later involved in a terrible road accident and lost their lives."

The Third Tel:

"There's another tale about a tourist couple who were on a nighttime tour of the village. They spotted a child in an old, abandoned house with no windows or doors. Initially, the tourists assumed the child was lost. As they approached, they noticed a glow around him and the child vanished into one of the house's walls."

Two Legends of Bangarh Fort's Curse:

Local residents believe in two primary legends explaining the curse on Bangarh Fort:

The first legend involves a sage who lived on a hill overlooking the fort. The townspeople believed he possessed special powers. When the king sought permission to build the fort, the sage agreed on the condition that the fort's shadow never fall on his dwelling, or the city would be destroyed. The king swore to this condition, but his descendants failed to uphold the oath, resulting in the curse upon Bangarh.

The second, and more popular legend, involves a powerful sorcerer who was infatuated with the king's sister, Princess Ratnavati. Despite her rejections, the sorcerer pursued her. He resorted to using love magic, hiding a potion in her perfume. When the princess discovered this, she poured the entire bottle onto a large rock. It is said that the rock fell on the sorcerer, killing him. As revenge, the sorcerer cursed the city, leading to its destruction. Local residents claim that on the anniversary of the princess pouring the potion, a sweet fragrance emanates from the fort, accompanied by faint cries.

Scientific Explanations:

Researchers have found historical records indicating a severe famine in the region in 1783, forcing residents to migrate in search of food and sustenance.

Regarding the government's warning sign advising visitors to leave the fort before sunset, a government spokesperson attributed this to the presence of wild animals in the surrounding wilderness. These animals, including dangerous reptiles, become more active at night, necessitating the warning for visitor safety.

The sounds of crying and screaming heard by locals and tourists are explained by architects as being caused by the fort's partially ruined state, with numerous windows, gaps, and doors. The wind, especially at night, creates eerie sounds when passing through these openings.

As for the houses without roofs, and the claim that any newly constructed roofs collapse, this is likely a rumor spread by locals to enhance the ghostly tales and attract tourists to the impoverished region.