Bhangarh Fort: Asia’s most haunted place

Taking NH-8 heading towards Gurgaon and then a left from Bhiwadi towards Alwar road takes to the Asia’s most haunted place called Bhangarh. It is around 270 km from Delhi, situated in Alwar district Rajasthan.

Reaching to Bhangarh definitely needs a navigation system to navigate because way is confusing and the absence of sign board makes it more difficult.

At the entry there is a small gate and the way inside is surrounded by the small abandoned houses of bricks which might be of the community stayed there or might be the market of the state . Ahead of that there is a huge irong gate to fort. Inside the campus there is greenery all around accompanied with temples and a small pond. The most of the fort is worn out but ASI did a great job to preserve the site.

This ancient township was founded in the later half of 16th century A.D. by Raja Bhagwant Das, the then ruler of Amber and later on it was made capital of Madho Singh, brother of Raja Man Singh. Madho Singh was Diwan in the court of Mughal emperor Akbar (A.D. 1556-1605). The remains at Bhangarh consist of fort walls, gateways, markets, Havelis, temples, Royal Palace, Chhatris, tomb, etc. Important temples are Gopinath, Somesvara, Keshav Rai and Mangla Devi, all in Nagara style of temple architecture. The Royal Palace is said to have seven storeys but now only four storeys remain. Whole Township was protected by three successive fortifications. The outermost fortification is provided with five gateways from north to south. Ajmer, Lahori, Hanuman, Phool Bari and Delhigate.

There are lots of legend about Bhangarh and lots of people have done in depth research, wrote about it, TV channels have been to Bhangarh for investigation and Archaeological Survey of India did there job too. But all are heard stories without any proofs about the existence of negative power or about the ghost.

One of folk lore says when Madho rao was about to construct the fort he took permission from an ascetic named Bala nath, he agreed on a condition that the shadow of fort should never fall on his home or else the fort will be  doomed. One of the successor of Madho rao increase the height of the fort which led the destruction of the fort and the people there. The death of so many people made the places haunted.

Another legend is about a love story. Princess of Bhangarh Ratnavati was known for her beauty in the state and neighbouring state too. One local magician named Singhia of that state fell in love with the princess and desperate to make her his own. Once Ratnawati sent her maid to bought her oil, taking advantage of this, magician did such a magic that who ever will use that oil will get attracted to him. Somehow princess Ratnawati came to know about his move and she throw the oil at the stone (here also there are two myth, in some article its mentioned that the Ratnawati was unaware of the magician’s move and the oil fell on stone by mistake), at the same time stone attracted towards the magician and he collapsed but before dying he cursed the land, people there and the princess that no one will survived on Bhangarh. Later war broke out and every one died including princess Ratnawati.

As an architectural point of view Bhangarh is must visit place and a good day trip or weekend trip for delhiites.

Note:

• Carry drinking water, be aware monkeys,  snakes and please don’t through waste around.
• The information in blue colour italic letters are exactly same which was mentioned on the information board put by ASI at the site.