Creepy Urban Legends: Bhangarh Fort

 Built in the 16th century, the Bhangarh Fort is a remarkable piece of architecture, preserved even today in Rajasthan. Located on the border of the Sariska Reserve, the fort is situated at the foot of the hills.

While you may find several architectural structures in Rajasthan, India, there is none like the Bhangarh Fort, famous because of the stories of hauntings.

You can visit the Fort, but you will be warned by the several signboards posted all around that you should not stay after sunset. What happens after sunset? No one knows for sure because those who did stay back have never returned.

There are two stories attached to this location, with one of them being about an ascetic who had strictly warned not to build any house in the area that would be higher than his. He claimed that should even a shadow of such a tall building fall on his house, the entire village would be destroyed.

The King, who was building a palace, assured the ascetic, whose name was Guru Balu Nath, that the shadows would not reach his dwellings. However, it is rumored that the construction workers added several columns to the structure that ended up casting a shadow over the ascetic’s house.

The village was destroyed the next day. Turns out that Guru Balu Nath had placed a curse, and the curse had come true.

There is another story behind the Fort that is far more popular and probably the one reason why visitors are warned from staying after sunset.

A long time ago, there was a tantrik, a sorcerer, called Singhia. He was very powerful but lonely. One day, he set his sights on Princess Ratnavati, the most beautiful princess he had ever seen. Desperate to get her attention and love, Singhia came up with a plan to win her.

He concocted a potion that would put the princess in a trance and have her come to him. Since he had been keeping an eye on her for a long time, he knew that the princess loved to buy oils and other cosmetics.

Singhia waited for his chance. When he saw a maid purchasing a bottle of fragrant oil for the princess, Singhia quickly switched it with his potion. However, the tantrik was unaware that the princess was present that day and that she had seen him make the switch.

She took the bottle of oil and poured it on the ground and onto a boulder. The boulder immediately rolled and crushed the tantrik.

But before he took his last breath, he uttered a curse. If he could not have the princess, then his soul would not rest.

The following year, Bhangarh was attacked by Ajabgarh, and many citizens perished. Princess Ratnavati was one of them.

The village was in ruins, but the palace became haunted.

It is said that Singhia has been roaming the palace in search of Princess Ratnavati. He will not rest until he finally has her. However, rumors suggest that although the tantrik had cursed that everyone in Bhangarh dies with no chance of rebirth, Princess Ratnavati was reborn, which is why her soul is no longer in Bhangarh.

The people of Bhangarh are awaiting the Princess’s return because only she can put an end to the curse and defeat Singhia.

The curse is so powerful that it consumes anyone who enters the fort. There have been rumors about a young man, staying after sunset, but ended up falling into a well. He was saved by his friends, who came looking for him. Unfortunately, while the three of them were heading home on a motorcycle, they met with an accident and were killed.

Then there have been sightings of kids in rooms without doors and windows, people getting hurt as they ignored the warning signboards, and ghostly voices of all the people who perished there eons ago.

Can the curse ever be lifted? Can Princess Ratnavati save the day?

In 2016, a movie was announced on this very theme. The story was set, and the actress who was going to play Princess Ratnavati also signed for it. However, the movie never took off.

Could it be the curse?

It seems the entire city is awaiting Princess Ratnavati, who was born elsewhere, to come back and finally free the souls and people from the curse.