Mysterious Ancient Ghost City Of Bhangarh And The Curse Of The Holy “Magician”

Ellen Lloyd – MessageToEagle.com – Ancient myths and legends tell that this small town became abandoned and haunted after a magician and holy man cursed it.

According to locals, this powerful curse lasts until this day.

There are many strange myths and legends telling about curios events that took place in the town of Bhangarh. For example, every time someone tries to build a house here, its roof collapses.

Bhangarh, located between Jaipur and Delhi in Rajasthan state of India is not only famous for its haunting history but also several historical ruins. The most remarkable of its buildings are the Hindu temples of Gopinatha, Shiva (Someshwar), Hanumana, Ganesha, Vishal Devta, Lavina Devi and Keshava Rai.

The impressive Bhangarh Fort was built by order of King Sawai Madho Sing.
The impressive Bhangarh Fort was built by order of King Sawai Madho Sing.

In 1630, Bhangarh slowly declined. When the Mughal Empire became weaker after the death of Aurangzeb, Jai Singh II attached Bhangarh to his state by force in 1720. After this Bhangarh diminished in population, and since the famine of 1783 (VS 1840) the town has remained uninhabited

Entry to Bhangarh is legally prohibited between sunset and sunrise. A signboard posted by ASI (Archaeological Survey of India), specifies the instructions.

Gopinath Temple, India
Gopinath Temple, India

While the board is written in Hindi, the instructions on it roughly translate into: “Entering the borders of Bhangarh before sunrise and after sunset is strictly prohibited. Legal action would be taken against anybody who does not follow these instructions”.

One legend tells that Bhangarh was abandoned soon after being built and supposedly after it was cursed by Baba Balnath (Guru Balu Nath), a holy man magician. Baba Balnath, sanctioned the construction of the town on one condition, “The moment the shadows of your palaces touch me, the city shall be no more!”

However, Ajab Singh descendant prince grandson of Madho Singh ignored the magician’s warning and raised the palace to a height that cast a shadow on Baba Balnath’s forbidden retreat. Baba Balnath then cursed the town. Balanath is said to be buried there to this day in a small samadhi.

Another myth is related to the Princess of Bhangarh, Ratnavati. She was believed to be the jewel of Rajasthan.

On her eighteenth birthday, she began to get offers of marriage from other regions (i.e. nobility).

ghost city Bhangarh, India
Bhangarh, Rajasthan’s silent ghost city. Image credit: India TV News

In Bhangarh lived a tantrik (wizard), a magician well versed in the occult, called Singhiya, who was in love with the princess but knew that the match was impossible.

One day Singhiya saw the princess’s maid in the market and used his black magic on the scent she was purchasing so that upon touching it the princess would surrender herself to him. The princess, however, seeing the tantrik enchanting the scent, foiled his plan by pouring it on boulder which crushed Singhiya.

Dying, the tantrik cursed the palace with the death of all who dwelt in it.

The next year there was a battle between Bhangarh and Ajabgarh in which Princess Ratnavati perished.

Legends say that there are ghosts of Singhiya and other locals in Bhangarh Fort and that is why entry is prohibited for tourists in the fort after sunset and before sunrise. The locals believe that the princess Ratnavati has taken birth somewhere else and that the fort and the empire of Bhangarh is waiting for her return to put an end to the curse.

In modern times, locals still believe that the town of Bhangarh is cursed.

Written by – Ellen Lloyd – MessageToEagle.com 

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