In our childhood, we all loved to hear those spooky stories which used to create the Goosebumps in us. What if we tell you that in this modern world these stories still exist and are as true as the Sun and Moon.
You would probably call us weird or crazy. But there is a place in Rajasthan which is assumed to be haunted, named Bhangarh. Many locals and even some celebrities shared the freaky experience that they faced at this place. Along with all these stories, the structure and architecture of the fort make it spookier.
Situated on the edge of Sariska Tiger Reserve, this 500 old fort is one of the mystical and amazing places of Incredible India and has great importance in terms of Tourism. As the ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) which is a Government authority makes the official declaration of making it a Haunted Place. Thus, Bhangarh and its surrounding area have become the point of curiosity among tourists. Every year, the fort attracts a number of travelers from far and near for two reasons. While some visitors seek to view the history and beauty of the place, others are here to discover its supernatural side. Bhangarh is also a great spot for photography with the tall mountains acting as a backdrop for the fort. The history of India and Its rich culture is one of the amazing facts that make Incredible India.
Bhangarh Fort – An Origin
It was the year 1631 when the first stone was put in the making of the majestic Bhangarh Fort.
King Man Singh 1 of Rajasthan, who was also considered the narrator of Akbar’s court, built this fort for his younger brother Madho Singh 2. It was Madho Singh, who renamed this fort after his grandfather Man Singh or some called him Bhan Singh. There are many legends related to this fort and its beginning.
One of the most classic legends that make this place more mysterious is the legend of Ascetic Bala Nath. According to this legend, when the Bhangarh fort was started building, King seeks permission from a Sant named Bala Nath, He agreed and gave permission to build this fort But he put one condition the Shadow of the fort touch his home the fort will be no more. But as fate has decided, its shadow falls upon the ascetic’s home and the fort got cursed.
Locals of this place believed that every house built within or nearby the fort suffers a roof collapse.
Apocalypse of Princess Ratanavati
One such story is the legend of the beautiful princess Ratnavati. Ratnavati, the daughter of Raja Chatr Singh, was said to be so beautiful that the tales of her beauty spread far and wide. A sorcerer named Singhania fell in love with her.
Following her to the marketplace one day, he drugged her beauty oil (or perfume) with a love potion, to make her fall in love with him. The princess came to know of this and threw the bottle on a boulder. The boulder was enchanted with the love spell and crushed the sorcerer under its weight.
However, before he died, he cursed the destruction of the princess, her family, and the entire village. Soon enough, in a battle between the forces of Bhangarh and Ajabgarh, the princess, her family, and most of her army were killed.
The fort is believed to be inhabited by the ghosts of the princess, the sorcerer, and the other people who died here.
Bhangarh and Tourism
Although, not comparable to the forts and palaces in Jaipur and Udaipur, the architecture and the beauty of Bhangarh fort are intriguing which makes it a very popular destination in India.
The fort is located at the foot of the Aravalli hills and it looks and covers a large area. Even though the fort is in ruins, there are three grand stories to be explored. The fort precincts have various temples, palaces, and multiple gates. There are four massive gates in each direction. These are Lahori Gate, the Ajmeri Gate, the Phulbari Gate, and the Delhi Gate. Along with these, there are beautiful temples and Havelis to explore.
There are also some wonderful banyan trees on the premises of the fort. Monkeys and squirrels can be seen running wild around the trees and on the rubbles.
While heading the main structure of Bhangarh fort, you will really appreciate the view of the main hill fort. This fort tells you the story of the royal kingdom of Rajasthan with its age-old mysteries. The view of the whole complex from the top of the fort is also beautiful.
The enclosures of the fort comprise many small temples including the Hanuman temple at the entrance of the fort, Gopinath Temple, Someshwar Temple, Keshav Rai Temple, Mangla Devi Temple, and Ganesh Temple.
Lots of tourists wander in the alley of the fort which never makes you feel gloomy and sad even for once during the day. But the story of the night is different. It is prohibited to stay inside Bhangarh fort after 6 pm.
Although Bhangarh can be covered in a day trip, if you do insist on staying nearby, you can stay near Sariska, Dausa, or Alwar.
Tourists who visit Rajasthan and have the slightest idea about the place never fail to reach this fort. The nearest town is Alwar which is merely 90 km from Bhangarh. You can easily reach here via road.
As the horror stories of this place are so popular that one cannot find any hotels, resorts, or accommodations near this fort. But there are a plethora of Hotels in Alwar.
The truth behind Bhangarh fort Warning Board There is a blue-colored advisory board by the ASI inside the board premises. The board is written in Hindi. Its English translation is as follows:
- It is prohibited to enter the premises of Bhangarh before sunrise and after sunset.
- It is illegal to bring any cattle inside the premises of Bhangarh. Non-compliance with this will lead to legal action.
- The Pandanus trees (kewda or kewra tree) in the Bhangarh premises are of Archaeological Survey of India, Government of India. It is prohibited to harm these trees.
Note: Non-compliance with the above instructions will invite legal action. The locals and some other people believe that the restriction on entering the fort at night is because of the ghostly activity.
Reaching Bhangarh
Bhangarh Fort has situated 50 km. away from Sariska sanctuary. It is also easily accessible from nearby cities like Jaipur and Delhi. Alwar and Dausa are the closest towns to this medieval fort and town.
The important thing to remember is that there are no direct buses or trains to Bhangarh Fort. If you intend to use public transport, you will have to break your journey into parts.
Once you reach the fort, you have to park your vehicles at the car parking. They charge around 50 INR as the parking fee. From there you will have to walk around half a kilometer to the main fort.
Here’s how to reach Bhangarh Fort from different nearby cities and towns.
1. How to Reach from Delhi to Bhangarh Fort?
You can reach Bhangarh from Delhi via road or by rail.
By Train:
Dausa Railway Station and Bandikul Junction are the closest railway stations to Bhangarh. A number of trains run from Delhi to these stations daily. Choose a train that suits your time. Try and book an early morning train. This is the cheapest option available. Get down at the station and book a cab to Bhangarh Fort. The cab will cost you between 500 INR and 700 INR.
By Road:
Take your personal vehicle or hire a cab. The taxi fare from Delhi to Bhangarh will cost anywhere between 10000 INR- 14000 INR for an up and down trip. It takes about 4-5 hours to reach Bhangarh from Delhi via a car.
2. How to Reach from Jaipur to Bhangarh Fort?
Bhangarh is about 80 km from Jaipur. It is a perfect spot to take a one-day trip from Jaipur.
By Rail:
Trains are the fastest and cheapest way of reaching Bhangarh. However, as I pointed out earlier, there are no direct trains to Bhangarh. Plenty of trains run every day between Dausa and Jaipur. Once at Dausa railway station, you can easily hire a cab to the fort.
By Road:
It takes about 2 hours to reach Bhangarh from Jaipur. You can either book a car, take your own vehicle or rent a self-driven car from Jaipur.
Tips for Visiting Bhangarh Fort When visiting Bhangarh fort, you need to be careful about the following things:
- Carry Food & Water as Bhangarh is a prohibited area, so there are no shops or food courts inside Bhangarh. So, it is advisable to carry your water bottles and some snacks with you. For food, you have to travel a few kilometers from Bhangarh. You can taste the special Kari Kachori and Rajasthani Thali from the local restaurants.
- Don’t stay overnight.
- If you are taking your own car to Bhangarh make sure that the fuel tank is full. There are no petrol pumps in the vicinity of Bhangarh.
Best time to visit
- From October to March
Bhangarh Fort Timing
- 6 am – 6 pm
Ticket price
- Free of cost
Nearby Places to Visit
- Sariska Tiger Reserve
- Alwar city palace and Museum
- Bala Fort
Author – Abhijeet enjoys a lot as a solo traveler. He is deadbeat crazy to explore new destinations especially natural and heritage structures. He is now a content creator on various platforms and frequently shares his experiences. He is gradually getting close to my dream of exploring India as a hidden treasure of tourism. One of his Blogger websites is Travel Incredible India Blog.
