Hey, ghost hunters! Are you curious to explore the supernatural side? Well, you are in the right spot. It should come as no surprise that tales about haunted places are as common in India as its popular cuisines, festivals, and destinations.
Famous for its enigmatic events and urban legends, this country is home to hundreds of horror locations from North to South. Even though the existence of ghosts has been debated for ages, believing in them or not is truly a matter of personal opinion.
So, if you’re after paranormal encounters, then these cherry-picked haunted places in India will fulfill your horror cravings. Are you feeling more intrigued than before? Dig in and unwrap the dark secrets by yourself.
10 haunted locations where fear meets fascination:
- Bhangarh Fort, Alwar, Rajasthan
- Dumas Beach, Surat, Gujarat
- Shaniwar Wada Fort, Pune, Maharashtra
- Kuldhara Village, Rajasthan
- Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad, Telangana
- Dow Hill, Kurseong, West Bengal
- Agrasen Ki Baoli, New Delhi
- Delhi Cantonment, New Delhi
- Lambi Dehar Mines, Mussoorie, Uttarakhand
- Jatinga, Assam
- Bonus- D’souza Chawl of Mahim, Mumbai, Maharashtra
1. Bhangarh Fort, Alwar, Rajasthan:
The word “haunting” in India is strongly linked with the infamous Bhangarh fort in Rajasthan’s Alwar region. This eerie place, which dates back to the 17th century, has a long history of cursed legends and a messy love affair. Among the countless stories, here is a popular one to mention:
Legend has it that Singhia, a local tantrik, fell in love with Ratnavati, the stunning princess of Bhangarh. When he realized he couldn’t win her heart, he cast a magic spell on her scented oil, hoping that after using that enchanted potion, she would fall in love with him. Eventually, the princess discovered his evil plans, and a sliding boulder squished him to death.
That is when the wizard cursed the whole region to be roofless and eternally unrestful. Whenever a roof is constructed in Bhangarh, it would eventually fall off. Many residents reported hearing strange sounds, feeling uneasy after dark, and even seeing a woman with a charred face disappear into thin air.
As the most haunted place in India, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) warns travelers not to visit the Bhangarh fort after dusk. So trip to Asia’s haunted place, Bhangarh, with safety!
2. Dumas Beach, Surat, Gujarat:
Dumas Beach in Surat, Gujarat, is renowned for two reasons: its peculiar black sand and its reputation as one of the most haunted places in India. Once believed to be a cemetery, the restless souls are still roaming in this idyllic beach, and special ghost sightings have been recorded.
According to legend, an enormous amount of ash from the deceased bodies’ cremation created the black sand. Doesn’t that make sense? Despite being a well-liked tourist destination, this location will be empty after dark. The reason? Unexplained murmurs, laughter, and calls for help could be heard along the breeze.
And it wasn’t over yet! There have been numerous reports of tourists and locals going missing. Folks claim that a guy was once discovered dead with his tongue out, but the cause of his demise is still unknown, adding to the horror of this area. So, it is advised to avoid taking late-night walks and instead explore Asia’s most haunted place in daylight.
3. Shaniwar Wada Fort, Pune, Maharashtra:
Renowned for its unmatched architectural design, Pune’s Shaniwar Wada Fort has been the scene of several paranormal events. Built in the 17th century by the Maratha Empire’s Peshwas, this haunted place in Pune has a tragic past of betrayal.
Legends claim Prince Narayanrao became the king after the death of his father, Balaji Rao, and his brothers, Madhorao and Vishwarao. Since he was young, his uncle Raghunathrao took control of the affairs. However, out of envy, the uncle’s wife Anandibai sent the Gardi tribe to assassinate King Narayanrao.
Although Narayanrao begged for help, he was killed inside the fort. A full moon night is the worst time to visit this eerie fort because paranormal activities are at their extreme. On that particular night, one can witness the king’s cries, “Kaka Mala Vachva” (Uncle, save me), and his figure sprinting across hallways.
With its unearthly incidents, Shaniwar Wada Fort stands as one of the most haunted places in India and across the globe. And yes, this is the fort that was appeared in the movie “Bajirao Mastani.”
4. Kuldhara Village, Rajasthan:
Once more, Rajasthan makes our list of India’s most haunted places. A bustling village, Kuldhara and 83 other adjacent villages were abandoned overnight by their own residents in 1825, leaving no trace behind. Paliwal Brahmins, renowned for their exquisite artwork, lived in this place close to Jaisalmer.
Legend has it that Salim Singh, the ruthless ruler, fell in love with a girl from the village. To have him married to her, Salim threatened to impose heavy taxes and fines on the entire village. To keep her safe, the whole village left Kuldhara, and before leaving, they cursed the land to be desolate forever.
Now, travelers from all over the world confront chilly whispers, spectral figures, eerie silence, and remnants of Rajasthan’s haunted village. Kuldhara village needs to be on your list of horror places in Rajasthan if you’re an extreme thrill-seeker and paranormal aficionado.
5. Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad, Telangana:
Did you know that one of the world’s largest film studios has been recognized as haunted? In addition to its real-life movie sets, Hyderabad’s Ramoji Film City is well-known for a number of eerie happenings that have occurred over decades. To be precise, the hotels in this area are the hotspots for paranormal events.
Since this is Asia’s most haunted place, built on Nizam Sultan’s battlefield, it is believed that the restless spirits of soldiers still haunt the area. Guests and crew members encountered ghostly figures on the set, chilling sounds in empty spaces, weird tech glitches, mirrors with odd marks, and felt themselves being pushed by invisible hands.
Not only that, women appear to be ghosts’ favorites as they had their clothes torn off by an unknown force and sometimes get locked up in their rooms. With plenty of safety measures and warning signs, Ramoji Film City is a must-visit haunted place in Hyderabad.
6. Dow Hill, Kurseong, West Bengal:
Have you ever been to a tourist attraction that was ghostly packed? If not, you should consider Dow Hill, which is tucked away in Kurseong’s foggy forests. This is one of India’s most popular haunted places, with several stories about restless ghosts allegedly residing in the Victoria Boys’ High School and Dow Hill Girls’ Boarding School.
Spooky figures hiding in the grounds, eerie laughter, and strange footsteps in hallways can all be experienced here. Witnesses, including woodcutters, claimed to see a headless young boy trailing them and suddenly disappear in the woods near the Death Road, located between Dow Hill and the Forest Office. It’s even more terrifying because of the shocking number of dead bodies discovered in the woods.
While some people claim to be watched by a woman in grey clothes, others have spotted a pair of red eyes glaring at them. Eventually, some victims have lost their minds and committed suicide after exploring this horrifying location. It is closed from December to March because that is when the majority of these incidents happen. Would you still decide to visit this haunted place in West Bengal?
7. Agrasen Ki Baoli, New Delhi:
An architectural marvel renowned for its distinctive design is Agrasen ki Baoli, an ancient stepwell constructed by Maharaja Agrasen in the 14th century. This haunted place, also called Ugrasen ki Baoli, is guarded by ASI and is said to be occupied by devilish demons and restless souls.
Legend has it that the murky waters in this stepwell enticed and influenced people’s thoughts to the point where they drowned themselves. However, it seems dubious how they might have drowned in the water that was just about five feet deep!
After nightfall, visitors have complained of odd sounds, discomfort, and feeling like they are being watched. Among the haunted places in Delhi, this hypnotic stepwell is accessible to the public throughout the day. Will you be able to endure it?
8. Delhi Cantonment, New Delhi:
Do you think a place that is beautiful, bustling and teeming with military activities might be haunted? Delhi Cantonment, often referred to as Delhi Cantt, is the most visited spot and the hangout place of ghosts after dark.
According to local people, the wife of British soldier met with a horrible end and since then she is believed to be appearing in this venue. Residents, visitors and passersby claimed to see a woman in white sari requesting for lift.
If they decline, the woman chases the vehicle at high speed. That’s the kind of ghostly activity one can experience in the Delhi Cantonment. Due to the popularity of this haunted place in Delhi, numerous researchers and spectral lovers have used detection tools to record bizarre sounds and figures.
9. Lambi Dehar Mines, Mussoorie, Uttarakhand:
The Lambi Dehar Mines in Mussoorie, which have been in operation since the 1990s, are now deserted after thousands of mine workers died there. More than 50,000 limestone workers died from lung issues and major mining accidents as a result of inadequate safety and security.
Since then, the troubled spirits of miners are believed to haunt this spot. Residents and bystanders noticed many strange occurrences near this horror location, like ghostly apparitions, a witch wandering at night, and the painful cries of people like being trapped inside.
Inexplicably, a helicopter crashed here, and several mishaps occurred in the region. Visited by popular ghost hunters, this haunted place in India is undoubtedly worth exploring.
10. Jatinga, Assam:
Anyone will come across a strange phenomenon in the smallest village, Jatinga, which has a population of 2500. Beyond those terrifying tales, each year, flocks of both domestic and foreign birds plummet towards a specific spot on the ground, get struck, and eventually die.
What exactly is odd about this? These events typically take place from September through November on moonless nights.
Despite the efforts of many scientists to understand why they fall from the sky, no explanation has been found. Legend says this weird behavior is caused by the malevolent spirits that prowl this haunted place in Assam.
11. Bonus- D’Souza Chawl of Mahim, Mumbai, Maharashtra:
Despite the fact that no dangerous events have occurred there, the haunted place, D’Souza Chawl in Mahim, Mumbai, is full of ghost stories and souls. Legend has it that a woman who used to draw water from the well fell into it one day because there was no wall. Although she cried out for help, nobody heard, which ultimately led to her death.
Even after a decade, several people saw her spirit at night nearby this terrifying location. D’Souza Chawl is just one of the haunted places in Mumbai, while you can also check out Mukesh Mills and other places for a thrilling vacation.
To wrap it up:
If you’re looking for more haunting locations, consider visiting “Tunnel no.33 in Shimla,” where the British engineer’s ghost still roam or “GP Block of Uttar Pradesh”, where you can sightsee a group of spirits enjoying their alcohol. Although there are more haunted places in and around these cities, we have highlighted the most popular ones based on years’ worth of incidents.
The truth is in your hands, regardless of whether you believe these spectral stories or not. Just discover and see for yourself; you know where to go! Take all safety measures and adhere to the instructions given to you. Your thoughts? Let us know!
