Bhangarh Fort: Haunted or Not Haunted – Lets Find Out

Bhangarh Fort is located in the Aravalli hills of India’s largest state Rajasthan. Infamous for being one of the most haunted places in Asia, Bhangarh Fort has all sorts of spooky stories attached to it.

The 17^th century Bhangarh Fort, which was once a beautiful kingdom and a famous market, now lies in ruins. However, even its ruins are worth a visit. The place is beautiful, despite what remains now is only a shadow of its eventful past.

Every year, the fort attracts a number of travellers 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.

In my current Bhangarh Fort blog, I will be sharing my experience of visiting this so-called, “Most haunted fort in India.” I will also give you some tips about visiting the place.

Bhangarh Fort: An Overview

Before I begin to delve into my experience at Bhangarh fort, here is some important travel information that you must be aware of.

State Rajasthan, West India

Mode of transportation Delhi and Jaipur are the nearest airports to Bhangarh. Alwar and Jaipur are well connected by rail and road transport with major cities of India.

Best time to visit From October to March.

Bhangarh Fort Timings 6 am – 6 pm

Optimum Visiting Time 2-3 Hours

Accommodation Options Hotels in Alwar and Dausa

Nearby Places to visit Sariska tiger reserve Alwar City Palace and Govt. Museum Bala Fort

Cost of travel Entry to Bhangarh fort is free, but you need to bear travelling costs and hire a guide to understand the mysteries of Bhangarh. You can choose hotels as per your comfort. Normally cost depends upon your choice of transport mode and hotels.

Spending a night at Bhangarh Fort Entry in Bhangarh is prohibited after sunset. Entry is allowed only from sunrise to sunset. After sunset, you have to go to your hotel or you also can return to your place.

Food Options None near the Fort. You can visit the villages nearby.

Shopping options  There are not many shopping options around Bhangarh. However, you can explore shopping in Alwar and Jaipur. Handicrafts of Rajasthan are worth shopping from Alwar and Jaipur.

 

How to Reach Bhangarh Fort?

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 kilometre to the main fort.

Here’s how to reach Bhangarh Fort from different nearby cities and towns

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. There are two routes that you can follow to reach Bhangarh: Route 1 via Neemrana – Total distance= 286 km Delhi – Gurugram – Bhiwadi – Bawal – Neemrana – Shahpura – Aandhi – Bhangarh4 Route 2 via Alwar- Total distance= 251 km Delhi – Gurugram – Bhiwadi – Tapukara – Kishangarh – Chikani – Alwar – Sariska – Pratapgarh – Ajabgarh – Bhangarh

Although route 2 via Alwar is shorter in terms of distance, it takes a longer time due to the poor road conditions.

Located at a 2-hour drive from Jaipur, Bhangarh Fort is considered to be one of the most haunted places in Asia. Picture Credits: Ankana Saikia

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 till 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.

How to Reach from Alwar to Bhangarh Fort?

Alwar is about 90 km away from Bhangarh. In order to reach the fort from here, you have two options- train or car.

By Rail Trains are the fastest and cheapest way of reaching Bhangarh from Alwar. A number of trains run every day between Dausa and Alwar. Once you reach Dausa, you can easily hire a cab till the fort.

By Road It takes a little over 2 hours to reach Bhangarh from Alwar. You can either book a cab/taxi, or take your own vehicle. The road from Alwar to Bhangarh crosses through the forest of Sariska Tiger Reserve and is a delight.

 How to Reach from Dausa to Bhangarh Fort?

Dausa is the closest major town to Bhangarh. You can find plenty of cabs/ taxis from here up to the fort.

Where to stay near Bhangarh Fort?

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.

There is a good range of Budget hotels also in Alwar and Dausa. Staying at Sariska can be a little heavy on the pocket.

Budget Accommodations in Dausa

Budget Accommodations  in Alwar

The premises of Bhangarh Fort are huge and it will take about 2.3 hours for you to explore the whole place. Picture Credits Rahul Jain

Things to do in and around Bhangarh Fort

Bhangarh Fort is a great place to spend a few hours with friends. Although there are no official guides for Bhangarh Fort, you may find some willing locals who are willing to give you a tour for a small fee.

We met a local boy who acted as our guide.

 Based on my personal experience, I would suggest you experience the following things on your Bhangarh trip:

Revisit the history of Bhangarh Fort

Admire the architecture & the view

Visit the temples of Bhangarh

Take a look at the remnants of fort’s prosperity during its prime days

Visit the nearby Havelis in Ajabgarh

Indulge in conversation with the local people

Revisit the Bhangarh Fort History

Bhangarh Fort was built by Kacchwaha Rajput ruler Raja Bhagwant Das in the 17^th century. An affluent kingdom at one point, the fort and the area around was later abandoned

There are two legends associated with the mystery and destruction of the fort.

The legend of Princess Ratnavati

 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 Singhia 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.

The Legend of Baba Balu Nath

Another legend is that of the ascetic Baba Balu Nath. The ascetic lived up the hill where the Raja had planned to build the fort. The ascetic allowed the Raja to proceed with it as long as it never cast a shadow on his abode.

All rulers honoured this condition unless Raja Ajab Singh (son of Chatr Singh) decided to add columns to the fort. These columns cast a shadow on the  Baba’s house and he cursed the destruction of the town.

The guide showed us a small stone hut, called ‘tantrik ki chatri’ above the fort.

The Bhangarh Fort was built by Kacchwaha ruler of Amber, Bhagwant Das. The stone tells the history of the fort. Picture Credits: Shaurya Chandra

Admire the architecture and views from Bhangarh Fort

Although, not comparable to the forts and palaces in Jaipur and Udaipur, the architecture of Bhangarh fort is intriguing. 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 storeys 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.

Admire the old Temples at Bhangarh Fort 

Surprisingly the so-called haunted Bhangarh fort has several Hindu temples. At the entrance of the main gate are many Hindu temples such as Hanuman Temple, Gopinath Temple, Someshwar Temple, Keshav Rai Temple, Mangla Devi Temple, and Ganesh Temple. 

Built on a raised platform, the Gopinath Temple has beautiful carvings. You must look closely to see this beautiful artwork.

Another important temple in the complex is the Someshwara temple. It has a beautiful stepwell. Although the stepwell and the outsides are in a bad shape, the walls inside the temple are intact. Someshwara temple and Gopinath Temple are built in the Nagara style and relate the story of a well-established state.

The Somweshwara Temple. inside the fort, the complex is well preserved. It has been built in the Nagara style of architecture. Picture Credits: Shagun Popli

Visit the remnants of a once affluent fort with Jauhari bazaars and Houses of Dancing girls

While going to through the fort structure, you have to walk through a long road lined on both sides with ruins. These are the Jauhari bazaars and the houses of dancing girls (Nachan ki Haveli).

These are what remain of the once abuzz markets and beautiful palaces. These remnants are indicators of the fort’s prosperity during its zenith.

Indulge in conversations with Local People

While visiting Bhangarh, you can talk to local people. It’s better to feel a place with a discussion with locals about that place.  People around the Bhangarh fort are related to that place, so you can grab the opportunity to feel rural Rajasthan with the stories of the mysterious Bhangarh Fort.

Remember that there are no official guides in Bhangarh. The local people will help you understand and go around the fort.

Conversing with the local people will help you understand the place better. The locals will narrate to you some of the scariest stories associated with the fort. Picture Credits: Devendra Meena

Nearby Havelies in Ajabgarh

Located at a distance of about 15 km from the hangar lies the cursed village of Ajabgarh. Ajabgarh is also believed to be haunted and has a fort

The main road is lined with the ruins of once beautiful Havelis. All these Havelis give a marvellous experience of the ruins of a well-established kingdom. Entry into these Havelis are prohibited. All these Havelis are locked just because of rumours prevailing in the area.

The abandoned ruins of Bhangarh Fort attract history lovers and adventurers to the place. Most people are here to experience some kind of paranormal activity. Picture Credits: Rajiv Bajaj

Bhangarh Fort Incidents

A lot of incidents have been supposedly associated with Bhangarh Fort. Our guide who was a local from around the area told us a few of these incidents.

One such incident he told us was that of a boy who had visited the fort at night. He fell into the well but was rescued by two of his friends who had accompanied him. While being rushed to the hospital, the car met with an accident and all three were killed on the spot.

He also told us how two boys who had come here to spend a night were never heard of again. The guide also told us that some people managed to stay inside the fort after nightfall after bribing the guards. He said that those people had reported some scary experiences.

Although we didn’t feel any paranormal activity inside the fort, there was definitely an eerie vibe around the place.

The truth behind Bhangarh fort Warning Board

There is a blue coloured advisory board by the ASI inside the board premises. The board is written in Hind. Its English translation is as follows:

1. It is prohibited to enter the premises of Bhangarh before sunrise and after sunset.
2. It is illegal to bring any cattle inside the premises of Bhangarh. Non-compliance with this will lead to legal action.
3. The Pandanus trees (kewda or kewra tree) in the Bhangarh premises are the property of the 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. However, a tea stall owner in the nearby village told us a different story. He said that the board was put up not against the ghost activity, but because of the wild animals in the area.

Bhangarh Fort is located near the Sariska Tiger Reserve and it is very common for tigers, leopards and other wild animals to roam inside the fort premises post-sunset.

Sometimes the animals dragged their hunted prey inside the premises and stay the night.

He said that the locals have used it as a unique selling point to the tourists who earn money by telling people these scripted horror stories.

This ASI board at Bhangarh Fort lists out an advisory for the visitors. The first point states that it is prohibited to visit the fort before sunrise and after sunset. Picture Credits: Ajay

Tips for Visiting Bhangarh Fort

When visiting Bhangarh fort, you need to be careful about the following things:

Carry Food & Water 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 kilometres from Bhangarh. You can taste the special Kari Kachori and Rajasthani Thali from the local restaurants.

Beware of monkeys There are many monkeys around Bhangarh.  Be careful of these notorious creatures especially if you are carrying eatables.

Travel in a group Travelling in a group is not only fun but is also budget-friendly. Especially if you are driving through Alwar, there is a section of the road that is not in a very good condition

Don’t stay overnight It is completely banned to stay inside the premises of the fort. However, if you do manage to make your way inside for the night, I would totally advise against it. I don’t know about the paranormal activity at night but I do have 3 reasons for not visiting the fort at night- 1.       Wild animals from the nearby forest wander inside the fort at night. That encounter could be dangerous 2.       The rooms of the fort have a particularly foul smell. If you try to breathe that air for long, it can be nauseating and can make you sick. It can also get claustrophobic. 3.       The insides of the fort are dark and there is a lot of rubble lying here and there. You could trip and hurt yourself in the dark.

Leave Early If you intend to undertake the Bhangarh Fort visit as a day trip and want to get back home in the evening, I would suggest you start as early as possible.

Self-driven Cars 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.

As long as you follow these trips you will be perfectly safe on your Bhangarh trip.

Is Bhangarh fort safe to visit?

Yes, Bhangarh Fort is safe to visit as long as you follow the rules of the fort. Avoid any misadventures that might cause problems. If you are travelling alone, make sure you have taken all the safety precautions and have arranged for your conveyance.

Locate at the foot of Aravalli Hills, Bhangarh Fort looks less scary and more beautiful during monsoons. Picture Credits: Devendra Meena

The abandoned city of Bhangarh may or may not be haunted but it is definitely worth a  short visit.  The stories and legends give the fort of Bhangarh a very spooky and negative aura.  Although I didn’t experience any paranormal activity, I can’t speak on behalf of the others. The fort should be visited for its natural beauty and to understand the years old heritage of Rajasthan.

Happy Wayfaring 😊

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Varun Gupta has been born and brought up in Alwar (Rajasthan). He pursued his graduation from Rajasthan University and is a CA by profession. Apart from doing well in his studies, he looks upon himself as a curious traveler and a good blogger. Varun 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.

 

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