Bhangarh Fort Rajasthan: India’s Haunted Mystery

Bhangarh Fort, Rajasthan, with kids? No. Never. It’s haunted! Bhangarh Fort is nothing like its infamous reputation, but a historical marvel and pretty safe to explore with kids. Read on to know how we explored Bhangarh ka Kila with our kiddo.

Though our grandparents and parents abandoned the idea of ghosts, we still loved listening to ghost stories as children.

No?

You must be an exception if you don’t find ghosts enchanting.

The basic human craving for the unknown and mysterious can’t be denied. The craving for adventure…This hunger and curiosity to uncover the truth usually take us to places that not many people really try to visit.

This curiosity took us to Bhangarh Fort, which is listed among the most haunted historical places in the world.

Bhangarh doesn’t need any introduction. It is fairly well-known now, thanks to the internet.

It has been talked about, written about, and mythed about innumerable times. People enjoy reading or listening to haunted stories about it, but few dare to visit and see it for themselves. It’s counted among the spookiest ghost towns in India.

Among the many legends, there are two that are well known among the natives. One is the legend of Princess Ratnavati and Jadugar Singhia, and the other is the curse of Guru Balu Nath.

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Bhangarh Fort in Rajasthan

During our visit to Jaipur last week, we dubiously added Bhangarh to our to-visit list.

When we asked a person at our hotel about Bhangarh Fort, he found it outlandish and tried to convince us not to visit, but we were determined. My daughter was more excited than I was.

Exploring the haunted Bhangarh Fort with kids seems like a grotesque idea to others; however, the fort, if visited during the day with a little caution, is suitable for kids.

Early the next morning, we started driving towards the fort, which is around 90 km from Jaipur.

We used Google Maps because we lacked firsthand information. Roads were narrow and deserted. We felt strange to see that there were not many cars on our route; traffic was moving in the opposite direction.

Though I am really skeptical about my belief in the paranormal and supernatural powers, the experience on the road intensified my feeling of adventure. And we knew that the place was sparsely visited because of its infamous status.

It was a lovely drive through beautiful rural landscapes; however, I felt a bit uneasy about what we would encounter at the fort.

It was truly a journey to the unknown, unexplained, and unreal.

There were a few stretches where ours was the only car on narrow, bumpy roads, with almost no soul in sight.

We kept ourselves busy explaining Rajasthan’s culture and customs to our daughter.

There are people who claim they were bewitched, hounded, punched, or whatnot. And there are people who reject the whole idea as a trick to attract tourists.

Believers respond positively, and non-believers cease the concept. Whatever the truth is, adding a haunted label to the place definitely turns even a dilapidated fort into a popular tourist destination.

An intelligent publicity stunt. These myths attract people from around the world to the ruins of Bhangarh.

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The Archeological Survey of India has posted a board at the fort gate stating that tourists are prohibited from staying inside the fort after sunset and before sunrise.

Just at the entrance, the fort has a marketplace (Johri Bazar), with rows of shops and houses (including nartikiyon ki haveli on the right) lining either side, which is now in ruins, roofless.

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The place feels a bit spooky, not because of its paranormal status but because of the sadness and poignancy that wraps it.

Bhangarh doesn’t really seem to be protected as an Archaeological site in any sense.

The deterioration is apparent as one moves up.

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In India, religion is everywhere.

Despite the ghostly image, there were people performing religious rituals in different rooms of the fort.

The group of villagers was performing a nasty ritual of punishing themselves for wrongdoings or to make their God happy.

ASI isn’t making any effort to curb these happenings inside the fort, maybe because they don’t really wanna hurt anyone’s religious beliefs or sentiments.

Two young boys entered the palace with bags on their shoulders, talking in hushed voices, while we were coming out of the palace.

My curiosity got the better of me; I had to know what brought them with bags here. They declared that they were going to spend the entire night at the fort.

They chuckled and said it’s a nice place for camping. I wished them luck and waved goodbye.

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I investigated every room, every aisle, and every corner, but was disenchanted.

Out of curiosity, I spoke to the Hindu priest staying within the fort premises and the guard on duty.

They rejected the idea of ghosts. Priest philosophized, “There is no spirit more dangerous than man”.

They claimed that wild animals come down from the mountain ranges at night from neighboring forests like Sariska, and the fort serves as a night shelter for them; the sounds they make make the fort a scary place.

Also, the fort has no electricity, which makes the ruins unbearable at night.

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Gopinath Temple has the same elaborateness of carving that Rajasthan is known for.

Strangely, the idols of God were missing.

Hanuman Temple and Someshwar Temple are also on the Fort premises.

At the end of the visit, the nasty tales about the fort seem unbelievable; there was, though, an uncomfortable feeling.

Like everyone else, we also left the place before sunset with many unanswered questions. It left me pondering, though, how ghosts can stay in a place with so many temples surrounding it.

And the mystery remains…whether the place is haunted or not… If you figure it out…please let me know…waise bhoot woot kuch nahin hota 🙂

How to Reach Bhangarh Fort from Delhi?

Bhangarh Fort is about 285 km from Delhi via NH48. It lies in the spooky villages of Rundh Bhangarh in Alwar district, Rajasthan.

If you want to explore the fort from Delhi, leave Delhi as early as possible, as it takes more than 5 hours to cover the entire distance.

Here’s the route to Bhangrah Fort from Delhi:

Delhi > Gurgaon > Bhiwadi > Alwar > Sariska > Thanagazhi > Pratapgarh > Ajabgarh > Bhangarh

How to Reach Bhangarh Fort from Jaipur?

Bhangarh Fort is best explored on a day trip from Jaipur. The fort is about 85 km from Jaipur and takes about 2 hours via NH21.

Here’s the route to Bhangarh Fort from Jaipur:

NH21 > NH148 > RJ SH 55 > Bhangarh

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Things to Take Care of Before Visiting Haunted Bhangarh Fort with Kids

• Let them know about the distinctness between reality (real) and fantasy (fake).
• Evaluate your kids’ ability to handle spookiness.
• Don’t scare them with stories that lack credibility; rather, help them fight their fears.

What’s in it for Kids? Why Visit Bhangarh Fort with Kids?

• Bhangarh Fort is brimming with history. I never really liked history until travel made it fun. Let your kids dive deep into history and see the magic.
• Seeing the fort known for its haunted status makes them understand the unreality of the spooky stories and helps them confront their doubts.
• A road journey to the fort through remote hamlets, unscathed by time, offers kids glimpses of India’s rich culture and tradition. It’s learning while having fun.

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Insider Tips to Visit Bhangarh Fort with Kids

• There are stretches where there are no petrol pumps or habitation for kilometers.
• Carry some dry snacks, as decent places to eat are rare.
• Carry a torch or use a flashlight on your mobile, as the fort doesn’t have electricity. Even in the daytime, a flashlight or torch will help you see the fort better.

You should definitely visit Bhangarh Fort with kids if you are willing to let go of your fear and explore places that scare most of us, but are utterly tranquil and beautiful.

You know, one of the ancient step wells of India, Chand Baori, is just 63 km from Bhangarh.

How many of you believe in ghosts or supernatural powers? Do they really exist? Can they be seen or felt? Which is the first place that comes to mind when the conversation is about the most haunted places in India or the world?

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INDIA TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Here are the essential resources I personally use and recommend for planning a trip to India.

Visa for India: iVisa works great for applying for a fast e-visa online. Also, OneWayFly is great if you need to show proof of onward travel (flight itinerary) or hotel reservation.

For travel insurance: Heymondo. It’s the most affordable travel insurance with maximum coverage. You get 5% off if you use my link.

For Connectivity: Airalo. It’s the first-ever eSIM global website where you can buy an eSIM at affordable prices and stay connected while traveling.

For booking flights: Skyscanner and WayAway. They are the best search/comparison flight booking sites that help you find the best and cheapest flight deals. And with the WayAway membership plan, you’ll get cashback for every booking. Plus, with the special promo code “MELODIES” a 10% discount is activated.

International money transfer & currency exchange: Wise. With competitive exchange rates, fast transfers, and a 9.1/10 rating on TrustPilot, it’s the only service you should use every time you transfer and exchange internationally.

For finding accommodations: Booking.com and Agoda. They are the pioneers among hotel booking websites that give you a lot of choices with their huge selection of properties reviewed by travelers.

For rental car: Discover Cars. It’s the best international car rental platform for all your car rental needs.

For ground transport: Omio, RailEurope, and Bookaway. Best sites for booking bus and train tickets in India.

For tours & day trips: Viator, Get Your Guide, and Klook. They offer the best city tours and day excursions in India.

For guidance on the go: A Lonely Planet Guidebook for India comes in handy here.

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