Enjoy the paranormal beauty of Bhangarh Fort

The very well-known Bhangarh fort, which is named after village Bhangarh, is counted among the most haunted and imposing forts in Rajasthan. Considered as one of the best places for history buffs, it is also a choice of option for photo fanatics. Bhangarh is one of the most popular pre-historic sites which also has some of the amazing Hindu temples, great havelis, a mosque and also a palace.

Established in 1573 by King Bhagwant Das, the town of Bhangarh is a deserted city of Rajasthan. King Bhagwant Das had two sons. Elder son was Man Singh who was the famous General of Mughal Emperor Akbar and the younger one was Madho Singh. Built by King Madho Singh, the Bhangarh Fort was established in 1613. Although it is now infamous for its haunted and mysterious presence, it looks beautiful and pleasant once visited.

This fort is located on top of a hill in the deserted village of Bhangarh which is located in between Alwar and Jaipur. The nearby tourist attraction is Sariska National Park and takes around 1h 6min covering 39.1 km via RJ SH 29A.  It is best to drive from Delhi and spend the night on the fringes of the Sariska National Park, and leave for Bhangarh the following morning. Located around 269 km from Delhi via Neemrana route and 242 km via Alwar route, it is often a weekend getaway.

The most popular legend goes as a sorcerer fell in love with the princess Ratnavati of Bhangarh. He tried to sell this potion off as a beauty enhancing oil to her maid. The princess, however, saw through the whole act and threw the oil away. The sorcerer then cursed her saying that the she would die without an heir to leave behind. Following it, the place was soon razed empty. As per the historian, a great famine in the 1800s is believed to have caused the end of the all life there. The fort is definitely one of the finest examples of the royal era and is visited by tourists from all over the country to witness its spooky stand.

Keeping all the ghostly stories aside, the grandeur of the place is one thing that does not goes unnoticed. The architecture of the fort merits equal attention. While Bhangarh is a haunted and ruined settlement, it still holds a place of reverence in the hearts of the villagers. The fort was clearly modelled upon the medieval city of Shahjahanbad, with four massive wooden gates in every direction. The precincts of the fort have miniature waterfall  which is much ornately designed. Photography of the fort needs added fees to be paid.

An ASI board stands in welcome, warning visitors against entering the fort after sunset. This what makes it an ‘almost’ legally accredited ghost fort. The entry fees for foreigner is Rs 200 and for Indians it is Rs 25. The distance from Alwar to Bhangarh is about 90 Km and there are plenty of local transports, cars and taxis available for rental.