Haunted or Abandoned? The Story of Kuldhara Village in Rajasthan…

We were on our way to sand dunes, leaving Jaisalmer city behind. There was chill in the air, but temperature picked up rapidly in arid desert region. While passing by, amid the golden landscape of Jaisalmer, we saw a signboard carved in stone, a sandstone may be, – KULDHARA. We let that pass as it was not in our itinerary. But suddenly strange feeling took over, as if someone was calling us! I safely presume, it was just the curiosity but anyway we turned our car backwards towards the Haunted village – KULDHARA.

The History –

Situated 17km west of Jaisalmer, Kuldhara was once a prosperous town. It was founded in 1291 AD by a Paliwal Brahmin, Kuldhar Paliwal. Hence the name of the village. It was among the 84 villages built by Paliwal Brahmins. It was once a place of Vedic Scholars, trading activities etc. making it a place of prominence and economic prosperity. They were also masters in water conservation.

Now, let’s fast forward to year 1825.

The Legend and The Curse -

Around the year 1825, a cruel ruler, Salam Singh had the authority over the area. He was the Diwan of Jaisalmer and the surrounding area.

The local people were persecuted during his reign. According to legends, he was so ruthless that he was called Zalim (Cruel) Singh by the local people. He used to stay at the current Jaisalmer Fort, where his palace can be found even now.

One unfortunate day, a young girl from the Kuldhara village caught his evil attention. Like a mad man he lusted for the girl. The girl and the family continuously opposed Salam Singh’s advances but being their ruler, people of Kuldhara had little options. Salam Singh warned the family and village of dire consequences if they refused to hand the girl over in marriage. He vowed to have the girl with or without the permission of the girl, family or community.

Devoid of any options, head of Kuldhara village and heads of other 83 villages of Palliwal Brahmins convened a meeting. It was unanimously decided that the pride of their daughter is of utmost importance. For this they were ready to sacrifice anything. And the decision was made!

Paliwal Brahmins decided to immediately abandon Kuldhara along with other 83 villages. They left their ancestral houses, properties and anything that couldn’t be carried that night. Overnight they abandoned 84 villages and vanished in the darkness of the desert. But before leaving, they cursed Kuldhara that NO ONE WOULD EVER BE ABLE TO SETTLE IN KULDHARA. True to the curse, the village remains abandoned since then and there is nothing but ruins of a few homes and temples. It is estimated that the population of Kuldhara at that time was about 5000.

Paranormal Activities –

According to popular belief, one experiences strange activities in Kuldhara at night. As per one news website, Delhi’s Paranormal Society spent close to 12 hours at Kuldhara in the night. With their gadgets and equipment, they spotted unusual rise and fall in temperatures. Few people felt someone tapping their shoulder when there was no one around and similar strange experiences.

Our Experience –

The paranormal activities and their existence are subject to individual experiences and beliefs. As far as our experience is concerned, the village definitely has spooky vibes. While wandering in the ruins one can feel the pain of people who left everything behind for their daughter. With the dusty emptiness, the sound of silence will hit the core of your heart.

We also got the opportunity to meet the old man of Kuldhara, who is also the gatekeeper of Kuldhara. His appearance and especially his voice will just add overall mystery of this place. You can easily find him on the internet. He is very popular especially after his interview with Humans of Bombay and his love story!

Conclusion:

Kuldhara is a protected monument under State Archaeology Department. The ruins of Kuldhara are a fine example of the architectural excellence and town planning of that era. As far as paranormal activities and stories are concerned, it is a myth, according to Jaisalmer Development Committee. One can find such disclaimer on one of the walls at Kuldhara itself.

But again, such experiences are always subjective!

How to reach and when to travel:

Only way to reach Kuldhara is by Road and is around 17 kms west of Jaisalmer on the way to Sand dunes. Best time to visit Kuldhara is in Winters - November to February. Because of the arid climate, it gets very hot in the afternoon.

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Thanks!