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The abandoned village of Rajasthan
Kuldhara is a village in Rajasthan, located on the golden sands of Jaisalmer. The location glistened and sparkled with richness and splendour during the 17th and 18th centuries. This previously prosperous village is now in ruins. There isn't a single animal living here. What pushed this thriving village into abandonment?
The ruined village of Kuldhara, Image source- Wikipedia

Story of Kuldhara

The town of Kuldhara, located 17 kilometres west of Jaisalmer, stands still, but it has a story to tell. Back then, Paliwal Brahmins who migrated from Pali to Kuldhara originally populated the village. Gradually, the village began to flourish during the 17th and 18th centuries. But then something changed their lives and forced them to evacuate their village in a single night.

According to legend, this was because of the evil intentions and lusty deeds of Salim Singh. The state's prime minister, who was known for his debauchery, had terrorised the entire town of Kuldhara. One of the scary days was when Salim Singh came to the village to collect the taxes when his eyes fell on the beautiful girl of the village mukhiya (village head). He wanted to marry her, but who would want their beautiful girl to get married to a monster?

Neither the village chief nor his daughter wanted the marriage to happen. But, Salim Singh announced the disastrous and deadly consequences everyone in the village would face if the girl did not come to him on the day of Poornima.

The command shook the entire community. The tyrant's horrors were increasing day by day, and the line had already been crossed. The people eventually agreed to leave the village in one night. They not only abandoned the village but also cursed it, saying that no one would ever be able to reside there again.

The gate of Kuldhara, Image source- Enigmatic India

Today, in the yellowish-brown sands, stand the ruined houses of Kuldhara. Rows of mud houses and their broken roofs scream the sad story. The half-broken walls stand like breathless beings, and the entire place is covered with dust, blurring the happy memories spent in the past.

But how would you react if I told you that the location is also said to be haunted? Yes, Kuldhara is known as one of the most haunted places in India. Some people say that the curse is to blame for the fact that the once-bustling city is now home to ghosts.

Even the road to Kuldhara runs through an isolated place where one is not even likely to find any vehicles. The sound of stillness will pierce one's ears, and the moment one reaches the gate of the village, a strange uneasiness flows through the nerves.

Tourists and nearby people have reported several paranormal activities. And of them, some are extremely scary. Several tourists have reported hearing the sounds of bangles and weeping children. A team from Delhi Paranormal Society had also explored the place and had confirmed the presence of something evil.

The sole resident of Kuldhara village, Image source- Trekearth

However, Suma Ram, an elderly man who lives near the entrance of Kuldhara, denies the fact that the place is haunted. He surely admits the point that the village is cursed, but there are not any sort of supernatural elements. He also adds that he had never experienced any such events in his life, even after being there for such a long time. Well, we are not sure what the truth is, but the place remains mysterious because of the renouncement of Kuldhara.

Kuldhara is currently a historical site maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. Tourists come to see the site and get a peek at the ancient settlement, but the empty place now tells the story of its dismal history. Next time you ever visit Kuldhara, do reminisce about its past.

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Swapna Roul Author
I take my name so seriously and spend most of my time in my dreamland. A trendy outfit and aesthetic photos can make me happy for the next 24hrs. Also, I love acting in my own directed movies and have already bagged many Filmfare awards in my mind.

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