The Kuldhara Curse: Rajasthan's Ghost Town

Early in the 19th century, all residents of Rajasthan's Kuldhara village decided to abandon their homes! Was it a tyrant's curse, or was there something more sinister to this 'ghost town'?

Kuldhara Village. Illustrated by Dishani Goswami, Visual Storyteller at ThisDay

Kuldhara is a small abandoned village located near Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. It was established in the 13th century by Paliwal Brahmins, who were known for their expertise in agriculture and water management. The village prospered and grew over the centuries, but by the early 19th century, the village was completely abandoned, and nobody knows why.

The legend surrounding the village tells a dark story of betrayal and tragedy, of how the village of Kuldhara was once a thriving settlement until the evil eyes of the local diwan fell upon the beautiful daughter of the village chief. The diwan became obsessed with the girl and threatened to levy heavy taxes on the village if the chief didn’t give her to him in marriage.

The chief refused, and the diwan vowed to destroy the village. On the night of Diwali, when the village was busy with celebrations, the diwan sent his soldiers to capture the girl and to kill the villagers. The Paliwal Brahmins got wind of this attack and decided to abandon the village instead of surrendering to the diwan. Before leaving, they put a curse on Kuldhara — no one would ever be able to settle there again. It is said that as they left, they traded this village with an army of ghosts in return for a better prospect elsewhere, leaving behind an empty and deserted village that has remained abandoned ever since.

Visitors to Kuldhara claim that they experience a weird eeriness and a sense of dread in the village. People even say that though they were alone, they felt a strange presence around them that made them very uncomfortable. Some travelers even reported physical manifestations like nausea, dizziness, and emotional breakdowns. Most of the people who go to Kuldhara now go for this kind of experience, and their stories keep piling on the preexisting legends of this ghost town.

However, the actual reason for the village's abandonment is most likely related to natural causes, rather than a curse or tragedy. Recent archaeological excavations at the site of Kuldhara have revealed no evidence of any mass exodus or sudden abandonment of the village. Instead, the excavations suggest that the village was gradually abandoned over a period of many years, as families moved away in search of better economic opportunities.

As is the case with most “haunted” sites, many of the eerie experiences can be attributed to the power of suggestion, as visitors are often predisposed to believe in the supernatural due to the legends and myths surrounding the village.

In conclusion, while the legend of the cursed village of Kuldhara may be compelling and mysterious, it is largely unsupported by historical evidence.