From Bhangarh Fort to Shimla’s Tunnel No

By Ethan Blake 8 min read

From Bhangarh Fort to Shimla’s Tunnel No. 33: 8 most haunted places in North India

1. Getting Started with Fear: Bhool Bhulaiya, Lucknow

At the heart of Nawab’s city, Lucknow, lies a labyrinth that is equally captivating and spooky- Bhool Bhulaiya. This was originally made to confuse the enemy, but today it has become one of the eeriest places in North India. The structure, with its unending passages and dark alleys, causes disorientation and a sense of claustrophobia.

The paranatural activities here are often attributed to the ghost of Nawab himself who had built this place. People often report hearing giggles, screams, dances, and even full-blown music sessions when no one else is around.

Despite the veracity of these ghost stories being questionable, there’s something intensely haunting about the very aura of Bhool Bhulaiya. It sends chills down your spine when you wind through its corridors, not knowing what might be lurking around the next corner.

There was once a group of teenagers who decided to challenge the alleged mysterious atmosphere. They sneaked into the Bhool Bhulaiya at night armed with torchlights, cameras, and a steely determination. What they experienced was beyond explanation – sudden drops in temperature, echoing whispers and a strange white apparition caught on camera.
The incidents were;

Nawab’s faint laugh heard near the central area of the maze.

A soft echo of dance bells lingering in the background.

An unclear photograph, supposedly showing a ghostly figure.

Sudden sensation of cold overcame them numerous times inside the Bhool Bhulaiya.

Phones and cameras malfunctioning for no apparent reason.

Feeling of being watched or followed while walking through various parts of the monument.

2. A Walk Among Shadows: Agrasen Ki Baoli, Delhi

Nested in the heart of India’s bustling capital, Agrasen Ki Baoli is a stellar example of architectural brilliance and mystery intertwined. A monument protected by the Archaeological Survey of India, it is believed to have been built by King Agrasen during the Mahabharata era.

This 60-meter long and 15-meter wide historical step-well has hundreds of steps going deep into the ground in a rather frightening manner. Suicidal incidents were often reported due to the once uncanny black water within the Baoli that ‘lured’ people.

Known for its spectral ambience, even during daylight hours, the silence inside this structure descends into darkness and evokes a sense of unease amid its visitors. The deeper one goes; the eerie quietness tends to get louder, enveloping the ambient noises outside.

A group of young photographers decided to encapsulate the mystic charm of this site, but not everyone was ready for the experience. Unusual phenomenon including shadow figures, inexplicable noises, and an oddly oppressive silence were encountered.
They noted;

Shadow-like entities seen at the corner of their eyes.

Footsteps heard echoing when there was no one at sight.

Mysterious whisperings caught on their recording devices.

The weird sensation of someone lurking behind them.

Sudden malfunctioning of their advanced photographic gear.

An unexplained sense of dread persisting during their entire visit.

3. Infamous Haunting: Ghost Lights of Chir Batti, Gujarat

In an isolated barren land bordering Gujarat and Pakistan, you might experience an unusual phenomenon known as the Ghost Lights of Chir Batti. Ever since the ancient times these lights are known to appear at night and are mostly multicoloured, bobbing at a certain height.

This geographical area known as Banni grasslands is terrifyingly deserted and one amongst the most haunted places in North India. The floating lights are believed to be spirits who may lead you off your path if followed. Locals warn tourists not to wander around after sunset or to follow these lights.

These lights supposedly have an uncanny resemblance with St. Elmo’s fire and yet, no concrete scientific reason behind its occurrence has ever been found. Curious travellers and science enthusiasts flock here to witness this cryptic marvel that has prevailed through folklore for centuries now.

On one such occasion, a group of researchers went into the heart of Banni Grasslands to study the ghost lights. Their experience was unlike any other;

They sighted multiple coloured orbs floating in the air.

At times the lights appeared to be following their car from a distance.

One light unexpectedly flickered off and re-appeared at a different location.

Screeching sounds were heard from unknown sources while approaching these lights.

Gadgets fluctuated while near these apparitions.

All team members reported a peculiar feeling of being watched throughout the night.

4. Jogging in Spirits’ Garden: Company Bagh, Allahabad

Company Bagh, situated within Allahabad city’s heart, is notorious for its landscaped beauty during the day but turns into a completely different picture post-sunset, transforming into an eerie place full of unquiet spirits.

Local folks, park attendants, and regular visitors claim a drastic change of atmosphere within the park after sundown. Reports of disembodied voices, whispering noises, muffled cries, and sudden shivering cold are all too common. Often, spooky sightings near the empty benches and lurking shadows near the trees are also mentioned.

Whether just urban legends or reality, these reported paranormal activities have enough gravity to chill anyone’s blood. On countless occasions, myriads of ghost hunters, thrill-seekers and intrigued locals visited the place trying to validate these chilling folklores.

A bunch of friends encountered a peculiar incident while trying to test whether the stories were authentic. What they found was rather intriguing, as mentioned below:

Unexplained footprints seen in loose soil despite no one approaching.

Quick moving shadows caught from eyes’ corner.

Voices of a woman sobbing intermittently coming from an empty bench.

A sudden cold wave sweeping across the park on a warm night.

Eerie noise of leaves rustling without a hint of wind or movement.

Unusual dread felt by everyone near a specific area within Company Bagh.

5. Bhangarh Fort: From Sun-Kissed Beauty to Moon-lit Horror

Bhangarh Fort hardly needs any introduction – Indian legislation prohibits visiting the fort before sunrise or after sunset due to its association with supernatural activities. Nestled between Jaipur and Delhi, Bhangarh Fort has proven time after time that it deserves the title of India’s most haunted location.

The enchantingly rich history of this fort coincides with nightmare-inducing tales of ghosts, witches and curses. Many believe that Princess Ratnavati’s curse keeps Bhangarh in its grip even centuries later. Visitors often report hearing faint screams, women crying, strange lights, and many other inexplicable occurrences till date.

Sceptics may attribute the story to local folklore imagination or adrenaline-infused angst, but that doesn’t explain away the deeply unsettling feeling that engulfs visitors as soon as they enter the eerily silent premises filled with ancient ruined structures.

With permission, a group of paranormal investigators spent the night within the fort for a detailed study. They came across numerous unexplained instances and phenomena as mentioned:

Faint sounds of anklet bells echoing from nowhere.

Shadow figures crisscrossing across the ruined walls.

Sudden drops in temperature around specific areas within the fort.

Electronic gadgets behaving erratically out of sudden.

A constant feeling of being watched and followed while exploring the ruins at night.

Whispered words and phrases caught on EVP recordings that were not audible during real-time.

6. Dow Hill, Kurseong: From Scenic Beauty to Haunted Hinterlands

Amidst serenity and pleasing landscapes, Dow Hill might appear as an ideal place to relax and enjoy nature’s beauty. However, a darker side lurks behind its picturesque scenery. Known as one of the most mystifying places in North India, it has sent numerous visitors home with chilling tales.

Dow Hill is most famous for its Victoria Boys’ School and the road near this institution, infamously known as “The Death Road.” Locals narrate stories about countless sightings of a headless boy who roams around and suddenly disappears into the woods along with other paranormal incidents.

Despite these ghost stories causing quite a stir amongst locals and tourists alike, investigations have yet to find solid proof of these paranormal activities. Yet, similar accounts by multiple eye-witnesses strongly indicate an anomalous presence or occurrences here.

Two photographers decided to trek the ‘Death Road’ late in the evening. Their unsettling experience was slightly horrifying, as listed below:

An unusual chilly breeze felt, especially around Dow Hill Road.

Muffled sounds of footsteps heard, matching their pace when wandering the road.

Disorientation experienced by both without any significant reason or condition.

Rapid battery drainage of their equipment without any apparent cause.

A strange spectral figure appearing and suddenly disappearing into the woods in one of their captured images.

The unignorable persistent dread felt while trekking along the ‘Death Road’.

7. Tunnel No. 33, Shimla: Spirited Journey through the Mountains

Not many would associate Shimla, a popular vacation destination, with anything ghostly, but Tunnel No. 33 on the Shimla-Kalka railway line can make anyone rethink. The tunnel is infamous for its resident ghost- a British engineer named Colonel Barog who had committed suicide out of humiliation and failure.

It’s not uncommon for passengers passing through this tunnel to narrate tales of sudden temperature drops, apparitional sightings, and disembodied whispers. Contrary to most haunting phenomena, the spirit of Colonel Barog is known to be friendly and harmless.

Despite its eerie reputation, the tunnel attracts a considerable number of thrill-seekers for ghost hunts each year. Even though no concrete proof has been found yet, people continue to report uncanny experiences and sensations during their journey.

On one of their trips across Tunnel no. 33, train passengers noticed a sequence of events that are best described as ‘ghostly encounters’. Here’s what they observed:

Brief shadows seen moving along the tunnel walls under low lights.

A wave of coldness felt despite mild outside weather.

Voices reminiscent of whispering heard from the empty seats behind them.

Feeling of being watched followed by an odd sense of calm and comfort.

Sudden flickering of lights without any malfunction.

Phantom fragrance of old cigars inundating the coach during the tunnel transit.

8. The Wandering Spirits of Lothian Cemetery, Delhi

Amongst the hustle and bustle of Old Delhi lies an ancient British cemetery – Lothian Cemetery. Although it appears ordinary during the daytime, locals claim that things change as the night creeps in.

Many chilling legends surround this graveyard, one of the notorious ones being about a restless soldier’s ghost who roams around headless. There are stories of other flustered spirits trying to communicate, sightings of apparitions near specific gravesites, strange sounds, and voices too. The haunting aura of the cemetery intensifies on new moon nights.

Are these just campfire tales, or is there a shred of truth in them? Whether true or not, these stories have certainly incited the curiosity of paranormal enthusiasts and the brave-hearted, who dare to wander after sunset.

A group of college students visited this place on a whim late one winter night. Their experiences were unsettling, and here’s what they reported:

Strange gusts of wind felt in certain spots despite no weather changes.

Shadowy figures seen at a distance which disappeared when approached.

Whispers heard when no one else was apparently present.

Phones starting to behave erratically all of a sudden.

An indefinable sense of sadness overcome upon entering the cemetery premises.

A non-existent pain felt akin to a severe headache near a particular gravesite.

Summary Table

Place	Story/Phenomena
Bhool Bhulaiya, Lucknow	Echoes of music and dance in empty passages.
Agrasen Ki Baoli, Delhi	Mysterious noises and shadow figures.
Ghost Lights of Chir Batti, Gujarat	Multicoloured ghost lights appearing at night.
Company Bagh, Allahabad	Eerie atmosphere post-sunset with disembodied voices.
Bhangarh Fort, Rajasthan	Centuries-old curse with reports of ghost sightings.
Dow Hill, Kurseong	Sightings of a headless boy on ‘Death Road’.
Tunnel No. 33, Shimla	Friendly yet chilling presence of Colonel Barog’s ghost.
Lothian Cemetery, Delhi	Headless soldier and other spectres haunting the cemetery.

In conclusion, whether you’re a horror enthusiast or just an adventurous reader willing to dive into the spine-chilling folklore of North India, these stories certainly provide a hair-raising experience. With each place steeped in its own distinctive story of the supernatural, your journey across these haunted destinations will undeniably be a fearful, yet truly captivating adventure!