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The Death of Paranormal Investigator Gaurav Tiwari and the Haunted Speculations

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The death of a paranormal investigator in India was shrouded in rumors for a long time. After Gaurav Tiwari was found dead in 2016, people started to speculate whether something paranormal was the cause behind it. 

In 2016, the prominent Indian paranormal investigator, Gaurav Tiwari was found dead in his home at only 32 years old. The police declared his death as a suicide, but speculations about what happened, ranging from something foul play, possession by evil forces to the power of a vengeful ghost, started to circulate. His death became a mystery, not unlike what he spent his life investigating. Let’s have a look at what happened back then and the stories it spawned. 

Background as a Paranormal Investigator

Gaurav Tiwari: 2 September 1984 – 7 July 2016 (aged 31) was a well known paranormal investigator in India whose death sparked much speculations.

Gaurav Tiwari emerged as a figure of the paranormal and mysterious in India. He appeared in numerous TV shows like MTV Girls Night Out and Haunted Weekends, documentaries and podcasts where he discussed and tried to investigate the paranormal.

Instead of pursuing his career in aviation, he decided to found the Indian Paranormal Society and for years, Tiwari and his team searched the labyrinthine landscape of India, venturing into the darkest recesses of abandoned buildings, ancient ruins, and haunted locales. 

Read more: Check out all of the ghost stories from India

His interests in the paranormal had started after he moved to Florida when he was 21 and moved into an apartment together with four other people. In 2007 as he was studying to become a pilot, he claimed to have experienced poltergeist like phenomena and heard whispers coming from nowhere. One of his other flatmates claimed to have seen the apparition of a young girl. They heard footsteps in the attic and ended up fleeing the house as the haunting wouldn’t stop. 

This initial interest started to take over his life, eventually turning into a lifelong passion as well as a career. Over the course of his work he investigated more than 6000 alleged haunted locations as well as delving into UFO abductions and mysterious creatures. 

The Death of Gaurav Tiwari

On a fateful night in July 2016, the world of paranormal investigation was plunged into darkness as news of Tiwari’s tragic demise spread like wildfire. His lifeless body was discovered in his home on July 7th in Dwarka, New Delhi and it looked like a suicide. 

The news of his death came as a shock as there seemed to be no reason for him taking his life. He was newly married, had appeared on the cover of a magazine, tweeting and going to work like normally. He died on a Thursday and the days leading up to it seemed completely fine. 

That Wednesday he had been investigating an alleged haunted house in Delhi’s Janakpuri and didn’t return back home until 1:30 that night in his apartment in Dwarka sector 19 he shared with his wife and parents. He fought with his wife when he came back that night, but the next day he was back to his normal self according to his family. 

The Thursday evening he was checking his mails few moments before heading to his bathroom. His wife had heard a big thud from the bathroom at around 11, and when she came back to check on him as he didn’t give a life sign. Together with a neighbor they had to force their way through the door. There they found him on the floor. Although he was rushed to the hospital, they were unable to save his life. 

Paranormal Investigator: Up until his death he was always investigating the paranormal realm and had been complaining about feeling the forces of them taking over him. What was the truth behind his death?

Speculation about his Death

So what happened if everything seemed fine? There was seemingly a lot of confusion about his sudden death and people started to talk. Some of the speculations were of course connected to his life work, the paranormal. 

To Times of India, Gaurav Tiwari’s father told that he had been feeling “a negative force was pulling him towards it.“

He was found with black marks on his necks, something that according to his family, Tiwari often talked about being a sign of revenge of spirits in distress. Often citing the movie The Omen from 1976 where such black lines seemed to also appear from nowhere.  

His father persisted with the theory that they had numerous spirit sightings at home, all having occurred within five feet of his son who saw them although others didn’t. 

To his wife he had said a month before his death that “he was trying to control it but seemed unable to do so.” His wife had not thought much about it and thought he was just depressed because of the heavy work that his family was unaware of. 

Police Investigation of his Death

The Delhi Police concluded that the cause of death was asphyxiation as he had hanged himself in the bathroom. According to Surender Kumar, DCP said: “It is a clear case of suicide. He hanged himself in the bathroom using his wife’s dupatta on Thursday night”

Further investigation showed that his work had seemingly dried up and that his project didn’t really bring in a lot of money, although he was well known. This caused arguments between him and his family that wanted him to get a more conventional job, including his wife. 

The argument the night he had died had lasted for almost two hours and during police investigation it was also revealed that the wife thought he was cheating as he spent long nights outside of his home. His broken phone was recovered from his room and although it didn’t really give any conclusive evidence of anything, it indicated that he was indeed tired and upset of being questioned by his family. 

The Enduring Legend of Gaurav Tiwari

As we reflect on the life and work of Gaurav Tiwari, we are confronted with the sobering reality of our own mortality—a reminder that in the shadowy realm of the paranormal, death is but a gateway to the mysteries that lie beyond. 

It is also a case of how we are confronted by death, we often try to deflect and come up with some other forces that are taking our lives instead of ourselves. Even within the community of those seeking death and the afterlife. 

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References:

Paranormal society founder dies mysteriously in Dwarka home | Delhi News – Times of India 

Gaurav Tiwari: Indian ghost buster’s mysterious death is magnet for paranormal theories – Firstpost 

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/gaurav-tiwari-paranormal-investigator-foung-dead-mysteriously-328664-2016-07-11 It’s a clear case of suicide: police on ghostbuster’s death in Dwarka – The Hindu

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Bollywood Legends of Ramoji Film City’s Haunted Spots

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The world’s biggest film city is allegedly a haunted one. It is rumored that Ramoji Film City is built upon a battlefield drenched in the blood of the old Nizam warriors from the Hyderabad Empire. They are reportedly haunting the place, sometimes even thought to be dangerous for the actors and crew. 

Ramoji Film City, located in Hyderabad, India, is one of the largest film cities in the world. Guinness World Records actually says it is the largest. It spans over 2,000 acres and has been the backdrop for many blockbuster films like Bahubali: The Beginning (2015), The Dirty Picture (2011), Ghajini (2008), Golmaal: Fun Unlimited (2006). 

Ramoji Film City: One of the more haunted places is the film city found in Hyderabad in India. Even some of the high profile actors claim that something is going on around the movie sets.

Ramoji Film City was established in 1996 by the renowned film producer Ramoji Rao who wanted to have something similar to Hollywood in India as well.

Amidst the glitz and glamor of this sprawling complex though is not just a hub of creativity and entertainment; it is also home to some of the most chilling legends and ghostly sightings according to the old legends.

The Ghost of the Nizam Warriors

Nizam Warriors: The Film city is supposedly built on top of battlefields where the Nizam warriors died.

When they built the film city it is said that the builders kept the land as it was without removing one tree or mountain to keep the spiritual peace of the place. Even though they didn’t take out any of the trees, it looks like something is wrong about the place. 

It is reportedly said that the film city is built on grounds where Nizams of Hyderabad fought and died. It is said that the spirits of those soldiers fallen in those battles are still wandering restlessly there. 

The Nizam of Huderabad was the ruler of the Hyderabad State until it became a part of the Maratha Confederacy after they lost in the 18th century.

They also fought in the Anglo-Maratha War where they became under British rule. Needless to say that there were plenty of wars throughout the times for the Nizam warriors to have fallen in. 

The Paranormal Experiences of Visitors and Employees

Many visitors and employees of Ramoji Film City have reported paranormal experiences at the haunted spots. Some have reported seeing ghostly figures, hearing strange noises, and feeling a cold breeze. Some have even claimed to have had conversations with the ghosts allegedly haunting the place. 

According to reports about the hauntings people often mention the incident when a chandelier fell from the ceiling. And it seems that the alleged haunting going on inside of Ramoji Film City is connected to lights. 

Read more: Check out all of the ghost stories from India

Staff working with the light in the film city have claimed to have been pushed from the heights and gotten severely injured. There are also other types of crew that tell about the same thing and their clothes being ripped by something invisible. 

Lights are known to turn on and off at random, the gates are getting locked on their own, and there is the case with the strange writing in the mirror in Urdu. A lot of the scary things are centered around the mirrors and many actors have reportedly seen strange things when getting ready for a shoot and looking in the mirror. 

People have also heard strange voices and something whispering in Urdu, at least a couple of tourists staying in the guesthouse.  

Scaring a Bollywood Superstar

Actress Tapsee Pannu is one of those that claim to have experienced something paranormal in the film city.

The actor in Pink, Tapsee Pannu talked about her own haunted experience when she stayed at one of the hotels in the film city. 

“Firstly, I am extremely scared of ghosts, and I do believe that they exist. Personally, I felt something in my room when I was staying at a hotel in Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad. I had heard stories earlier of the hotel being haunted.”

This she shared in an interview in 2022. She was alone in her room and heard footsteps echoing and getting closer. She got scared and instead of finding out what was going on in her room, she forced herself to sleep. She said herself:

“There was no way I could fight a ghost.”

The Haunted Ramoji Film City

Ramoji Film City is not just a hub of creativity and entertainment. It is also home to some of the most chilling legends and ghostly sightings told from both the crew working in the shadows behind the camera as well as from the stars in front of them. And if we are to believe the rumors, the ghosts found in the film city are not necessarily just in the movies.

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References:

Ramoji Film City – Wikipedia 

Ramoji Film City – Where The Ghosts Make Films 

Tapsee Pannu & the paranormal experience she had in Hyderabad 

Is Ramoji Film City Really Haunted? 

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The Ghost Cat with Red Glowing Eyes of Acadia National Park

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After a devastating fire in 1947 in Acadia National Park in Maine, a man and his cat were engulfed in the flames. After this, there have been reports about people encountering what seems like the ghost cat Seawater staring at you through the trees with red glowing eyes.

In the whispered tales that drift through the mist-shrouded corners of the resort town of Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island in Maine, a haunting legend lingers—a story of a faithful cat and a tragic fire that claimed the life of her master. 

It is said that Seawater, a raggedy feline with eyes that gleam like rubies in the darkness, roams the island in search of her beloved owner, Willie Cunningham, lost to the flames of a great fire in 1947. 

The Great Fire of Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park is a stunning natural reserve located primarily on Mount Desert Island, the largest offshore island outside of Maine, United States. Established in 1916, it encompasses over 49,000 acres of rugged coastline, lush forests, granite peaks, and pristine lakes. 

Read More: Check out all of our ghost stories from USA

Acadia National Park is not only a haven for outdoor enthusiasts but also a place of profound natural beauty and ecological significance. What it also is known for is being one of the most haunted places and one of the ghost stories from the park is about the ghost cat from the Great Fire in 1947 that took the life of six people and left only ashes and ghosts.

In the chilling days of October 17, 1947, Acadia National Park became engulfed in a monstrous blaze that devoured over 10,000 acres of the ancient forests. The fire, born along Crooked Road west of Hulls Cove, spread its fiery fingers, consuming everything in its path. It wasn’t just the park that suffered—the flames licked hungrily at Mount Desert Island beyond its borders, leaving an additional 7,000 acres in ruins. 

The Fire in Acadia: The fire in 1947 burnt through the national park and according to the rumors, it only left ashes and ghosts.

This inferno was but one of many that ravaged Maine’s forests in a dry and desperate year. For almost a month, the fire raged unchecked. From the Coast Guard to the Army Air Corps, from the Navy to local residents, and National Park Service employees, all joined the battle against the encroaching flames. 

Historic summer cottages along Millionaires’ Row were reduced to ashes, along with homes and hotels, leaving only smoldering ruins in their wake.

Willie Cunningham and Ghost Cat

Willie, a solitary and elderly man living on Forest Street in Bar Harbor, had only his loyal companion, the cat Seawater he loved greatly. The cat was the only thing Willie had for company when disaster struck and the fire kept creeping in. 

As the inferno closed in on their home, Willie managed to flee to safety with Seawater in his arms to get into a vehicle that would take them so safety. But the terrified cat dashed back into the inferno when something scared it. Desperate to save his beloved pet, Willie disappeared into the smoke to follow the cat into the burning home they had tried to escape from, never to be seen alive again. 

Read More: Check out the short story The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe

The rescuers had no choice but to leave them there and return after the flames had gotten under control. In the days that followed, Willie’s bones were discovered by a nearby stream, his tragic fate sealed by the flames. 

But what happened to the cat? It is said that Seawater’s spirit lives on as a ghost cat, her form growing larger and more ominous with each passing year. 

The Ghost of Seawater the Cat

Some claim to have encountered Seawater the cat in the darkened woods of Acadia, a spectral figure surrounded by a brood of shadowy cats. 

The story tells when the neighbor found Willie’s skull, it was like the eye sockets were still looking at something behind them. When the neighbor turned around he saw a black cat staring back at him. The ghost cat looked like Seawater had done, but the eyes seemed to glow red. 

Read More: Check out ghost stories like The Mysterious Legends of Hellfire Club on Montpelier Hill, The Black Ghost Cat of War and The History and Legends of the Haunted Abbaye De Mortemer for more stories about ghost cats.

The neighbor chased the ghost cat away then, but it was not the last time some claimed to have seen the ghost of Seawater in the woods. In 2005 a woman claimed to have seen around four cats where one of them was the size of a panther more than a house cat. 

And with each sighting, the legend of Seawater grows, her eyes blazing like beacons in the night, a ghostly guardian forever bound to the island she once called home.

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References:

Great Fires of 1947 – Wikipedia 

Have You Seen Acadia’s Ghost Cat? 

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The Sinking of the RMS Lusitania and the Ghosts Washed Ashore

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In 1915 the RMS Lusitania was heading to Liverpool, but only reached the Irish coast as it was torpedoed by German forces. On the shore where the dead were washed ashore, their ghosts seem to linger in the cemetery and the hotel where the injured were brought. 

In the annals of maritime history, few stories are as haunting as that of the RMS Lusitania. A luxury vessel of her time, she was not merely a ship; she was a symbol of opulence and luxury, afloat in the tumultuous waters of World War I. Her tragic tale, marked by a German U-boat’s ruthless attack, has left an indelible mark on history—and perhaps, on the realm of the supernatural.

Read More: Check out all of our ghost stories from Haunted Ships

In the throes of World War I, the Lusitania was more than just another ocean liner; she was a prized target for German forces. So much so, in fact, that the German embassy took the extraordinary step of placing warnings in 50 American newspapers, advising potential passengers not to travel on this vessel. 

Despite these ominous advisories, courage and curiosity prevailed, and on the fateful day of May 1, 1915, passengers and crew alike boarded the Lusitania, from New York bound for Liverpool.

The Sinking of RMS Lusitania

The RMS Lusitania was carrying 1,266 passengers and a crew of 696, totaling 1,962 people. At 2:10 pm, the Lusitania crossed paths with the German U-boat U-20. Due to the liner’s high speed, some consider the encounter to be coincidental, as U-20 would have had difficulty catching the fast vessel otherwise.

The U-boat fired one torpedo at the RMS Lusitania, striking it on the starboard bow, just beneath the wheelhouse. Moments later, a second explosion erupted from within the ship’s hull at the point of impact.

The vessel began to sink rapidly, listing to starboard. Crew members hurried to launch lifeboats, but the sinking conditions made it extremely challenging, and many lifeboats capsized or broke apart. Only 6 out of 48 lifeboats were successfully launched.

Eighteen minutes after the torpedo hit, the ship’s trim leveled out, and it disappeared beneath the waves, with the funnels and masts being the last visible parts. Chaos reigned as the ship rapidly descended into the abyss, leaving only a handful of lifeboats to brave the frigid waters

Tragically, of the 1,962 people aboard the RMS Lusitania, 1,199 lost their lives. Heroic acts by survivors and Irish rescuers brought the survivor count to 764, although three later succumbed to injuries sustained during the sinking.

The Eerie Remnants: Queenstown

In the aftermath of this devastating event, the town of Queenstown, now known as Cobh, bore witness to a somber spectacle. The bodies of the few survivors and many victims either washed ashore or were brought to the town. 

Read More: Check out all of the ghost stories from Ireland

In the Old Church Cemetery, nestled on the outskirts of Cobh, nearly 200 of the RMS Lusitania’s ill-fated passengers found their final resting place in both mass and individual graves.

The Sinking of RMS Lusitania: The ship was Torpedoed by German U-boat U-20 and sank on Friday 7 May 1915. The wreck lies approximately 11 mi (18 km) off the Old Head of Kinsale Lighthouse in 305 ft (93 m) of water. The dead passengers from the ship is said to be haunting the city of Cobh.

It is here, amid the gravestones and fading memories of the RMS Lusitania’s passengers, that the veil between the living and the departed seems to thin. Witnesses from diverse sections of the community, including the enigmatic White Witch of Cobh and a Grave Inspector, have recounted eerie experiences.

The White Witch of Cobh

But who is this white witch that supposedly makes people believe in her words of hauntings? Her name is Ms Helen Barrett and is a 5th generation witch. Out of the 3 500 witches in Ireland, there is supposedly only one that outranks her in Kerry. 

She is mostly known for her fortune telling and magic spells like whistling up a wind, but she also has claimed to have seen some of the ghosts that are said to haunt her city. She has among other things claimed to have foretold Princess Diana’s death as well as the start of the world ending in 2012. 

The Haunted Funeral Procession

Foremost among these accounts is the chilling sound of a mass funeral procession for the Lusitania’s victims that took place on the 10th of May in 1915. Most people that claim to have experienced this have talked about hearing hushed voices as well as the sound of footsteps along the cemetery wall. 

The White Witch herself claims to have “seen” it unfold, a spectral spectacle that haunts the imagination.

The Haunted Cemetery: Several people of Cobh have claimed to have seen a ghostly funeral procession of the victims from the ship in the cemetery.

These mournful echoes of the past have perplexed onlookers, leading them to believe that a funeral procession was approaching, only to find an empty road. It is as though the spirits of the Lusitania’s passengers still gather to remember their untimely end, leaving an enduring and haunting legacy in the hallowed grounds of the Old Church Cemetery in Cobh, Ireland.

The Hauntings at Commodore Hotel

In Cobh there was a hotel when the ship went down that was originally known as The Queens Hotel and is still in operation. It was run by a German and the entire Humbert family had to hide in the basement because of the angry mob that gathered outside.  

At the time when RMS Lusitania were torpedoed, many of the survivors were taken to the hotel where they treated the wounded and stored the dead to appease the angry flock of people.

Read More: Check out all of the Haunted Hotels around the world

It is said that this gave an imprint in the hotel, and many of the unexplained noises and sightings have been said to be because of the ghosts of the victims. 

This is however not the only ghosts haunting the hotel according to legends though, and the hotel is also said to be haunted by a british soldier who took his own life there and the ghost of a baby that was supposedly left in a suitcase there. 

The Tragic Haunting from RMS Lusitania

The haunting tale of the sinking of the RMS Lusitania and the ghosts washed ashore is one that resonates with the depths of history. As time passes, these spirits continue to linger, their presence felt in the eerie whispers of the Old Church Cemetery and the haunted halls of the Commodore Hotel.

As the years pass, the tragic haunting from the RMS Lusitania serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of war, a testament to the resilience of spirits lingering on. The stories of these lost souls continue to captivate, reminding us of the mysterious and enduring connections between the world of the living and the realm of the departed.

We can only wonder if these restless spirits will ever find peace, or if their presence will continue to be felt by those who venture into the hallowed grounds of Cobh and the haunted halls of the Commodore Hotel.

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References:

Cobh, Ireland: Top 5 Haunted Places To Visit | Spooky Isles 

Commodore Hotel | Haunted Cork, Ireland | Spirited Isle 

https://darkemeraldtales.com/2015/05/05/ghosts-of-rms-lusitania-and-the-port-of-cobh/ Witch of Cobh says she foresaw the death of Diana – The Irish Times

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The Haunting of Ballyheigue Castle and the Tale of Lost Treasure

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One dark night, a Danish ship wrecked not far from Ballyheigue Castle. The ship carried silver and during a raid of the castle, the treasure was lost. What was the real reason for the ship being wrecked, and who was the ghostly figure in a picture taken centuries later?

On the Atlantic coast of Eire, in the serene village of Ballyheigue, stands the enigmatic Ballyheigue Castle. Conceived by the visionary architect Richard Morrison in 1810, this grand mansion was once the proud abode of the illustrious Crosbie family in its Tudor-gothic-revival style. 

Today, it stands as a mere shell of ruins as many of the old Irish castles and mansions, embraced by the lush green expanse of a golf course that was built in 1996.

Read More: Check out all of the ghost stories from Ireland

From 1890, parts of the castle were used as a Royal Irish Constabulary station. May 27, 1921, it succumbed to the flames of the Irish War of Independence, a casualty in the battle against British Imperialism. This was not so uncommon during this time, and many of the old castles and big houses met the same fate. 

Ballyheigue Castle: Now only the ruins stands of the former castle on what is now used as a golf course. It is believed that a ghost is haunting the place as strange figures have showed up on pictures of those visiting. //Source: Wikimedia

It is said that, before the castle met its fiery end, the community rallied to plunder its contents, an act of defiance before the torch was applied. What is true though is that only ruins and ghost stories are now left.

The Ghosts of Ballyheigue Castle

Ballyheigue, pronounced “baleyhigh,” bears the weight of its storied past, once a haven for smugglers who roamed the treacherous Irish coast. This comes to show in the ghost stories and legends.

In June 1962, Captain P. D. O’Donnell and his family went on a holiday in Ballyheigue. O’Donnell, later recounting his experiences in the ‘Ireland of the Welcomes’ magazine, published by Bord Failte Eireann (the Irish Tourist Board), unveiled a chilling chapter of Ballyheigue Castle’s history.

One afternoon during their stay, O’Donnell and his eight-year-old son, Frank, ventured into the crumbling remnants of Ballyheigue Castle. This once-proud fortress had belonged to the Crosbie family, who had wielded power over County Kerry for generations. After thorough exploration of the castle’s ruins, O’Donnell captured several photographs of the decaying walls before going home and developing his holiday pictures.

Curiously, upon developing the photographs, one image revealed an anomaly—a mysterious figure standing in one of the windows. This spectral presence held a sword and appeared dressed in what looked to be a sailors outfit. After checking out what they could, they concluded that this was no result of double exposure.

Alas, the sole print of this haunting photograph, along with the negative, vanished when he sent it to a friend. Despite extensive efforts, including newspaper advertisements and printed leaflets offering substantial rewards, the elusive image remained lost. 

Strangely, offers to purchase the Danish rights to the photograph poured in, even from as far afield as Copenhagen. Why were the Danes so intrigued by a ghostly picture?

The Wreckers of the Coast

As recounted in the ancient chronicles of Kerry, the Danish ship Golden Lyon, part of the Danish Asiatic Company’s fleet en route from Copenhagen to Tranquebar, was wrecked on Ballyheigue beach on October 30, 1730. 

The relentless fury of a storm had cast the ship off course, rendering it vulnerable to the opportunistic Crosbies—so the legends say. Dark tales persist of the Crosbies employing false lights attached to the heads of horses, drawing unsuspecting ships into perilous waters. This was done so the people on land could ‘salvage’ the goods the ships were carrying.  

Ballyheigue Beach: This is the beach that the Danish ship carrying silver wrecked. Perhaps on purpose on those on the beach coming from the castle. //Source: Wikimedia

Sailors on the ships at night were deceived by the bobbing lights that seemed to signal safe passage, and found themselves shipwrecked among the unforgiving Atlantic breakers.

People who did this were called ‘Wreckers’, and was a common story told across the coast and feared the same way ships feared pirates. There are also tales that the crews of these ships were slaughtered to leave no witnesses. 

Common law back then was that the goods from shipwrecks belonged to those residing on the shore it drifted in from and it could be a highly lucrative business of ships coming from far and bringing with them treasures and other goods. 

The Twelve Chests of Silver

The crew of the ill-fated Golden Lyon faced an unforeseen rescue mission, orchestrated by Sir Thomas Crosbie and his cohorts coming from Ballyheigue Castle. Amid the wreckage, they salvaged a substantial portion of the Danish ship’s cargo, including a cache of silver bars and coins concealed within twelve chests. 

The crew were welcomed to the Crosbies and stayed at Ballyheigue Castle. Did the Crosbies really wreck the ship on purpose? Or were they actually the helpful locals they posed as? It wasn’t long before Sir Thomas met an untimely demise, some suspecting poison at the hands of his own wife.

Lady Margaret, widow of Sir Thomas Crosbie, laid claim to a staggering £4,300.00 (equivalent to a princely £110,800.00 today) from Captain J. Heitman, master of the Danish ship, citing it as salvage and compensation for her husband’s demise, attributing him dying to the “labors and exertions on the night of the wreck.” Fearing for the safety of his twelve chests of silver, Captain Heitman transported them to the castle’s cellar, stationing a vigilant guard at the entrance until he could arrange for their return to Denmark.

The Raiding of the Castle

Soon after, there was a raid on Ballyheigue Castle and the chests of silver vanished under the cover of night. Authorities managed to recover a meager £5,000.00 of the total £20,000.00 worth of silver.

Lady Margaret’s name hovered ominously over the shadows of suspicion of her orchestrating the raid, yet she vehemently denied any involvement. Today, local legends weave intricate tales of the whereabouts of the stolen silver.

It is said that one of the sailors standing guard tried to stop the robbery of the chests, but was killed in the process. Could this be the ghost seen in the picture from Ballyheigue Castle O’Donnell saw?

The Death Anniversary of the Ghost

What is also an interesting, and perhaps a creepy fact is the date the picture was taken. Historical records chronicle the Danish Silver Raid transpiring on June 4, 1731. O’Donnell’s photograph of the phantom sailor was taken on June 4, 1962—was it a spectral tribute to this ominous anniversary?

Another legend of the castle is that the silver in fact, never left the building. According to this story, the stolen silver is still underground and the sailor is trying to let us know. Perhaps one day another one will be shown to were it is, who knows, perhaps it will once again be on the anniversary of his death? 

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References:

Ballyheigue Castle – Mysterious Britain & Ireland 

Ballyheigue Castle – Wikipedia 

Salvage Tradition, Law and Lore – Irish Maritime History 

(PDF) The Ghost of Ballyheigue Castle | Francis Martin O’Donnell – Academia.edu 

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The Haunted Stretch of Death

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There is a road in Extremadura, Spain that has been called The Stretch of Death because of all the accidents that are said to happen there. There is one legend though, that one of the accidents ended in a death that was never uncovered. Now the place is haunted by the victim trying to tell the truth. 

Spain is known for its beautiful and picturesque roads that weave through the countryside and mountains. But there is one road in Spain that is not so picturesque and definitely not for the faint-hearted. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Spain

The road is called ‘The Stretch of Death‘ and it has a history of ghostly sightings and strange occurrences people have linked to the supernatural. And the cause of the supposed haunted road is said to be in the bottom of the nearby lagoon.

The Stretch of Death

In the Extremadura region in Spain, a place filled with mystery and tales of ghosts and the macabre. The place is landlocked bordering Portugal with the lowest population density in Spain. This makes a breeding ground for ghost stories such as this place here. 

The 2 kilometer stretch of road between Pozuelo de Zarzon and Monthermoso has crosses and flowers lined up on the sides of the roads after the many deadly accidents that have happened, hence it name: Stretch of Death. 

What Makes this Road so Dangerous?

Why is it that so many meet their end at this particular point on the road? Most allegedly haunted roads have something dangerous about them, like a sharp turn or perhaps a dark and narrow road with little visibility. There are not any dangerous curves on the Stretch of Death as it often is on these alleged haunted roads, but a straight line with good visibility of what comes ahead. 

People that drive along this road claim that the monotony of the route and road is to blame as it decreases attention to dangers ahead for the drivers. 

Local legend though is saying there is something paranormal happening along this place. 

The Hit and Run of the Girl Thrown in the Lagoon

One of the local legends has a disturbing story about the dangers of walking along this stretch of road. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Haunted Roads all around the world.

Once a local 17-year old girl was run over and died on the Stretch of Death by a car that didn’t pay any attention when driving. The people who ran her over panicked and didn’t want to get caught and face the consequences of their actions. They decided to cover up their crime and threw her body into a nearby lagoon. 

Her body was never found as it is still on the bottom of the lagoon according to the legend. Her murder and the culprits were never found and it was like she simply just vanished from the face of earth. Or did she?

Because of this the girl that died came back to haunt the place, to try to get the attention of the drivers and help her find her body in the lagoon where she was thrown in. 

The Red Stains on the Road that Never Washes off

Another creepy detail about this place is the red marks that people say supernaturally stained the road after the accident to show what happened. 

There are a couple of red stains on the asphalt on the Stretch of Death that no amount of cleaning or weathering have been able to erase. Could it just be the ferrous oxide of the pavement, or could it be the red blood from the accident that never wants to go away?

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Driving the 10 most haunted roads of Spain

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The Haunting of MG Road and the Mystery of the White-Sari Lady

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Along the sketchy parts of MG Road in Gurugram in India, it is said that the ghost of a woman in a white sari is haunting the place, chasing cars after she tragically died in an accident. 

Legend has it that the spectral presence of a white-sari clad lady roams the MG Road in Gurgaon, or Gurugram as it is officially called in the northern Indian state called Haryana bordering New Delhi. Who the ghost of the woman in the white sari is and when she died is not confirmed and we have only rumors and stories to go on. 

Read more: Check out all of the ghost stories from India

The MG Road (Mehrauli-Gurugram Road) is one of the oldest routes through there in the capital and is a 2.5 kilometer known for its many malls and pubs along the way as well as having a high crime rate. It used to be a safer suburban area, but according to the citizens, in the early 2000s, something started to change. 

The Lady in the White Saree on the MG Road

This is around the time we got to hear about the haunted ghost story about the lady in the white sari haunting the MG Road according to those driving down this stretch of road in the dead of the night. 

Read more: Check out all of the Haunted Roads around the world

According to local lore, the woman met her untimely demise in a harrowing accident on the busy road from Gurgaon to Mehrauli, her spirit forever bound to the place where her earthly journey came to an abrupt end and she is now forever haunting it.

Those who claim to have seen her claim that her eyes are bulging out from her face, as well as her tongue, said to be the length of your forearm. She is chasing after the cars passing through her area, although what happens if she ever catch up to you is not mentioned. 

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References:

Gurugram’s MG Road: From a monument hub to ‘notorious’ Mall Mile – Hindustan Times 

10 Most Haunted Places In Gurgaon That Reveal The Paranormal Side Of Life In 2024! 

7 Horror Stories From Gurgaon That Will Give You Goosebumps 

Top Most Haunted Places in Gurgaon 

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The Haunting History of Brij Raj Bhavan Palace Heritage Hotel

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After being killed in the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 at the Brij Raj Bhavan Palace Heritage Hotel many years ago, the ghost of the British Major is said to still haunt his old palace. 

The Brij Raj Bhavan Heritage Hotel, a stunning palace that has been converted into a luxurious hotel in Kota in Rajasthan, India. But this hotel is not just any ordinary lodging; it is steeped in a haunting history that will send shivers down your spine. 

Read more: Check out all of the ghost stories from India

Once the residence of the Maharaja of Kota on the banks of Chambal River, this opulent palace has witnessed some of the most gruesome and chilling events in India’s history. From the massacre of British officers to the brutal execution of a loyal servant, the walls of this palace hold many secrets. 

History of Brij Raj Bhavan Palace

The colonial Brij Raj Bhavan Heritage Hotel is a historic palace that dates back to the 1830  to serve as a residence to British officials. It was built by the East India Company and called the Agency Bungalow initially.  

The building was taken over by the Kota state in 1900 and the current Maharaja of Kota took over the building in 1956 and turned it into the hotel it is today together with his family. 

The Indian Rebellion Comes to Kota

The Brij Raj Bhavan Heritage Hotel has a dark history that is steeped in violence and bloodshed. Many people believe that the ghosts of those who died in the palace still haunt its halls and corridors. One of the most famous ghost stories associated with the palace is that of Major Charles Burton, a British officer who was killed during the Indian Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. 

The Sepoy Mutiny: Sparked by various grievances among Indian soldiers (sepoys) serving in the British East India Company’s army, the rebellion quickly spread across northern and central India. What began as a mutiny within the military ranks soon escalated into a widespread revolt against British authority, with civilians joining the cause. Although the rebellion was ultimately quelled by British forces, its legacy continues to resonate as a symbol of resistance and the fight for independence in India.

He was of the 40th Bengal Native Infantry. He and his family had lived at the palace for 13 years with his wife, four sons and a teenage daughter. While staying at Neemuch with his entire family, the Indians had a mutiny and the Burton’s fled to a small fort of Jewud. 

Discontent with the British had been brewing for a while, but rumors that the British was planning to convert Hindus and Muslims to Christians by mixing cows in flour and lace their weapons in cow and pork fat, fueled it into a full on mutiny. 

However, the Maharaja of Kota told him to return and together with his two younger sons, Arthur of 21 and Francis of 19, he went back to Kota in December. It seemed peaceful and there were no signs of mutiny. Then he saw approaching riders and he thought his good friend the Maharaja had come to visit him. 

But it wasn’t a friendly visit, it was a mutiny. A group of Indian soldiers broke in and attacked the palace. All of the servants left and it was only him, his sons and a camel-driver who were up against the troops. It was a 5 hour fight, before Burton started pleading for his son’s life against him. 

Their pleas were not heard though and the soldiers found them in a room where they had taken refuge and killed them all. After the murder the dead bodies were given to the Maharaja of Kota and buried in the Kota cemetery. Although rumor has it that they were actually buried in the central hall of the palace.

Kota itself wasn’t retaken by the British until the following March and two years later, two of the leaders of the mutiny were found and hanged on the grounds of the mansion, seen as martyrs of the freedom movement in India. 

The Haunting of the Brij Raj Bhavan Palace

According to legend it didn’t take long until the haunting began and Major Burton’s spirit still wanders the palace, dressed in his red coat and carrying a sword. Some guests have reported seeing him in the corridors, while others claim to have heard his footsteps in the dead of night.

It is said he is a harmless ghost despite how violent it all ended but is allegedly very strict about discipline inside the building. It is said he slaps guards that fall asleep while on duty. There are also those guards claiming they got a massive scolding from him when not guarding their post well enough while on duty. 

The Ghost Inside the Room

During the 1930s, Iris Portal arrived in Kota with her family. Her father had been loaned by the Government of India to assist the Maharaja of Kota with a land settlement in the state. At the age of 17, she found herself spending the holiday at the Old Residency, which had been converted into a state guest house. Her assigned room was located on the first floor and had a distinctive layout, featuring four separate entrances, one of which led to an upstairs balcony, and two others connected to the roof. 

Read more: Check out all of the Haunted Hotels around the world

This is the exact room where the Burtons had made a last-ditch stand. That particular night, although no apparitions were witnessed, was fraught with an eerie, bone-chilling sensation for Iris Portal, leaving her too frightened to sleep. The following day, she told her mother to move her to a different room.

It wasn’t until she returned to Delhi that Iris Portal discovered the haunting history of the Resident and his sons. In 1857, it was recounted that they had descended from the rooftops and met their tragic demise in the very room she had occupied during her stay at the Old Residency.

The Haunting in 1980s

The supposed haunting have been said to have gone on well into the 21st century. The crown Princess of Kota, Yuvrani was quoted in the British journalist, Ann Morrows book, The Maharajas of India:

“As far as we know, he (Major Burton) is an elderly man with white hair and a walking stick. I have seen him myself, because he was murdered in the first floor bedroom, which is now my study. The trouble with Major Burton is that he never goes off duty. He wanders around the palace and if he catches a servant asleep, gives him a quick slap on the cheek. He is the only restless soul around in summer, when it can be like furnace in Kota”

The question is, is the haunting at Brij Raj Bhavan heritage hotel still ongoing?

A Haunted Stay at The Brij Raj Bhavan Heritage Hotel

The Brij Raj Bhavan Heritage Hotel is a stunning palace that is steeped in a haunting history among its regal furniture and decor as well as the stunning terrace gardens. Despite its dark past, the palace has been converted into a luxurious hotel that attracts tourists from all over the world. 

If you are brave enough to stay at the Brij Raj Bhavan Heritage Hotel, be prepared for a spooky experience, but also be prepared to be transported back in time to the opulent era of the Rajputs. 

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History 

The Uprising at Kotah in 1857 | INDIAN CULTURE 

https://m.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020623/spectrum/main2.htm

Would you dare to stay in this palace in Kota known for its harmless ghost?Brij Raj Bhawan Palace in Kota | Haunted hotel in Kota | Times of India Travel

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The Dark Haired Woman Haunting the Road in Asturias

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Like if appearing out of nowhere, a dark haired woman is said to haunt a road in Asturias. Some say she fell out of her carriage, some say she was killed by a jealous suitor. All say that she looks disoriented as if she is lost both in time and place. 

Spain is a country that’s steeped in history, culture and mystery. and it’s no wonder that many of its roads are steeped in legends and lore. There is one road that has long been known as a place where ghostly apparitions have been spotted and where drivers have experienced unexplainable occurrences.

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Spain

One of the stretches of roads in Spain that gets the most complaints of being haunted is the AS-17 between Mengollo and Blimea in Asturias. 

The Strange Dark Haired Woman in Asturias

The complaints that comes in on this stretch of road in Asturias is about the same thing and has been going on for centuries, and is mostly about a dark-haired woman with long hair, looking around expressionless, looking a bit disoriented who suddenly appears when she comes out from behind one of the signs and shows herself to the shocked drivers.

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Haunted Roads all around the world.

Castle of Blimea: The ghost on the stretch of haunted road in Asturias is often connected with the legends of the castle of Blimea and the story about Florinda, the daughter living there.

According to the legend the ghost of this girl was Florinda, the daughter of the first owner of the castle of Blimea or possibly de la Cabezada. She was said to be very beautiful and had many suitors that wanted her hand in marriage.

Only problem though, she was in love with someone else. All the same, her father promised her to the most powerful, the lord of La Buelga. He demanded to know who her secret lover was, but Florinda kept her mouth shut. Even when she was imprisoned in the tower of his castle, she would not name him. In fact, she warned him that she belonged to no one but her secret lover, and she would kill herself if she couldn’t have him.

There are different version about how she ended up dying. Some say it was her spiteful suitor that ended up murdering her when she refused him on that stretch of road. Some say it was the secret lover, a servant in the castle that stabbed her to death as she wished when she was forced to marry the lord. He then proceeded to stab himself with the same dagger, that still was dripping with her blood.

The tragic tale of Florinda has been changed, merged and forgotten by many over the years. But the strange thing about the dark haired woman that suddenly appears on the road have often been connected with her.

The Women Missing from the Carriage

Another speculation about who this ghost on the road in Asturias is comes from the version of the legend where Florinda was a girl that returned to her family in the 11th century after taking her first communion when she fell from the carriage and died. 

People think that when they were passing through Valparaiso, a now abandoned city a pack of wolves as well as snakes scared the horse so it ran off with the parents still inside. 

When they finally made their way back, the daughter was missing and was never found. What happened with her was a thing of mysteries. Did she die? Did she go into the wild to become feral only to come back as the scary ghost of a dark haired woman suddenly appearing on the road? 

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Las carreteras más misteriosas de España – Tendencias – CADENA 100

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Driving the 10 most haunted roads of Spain

Historia, leyenda y maldición del Castillo de Campogrande | GUÍA TURISMO ASTURIAS

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Ghostly Shadows by Dwarka Sector 9 Metro Station and the Haunted Peepal Tree

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By a modern metro station in Delhi, there are rumors that the whole area of Dwarka Sector 9 Metro Station is haunted. Some say that the haunting comes from a Peepal Tree that has been there for a long time and attracts ghosts. 

Amidst the bustling streets of Delhi lies a place shrouded in darkness—a place where the veil between the realms of the living and the dead grows thin, and the whispers of the supernatural echo through the night. 

Read more: Check out all of the ghost stories from India

On Dwarka Sector 9 (द्वारका सेक्टर 9) you will find a temple close to the metro station that is found on the Blue Line of the Delhi Metro. Many will claim that it is the metro station itself that is haunted, but this is not completely true, as it is the surrounding area that are believed to be the haunted place. Outside the temple, Dada Bai Wala Mandir is a peepal tree that is said to be haunted by a ghost. 

Dwarka Sector 9 Metro Station: Although a fairly new metro station, the Dwarka Sector 9 Metro Station has already accumulated a lot og haunted ghost stories said to happen around there. Many of them center around the Peepal Tree nearby and some of the legends seems to be much older than the train station itself. // Source: Wikimedia

Peepal Tree and its Haunted Origin Story in India

The Peepal tree, also known as the sacred fig is worshiped in Hindu culture and also known as ashvattha in India. Often people pray to it and light diya and incense sticks under the tree to rid themselves of all the Doshas from their horoscopes. The belief that the tree has divine powers comes from the Bhagavad Gita where Krishna said: “I am the Peepal Tree among the other trees.” Also Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma are believed to live inside the trees. 

The Sacred Fig: In India and Hinduism the Peepal Tree is often called ashvattha and holds great significance. The same can be said for Buddhism where it is called the Bodhi Tree as this is where Buddha reached enlightenment. The tree also has a lot of superstitions around it.

Also in Buddhism the tree is significant and is known as the Bodhi tree as it is believed that Gautam Buddha got his enlightenment while meditating under the tree. As well as being sacred, there are a lot of lore and superstition surrounding this mysterious tree.

On the other side of its divine connection, the Peepal tree is also believed to be haunted and attract ghosts like the case with the one growing in Dwarka Sector 9.

An old myth about this is that if you sleep under a Peepal tree at night you will see a ghost and this is not just concerning this tree, as many old Peepal Trees have various ghost stories connected to them. But could there be something more behind this than old stories and rumors?

It is also worth noting the scientific reason for the spiritual things that are said to happen when staying at one of these trees at night and that it can be explained by simple biology. During the day the tree absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen because of the sun. During night however, it releases the carbon dioxide that lowers the levels of oxygen human needs to breathe.

This process can feel suffocating, lead to hallucinations, and in worst case scenarios, even death. Could this be the reason why there are so many stories connected to seeing ghosts, hearing voices and even reaching some sort of enlightenment?

The Legend of the Killed Schoolgirl

According to local legend, the origins of the station’s haunting can be traced back to the tragic death of a schoolgirl in the area—a death that unleashed a torrent of supernatural activity upon the unsuspecting souls of Delhi.

When this is said to have happened is not specified in most sources. Some claim that it was in 2004 when a young school girl was killed by a cab as she was heading towards the station. This version seems unlikely though, as the metro station first opened in 2006. 

But if there was something that happened unrelated to the Dwarka Sector 9 Metro Station or perhaps the year is just quoted wrong, is unknown. 

One particularly eerie specter is that of an old woman wearing white and not a schoolgirl, whose ghostly form is said to materialize suddenly in the middle of the road outside of the metro station, only to fade away into the darkness moments later.

The Legend about the Road Construction

Another legend is about this supposed old woman in white in connection to the Peepal Tree outside of Dwarka Sector 9 Metro Station. According to a story, a contractor was haunted in his dreams by her when he was working on the road and wanted to remove the tree. 

After being haunted and the construction workers noticed something off about the tree, they decided to leave it be and built a temple close to it instead. 

The Sacred Fig by the Road: This is the tree close to Dwarka Sector 9 Metro Station said to have attracted ghosts over the years. What can be the reason for the haunting by the Peepal Tree? // Source

The Freedom Fighter Ghost

Another theory was that the ghost is from the time of the British Raj and the tree is much older than what many think, perhaps hundreds of years old. This story is set in the 19th century when the Dwarka region was a thick forest that was used by the rebels that went up against the colonial power.

Close to the tree there used to be a lake. One of the rebels was a lady that went into hiding in the forest, but drowned in the lake close to the tree. Her body was never found, but her spirit got attached to the tree and it is said she is protecting the area to this day. 

Perhaps a seemingly random origin story for the haunting in the area, but the forest department actually have investigated several claims of illegally cutting down and damaging the remaining trees of the once dense forest. 

The Haunting at Dwarka Sector 9 Metro Station

But how do these haunted stories look like today for people passing through the area of Dwarka Sector 9 Metro Station despite the origin stories? 

Most of the stories from this area started coming from people taking the call center cabs at night. Witnesses have reported chilling encounters with unseen forces, describing sensations of being slapped by invisible energies and encountering apparitions that appear and vanish without a trace. 

Many of the stories told is also about how the spirit of this girl is seen running behind cars, perhaps as a revenge for being hit and killed by one. What happens if she catches up to the cars is uncertain, but many reports about hearing knocks on the cars. Many accidents on the road have been attributed to this phenomenon. 

Others walking along the road near the station have reported feeling an ominous shadow trailing behind them, its unseen presence casting a pall of fear over the night.

Another point of this alleged haunted place are the many different variations of who is haunting this what happened. A paranormal investigator once got in contact with a rickshaw driver who told them often encourage ghost stories as it is good for business and they can charge more at night from the curious people coming to look for ghosts. According to this rickshaw driver, people pay a lot for people to come for fake interviews and to tell lies about this place. 

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References:

‘Lady in White’: Paranormal Investigator’s tale 

A Haunted, Ghost of Dwarka, Sector 9, Peepal Tree, Near Metro Station 

Dwarka Sector 9 metro station – Wikipedia 

Haunted Train Stations That’ll Scare The Hell Out Of You | ixigo Travel Stories 

​Why To Worship Peepal Tree: Know Significance | Times of India 

Sleeping under a Peepal tree at night? See a ghost? | The Mirrority