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10 Most Haunted Places in Beijing

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The ghost of executed prisoners, concubines in old palaces and poltergeists in modern buildings, let’s have a look at some of the Most Haunted Places in Beijing.

The capital of China, Beijing is today a city of contrasts with some of the oldest and historic buildings right next to the newest and most modern one. The bustling streets and ancient alleyways of Beijing holds tales of ghostly encounters and spectral sightings from mysterious things lurking in the old palaces and horror stories from the modern apartment buildings.

For a more extensive list of haunted ghost stories from Beijing and China as a whole, head over to the archive filled with them here. But in this article, let’s have a closer look of some of the most haunted places in Beijing.

Chaonei No. 81 |  朝内81号 | Beijing — The horror house in the former church

Most Haunted Places in Beijing

Amidst the bustling streets and ancient alleyways of Beijing, looms Chaonei No. 81, a place whispered in hushed tones as the “Beijing Horror House.” Within its walls, shadowy figures are said to dance behind curtained windows, their ghostly forms flickering in and out of view like phantoms in the night.

According to the most commonly told legend, it is to a woman that once resided in Chaonei No. 81. The woman is said to have been a wife or maybe a lover of an officer of the Kuomintang (KMT, or the nationalist party of China) that fought against the communist party during the Chinese civil war in the 1940s. The nationalist lost, and fled to Taiwan as the communists came into power. The woman was allegedly left behind by her officer man who fled with the army to Taiwan, and she is said to have hung herself from the rafters of the house. 

Even on the hottest summer days, an icy chill hangs heavy in the air, sending shivers down the spines of all who dare to approach one of the most haunted places in Beijing.

Read the whole story here: Chaonei No. 81 — Beijing Horror House

The Beijing Subway | 北京地铁 | — Perhaps the Most Haunted Places in Beijing throughout the city?

Most Haunted Places in Beijing

Beneath the bustling streets of Beijing lies a shadowy realm steeped in mystery and dread: the haunted subway. From spirits to ghosts, tales of strange encounters abound in this underground labyrinth – with many passengers claiming to have experienced something extraordinary while riding along Metro Line No. 1. According to legends, people have disappeared into the tunnels and simply vanished into thin air, never to be seen again, and some people claimed that something sinister had pushed passengers onto the rails.

But what bones exactly were disturbed during the construction as has been told according to the legends? There is more than one story about what graves they encountered when building the metro line, perhaps making it one of the most haunted places in Beijing. On Line 1 there is a subway station called Gongzhufen Station, or The Princess Tombs that have several local legends connected to the place. line one was made right through their tomb, a ghost story centered around this subway station started, when the passengers and staff started seeing a female ghost on the station platform, wearing a traditional Qing dress and sometimes being carried in a sedan chair. 

From phantom footsteps echoing through deserted corridors to ghostly apparitions glimpsed in the flickering lights, the subway’s spectral inhabitants cast a chilling pall over the underground labyrinth.

Read the whole story here: Take the Haunted Subway in Beijing

Prince Gong’s Mansion | 恭王府 | Beijing — The ghost of a grieving mother in white

Most Haunted Places in Beijing

The mansion is considered one of the most exquisite Chinese imperial mansions, representing the elegant lifestyle of Qing Dynasty royalty as well as being one of the most haunted places in Beijing. 

One of the most haunting phenomena reported is the apparition of a woman cloaked in white, her ethereal presence lingering in the corridors and shadowy corners of the mansion. Legend has it that she is the ghost of a grieving mother, Feng Jiwen , forever trapped in a state of sorrow and anguish after the untimely loss of her beloved son when he died in a battle fighting rebels.

It is said she died of a broken heart soon after. She and several former escorts have been seen around the palace, and the guards working there have claimed to have seen a woman in white walking the premises. Her mournful wails are said to echo through the halls, sending shivers down the spines of all who dare to venture within.

Read the whole story here: The Haunted History of Prince Gong’s Mansion in Beijing

The Bell Tower Goddess of Beijing | 鐘樓 |  Di’anmen Outer Street, Dongcheng District —

Most Haunted Places in Beijing

Perched majestically at the heart of Beijing stands the Bell Tower, a silent sentinel guarding ancient secrets and spectral tales. Among its whispered legends is that of the Bell Tower Goddess, a spectral figure said to inhabit the tower’s hallowed halls. According to legend it was a man named Deng, an official with the mission to create this new bronze bell. They tried so hard for over a year to get the perfect bell that sounded as clear and loud as they needed for the emperor.

With the date coming up they grew more and more desperate. The whole family felt it, especially Deng’s daughter as she was afraid it would bring shame on her family, her father in particular. In a desperate last attempt, the daughter flung herself into the fire, sacrificing herself to get the heat needed to make the bell. The father tried to stop her and reached out to save her. The only thing he managed to get a hold of, was one of her embroidered slippers, the only thing left of her after being consumed in the furnace. 

On particularly stormy nights the bell doesn’t chime as clear as it usually does, but emits a sound, sounding distinctly as the words ‘xie’, meaning shoes in Chinese. The haunted spirit of the girl who sacrificed herself still echoes through the bell. And the mothers that lived were the bell was heard would tuck their children in, telling them ‘Go to sleep, the Bell Tower is ringing, the Goddess wants her slipper back’.

Read the whole story here: The Bell Tower Goddess of Beijing

The Great Wall of China | 萬里長城/万里长城 | Northern China — Sounds of ghostly battle cries seeping through the mist

Most Haunted Places in Beijing

Shrouded in mist and mystery, the Great Wall of China reveals its darker secrets to those who dare to listen. The Great Wall of China is the longest man-made structure in the world and stretches for 8,850 km and it is said that it is also a haunted place, perhaps one of the most haunted places in Beijing area even?

Tourists and visitors claim to have seen soldiers patrolling the wall as well as hearing the sound of marching footsteps belonging to no one. The worst stories are those claiming to be overcome with a sudden nausea and dizziness that must have been something else than the steep steps of the wall. Many who traverse its ancient pathways speak of spectral apparitions, phantom warriors condemned to eternal vigilance along the rugged terrain.

Read the whole story here: Hidden Haunted Wonders of the Great Wall of China 

Caishikou Execution Grounds | 菜市口法场 | Chaoyang District — Haunted by the ghosts of executed prisoners

Most Haunted Places in Beijing

The legends of Caishikou Execution Grounds, shrouded in a veil of darkness and dread with execution methods like Death by a Thousand Cuts. The exact location of the execution grounds in modern day urban Beijing has been a matter of debate for some time as it was definitely not the only place in Beijing they held executions. While most people agree that it is located in what is now the Chaoyang District of Beijing, there is disagreement about exactly which area it was located in and its size. What is definitely said though is that the area is one of the most haunted places in Beijing.

This macabre site bears witness to a chilling chapter in history, where countless souls met their untimely demise. Because of its dark history and the blood that was shed on the spot, many claim that this is one of the more haunted places in the city and there have been many reports about people seeing the ghost of the executed convicts in the old vegetable market. 

The most talked about ghosts haunting this site must be The Six Gentlemen of the Hundred Days Reform (戊戌六君子) or the Six Gentlemen of Wuxu who were executed by the Empress Dowager Cixi in 1898 by beheading. These executed men are said to be haunting the place as well as Chinese history and the what if of what would have happened to the course of the country if the reforms had been successful. 

Read the whole story here: The Dark History of the Caishikou Execution Grounds

The Forbidden City | 紫禁城 | Beijing — Ghost of Concubines and curses at one of the most haunted places in Beijing

Most Haunted Places in Beijing

Built in the early 1400s, Beijing’s Forbidden City, or Zijin Cheng in Chinese (紫禁城), literally means the purple forbidden city and is a complex of majestic buildings and grounds that bears witness to the rise and fall of China’s powerful emperors and countless of people that lived and worked inside of the imperial walls. It is also perhaps one of the most haunted places in Beijing.

Legends speak of curses woven into the very fabric of these Imperial Palaces, warning those who dare to tread where mortals are forbidden. It is not just a singular haunted spot, but a plethora of them? There were also said to be a well outside Jinghe Gate where a group of female ghosts live. Fortunately there was an iron plate on Jinghe Gate to suppress them, otherwise they would come out every day. In the middle of Sanhai On the Jin’ao Jade Bridge it was said that every three years a person walking over it would be pulled down by a ghost under the bridge.”

One story that keeps being repeated is that of the crying women, and in the Forbidden City, there were plenty of them throughout the years. Many speculate it is the ghost of one or more concubines as the crying woman is often seen in or around the quarter for the imperial concubines. 

Read the whole story here: The Secrets of Beijing’s Haunted Forbidden City

The Haunted Apartment Building | 劲松街道 | Jinsong — A mass haunting making people flee their homes

Most Haunted Places in Beijing – Illustration Photo by 尾 賀

In 1984, a wave of terror gripped the residents of a residential building around Jinsong in Beijing, as rumors of haunting spread like wildfire. In the dark when they came home from work or peeked outside in the corridors, the people living there could hear miserable crying as soon as you stepped inside the building. There were also ghostly shadows that roamed around on the walls as the lights flickered on and off. 

People didn’t want to live in this haunted building in Jinsong, even though the building itself was brand new. And after a while of experiencing all the paranormal stuff going on, the residents moved out, one by one and the building was left empty. Or was it?

One chilling encounter involved an old lady who encountered a mysterious figure standing outside her door, a harrowing sight that left her trembling and traumatized. As news of the haunting spread, even making it to the newspapers, scientists and authorities were called in to investigate, but the truth behind the supernatural occurrences remained elusive. While some attributed the disturbances to teenage mischief, others speculated darker forces at play, leaving the mystery of Jinsong’s haunting unsolved and shrouded in uncertainty.

Read the whole story here: The Ghost House in Jinsong Terrorizing the Residents

Last Bus to Fragrant Hill | Beijing — The cities most haunting urban legend

Most Haunted Places in Beijing

As dusk descends upon the bustling streets of Beijing, an eerie tale whispers through the city’s alleys and avenues, shrouded in mystery and dread. There are many public transportation systems with haunted lore attached to them like, the Haunted Subway in Beijing or The Haunted Metro Stations on Hong Kong MTR’s Island Line that could have made the list of Most Haunted Places in Beijing. But the most told ghost story though, comes from the buses.

The legend of the Last Bus to Fragrant Hill, also known as Bus 330, haunts the minds of those who dare to venture into the realm of urban folklore. On a fateful November night in 1995, passengers board the No. 330 (many different numbers in different variations of the legend) bus departing from Yuanmingyuan main station bound for Fragrant Hill in Beijing. Among them are a young couple, an old woman, and the bus driver and conductor.

As the bus traverses the darkened streets, it encounters two peculiar passengers dressed in Qing Dynasty attire, accompanied by a seemingly unconscious man. Despite the oddity of their appearance, the passengers pay little attention, assuming them to be part of a film crew. However, the atmosphere takes a sinister twist when the old woman accuses one of the Qing Dynasty-clad men of theft, claiming he stole her wallet.

Sensing danger, the old woman persuades another passenger to get off with her, revealing that the strange men are legless ghosts from the Qing Dynasty. The bus mysteriously vanishes without a trace. Days later, the bus is discovered submerged in Miyun Reservoir, its interior bearing signs of a grisly demise: three bloodied corpses in advanced stages of decomposition.

Read the whole story here: The Disappearance of the Last Bus to Fragrant Hill in Beijing

The Tomb of General Yuan | 袁崇煥 | Chongwen District — The ever watching guardian in one of Most Haunted Places in Beijing

Most Haunted Places in Beijing

The Tomb of General Yuan, is found amidst the bustling streets of Beijing and holds an old tale of heroism, betrayal, and lingering unrest. General Yuan Chonghuan, a revered military leader of the Ming Dynasty, met a tragic fate at the hands of his own court, accused unjustly of treason and sentenced to a gruesome death by lingchi, the infamous “death by a thousand cuts.”

Despite his valiant efforts in defending China’s borders and repelling invading forces, General Yuan’s reputation was tarnished, and his demise marked by indignity and cruelty. Legend has it that his spirit, bound by duty and unfulfilled justice, haunts his final resting place, guarded faithfully by the She family for generations.

The tomb, hidden amidst modernity, has since gotten a haunted reputation and it is said that General Yuan is still guarding his post, even in his afterlife.

Read the whole story here: The Haunted Tomb of General Yuan

Most Haunted Places in Beijing

So these were some of the Most Haunted Places in Beijing, but far from everyone. For more ghost stories from Chine, head over to the archive with more haunted places, urban legends and ghosts from China.

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10 Most Haunted Places in China

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From modern urban legends to old ghost stories from the ancient buildings and palaces, here is a list of some of the most haunted places in China.

Confucius once said: “Respect the ghosts and gods, but keep away from them.” This seems to be the standpoint of haunted ghost stories in China to this day as well and people can go far to avoid the mere rumor of a ghost. Apartments thought to be haunted are avoided, haunted buildings are torn down and people pay good money to have places cleansed for any lingering spirit.

Although ghosts are thought to be avoided there are no shortage of haunted places or ghost stories from China. From the old and ancient palaces to the urban high risers, they all have stories to tell.

If you are interested in the full list of articles written about ghost stories and haunted places in China, head over here.

Here is a closer look at the most haunted places in China.

Fengdu Ghost City | 丰都鬼城 | Chongqing — The Necropolis tourist attraction in the mountains

Most Haunted Places in China: Source

Along the Yangtzee river In the Chongqing region in China, lies Fengdu Ghost City in the mist covered mountains, a realm where the veil between the living and the dead grows thin. Fengdu Ghost city is more of an amusement park than a city and is steeped in centuries of myth and legend, beckons travelers from far and wide to its ghostly embrace from the lord of the underworld himself carved into Ming Mountain.

The story of Fengdu Ghost City goes back for nearly 2000 years and makes it on the list of Most Haunted Places in China, not only because of its haunting origin story, but how it can help us understand the rest of the list of haunted places. Here, the whispers of the past echo through time, as tales of restless spirits and otherworldly encounters abound. From the haunting sculptures that adorn its pathways to the shadowy corridors of its temples, every corner of Fengdu teems with spectral energy, inviting intrepid souls to uncover its secrets of how to successfully overcome the Buddhist trials in the afterlife.

Read the whole story here: Fengdu Ghost City

Chaonei No. 81 |  朝内81号 | Beijing — The horror house in the former church

Most Haunted Places in China

Amidst the bustling streets and ancient alleyways of Beijing, looms Chaonei No. 81, a place whispered in hushed tones as the “Beijing Horror House.” Within its walls, shadowy figures are said to dance behind curtained windows, their ghostly forms flickering in and out of view like phantoms in the night.

According to the most commonly told legend, it is to a woman that once resided in Chaonei No. 81. The woman is said to have been a wife or maybe a lover of an officer of the Kuomintang (KMT, or the nationalist party of China) that fought against the communist party during the Chinese civil war in the 1940s. The nationalist lost, and fled to Taiwan as the communists came into power. The woman was allegedly left behind by her officer man who fled with the army to Taiwan, and she is said to have hung herself from the rafters of the house. 

Even on the hottest summer days, an icy chill hangs heavy in the air, sending shivers down the spines of all who dare to approach one of the most haunted places in China.

Read the whole story here: Chaonei No. 81 — Beijing Horror House

Prince Gong’s Mansion | 恭王府 | Beijing — The ghost of a grieving mother in white

Most Haunted Places in China

The mansion is considered one of the most exquisite Chinese imperial mansions, representing the elegant lifestyle of Qing Dynasty royalty as well as being one of the most haunted places in China. 

One of the most haunting phenomena reported is the apparition of a woman cloaked in white, her ethereal presence lingering in the corridors and shadowy corners of the mansion. Legend has it that she is the ghost of a grieving mother, Feng Jiwen , forever trapped in a state of sorrow and anguish after the untimely loss of her beloved son when he died in a battle fighting rebels.

It is said she died of a broken heart soon after. She and several former escorts have been seen around the palace, and the guards working there have claimed to have seen a woman in white walking the premises. Her mournful wails are said to echo through the halls, sending shivers down the spines of all who dare to venture within.

Read the whole story here: The Haunted History of Prince Gong’s Mansion in Beijing

The Great Wall of China | 萬里長城/万里长城 | Northern China — Sounds of ghostly battle cries seeping through the mist

Most Haunted Places in China

Shrouded in mist and mystery, the Great Wall of China reveals its darker secrets to those who dare to listen. The Great Wall of China is the longest man-made structure in the world and stretches for 8,850 km and it is said that it is also a haunted place, perhaps one of the most haunted places in China even?

Tourists and visitors claim to have seen soldiers patrolling the wall as well as hearing the sound of marching footsteps belonging to no one. The worst stories are those claiming to be overcome with a sudden nausea and dizziness that must have been something else than the steep steps of the wall. Many who traverse its ancient pathways speak of spectral apparitions, phantom warriors condemned to eternal vigilance along the rugged terrain.

Read the whole story here: Hidden Haunted Wonders of the Great Wall of China 

The Forbidden City | 紫禁城 | Beijing — Ghost of Concubines and curses at one of the most haunted places in China

Most Haunted Places in China

Built in the early 1400s, Beijing’s Forbidden City, or Zijin Cheng in Chinese (紫禁城), literally means the purple forbidden city and is a complex of majestic buildings and grounds that bears witness to the rise and fall of China’s powerful emperors and countless of people that lived and worked inside of the imperial walls. It is also perhaps one of the most haunted places in China

Legends speak of curses woven into the very fabric of these Imperial Palaces, warning those who dare to tread where mortals are forbidden. It is not just a singular haunted spot, but a plethora of them, perhaps is it the most haunted places in China? There were also said to be a well outside Jinghe Gate where a group of female ghosts live. Fortunately there was an iron plate on Jinghe Gate to suppress them, otherwise they would come out every day. In the middle of Sanhai On the Jin’ao Jade Bridge it was said that every three years a person walking over it would be pulled down by a ghost under the bridge.”

One story that keeps being repeated is that of the crying women, and in the Forbidden City, there were plenty of them throughout the years. Many speculate it is the ghost of one or more concubines as the crying woman is often seen in or around the quarter for the imperial concubines. 

Read the whole story here: The Secrets of Beijing’s Haunted Forbidden City

Fengmen Village | 封門村 | Henan Province — The curse of bad feng shui coming back to haunt

Most Haunted Places in China

Tucked away in the remote mountains of China lies the desolate Fengmen Village, a place where time seems to stand still and the whispers of the past linger in the air like restless spirits. Legends shroud this abandoned hamlet with its strange customs and tales of souls trapped within its borders, unable to find peace even in death. Could this be one of the most haunted places in China?

Some of the suspicion and eeriness to the village is their complete disregard for the Feng Shui of the buildings. According to legends, most of the houses face east-west, the complete opposite of Feng Shui, leading some people to think this is the reason why the place is so off and strange stuff is happening here. 

Over the years as the Fengmen Village population dwindled and hiking became more popular, many hikers decided to make their destination this strange and remote village. Some hikers have claimed to have called out their names into the dark night as they were camped outside the now abandoned village, and to their surprise, something called their names back. 

Travelers faint or feverish when they step into the village and wake up with scratches all over their body they have no idea where it came from. People that choose to travel to this far away place come back and tell of unusual noises and shouts can be heard and there is no phone reception to call for help when needing it. 

Read the whole story here: Dead Fengmen Village

Qiu Mansion | 查公館 | Shanghai — The strange disappearances and ghostly animals

Most Haunted Places in China

Once the opulent abode of the enigmatic Qiu brothers, its grandeur now lies in ruin, shrouded in the chilling whispers of its haunting past. Legends abound of the brothers’ sudden disappearance, leaving behind a mansion cloaked in darkness and despair.

At the height of their fame and notoriety, the Qiu brothers mysteriously disappeared as their paint industry started to decline in the wake of the wars raging. Their mansions started to decay and their once great gardens withered. The animals disappeared one by one, many just straight up killed to get rid off or eaten.

Rumors emerged of strange occurrences such as objects moving by themselves or shadows appearing in the abandoned mansion and eerie noises could be heard in the night. Yet, no one has been able to prove the legends. 

Just across the street there is a Four Seasons Hotel facing the former Qiu Mansion. From there, many visitors as well as staff have reported hearing and seeing strange animals roaming around the abandoned site. Construction workers from the restoration have sometimes sought hospital treatment for strange bites they believe come from animals, even though no one knows where and how they got injured, making people speculate that this mansion had to be one of the most haunted places in China.

Read the whole story here: The Haunted Qiu Mansion of Shanghai 

The Hello Kitty Murder Case | | Hong Kong — The ghost haunting the harrowing murder case

Most Haunted Places in China

The gruesome discovery of a woman’s skull concealed within the innocent facade of a Hello Kitty doll sent shockwaves rippling through the community, revealing the depths of human depravity in 1999. A young woman named Ah Fong, had fallen victim to a brutal and sadistic torture session orchestrated by a group of individuals involved in the criminal underworld.

Ah Fong had been held imprisoned in the apartment, tortured in the most barbaric and vicious ways as well as raped over and over for over a month before she died. But as the perpetrators faced justice for their heinous crime, whispers began to circulate of a darker force at play.

Many unusual events have occurred that are regarded as supernatural by the public. And rumors about something paranormal and strange going on started already during trial with the light flickering when the culprits tried to defend themselves.

The building where the murder happened had strange things going on as well and has made the list of more than one list of Most Haunted Places in China. A woman rented a unit on the fourth floor without knowing about the murder. Her friend often heard women crying at night, and at that time, there were no people living downstairs. There have also been reports about seeing the ghost of a young woman wandering in the building.

In the end the building itself was torn down. No one wanted anything to do with it as it was tainted and haunted in their eyes. But even when a new building was built there, a memorial was put in place just in case it could help stop with the haunting.

Read the whole story here: The Ghost of the Hello Kitty Murder

Last Bus to Fragrant Hill | | Beijing — The cities most haunting urban legend

Most Haunted Places in China

As dusk descends upon the bustling streets of Beijing, an eerie tale whispers through the city’s alleys and avenues, shrouded in mystery and dread. There are many public transportation systems with haunted lore attached to them like, the Haunted Subway in Beijing or The Haunted Metro Stations on Hong Kong MTR’s Island Line that could have made the list of Most Haunted Places in China. But the most told ghost story though, comes from the buses.

The legend of the Last Bus to Fragrant Hill, also known as Bus 330, haunts the minds of those who dare to venture into the realm of urban folklore. On a fateful November night in 1995, passengers board the No. 330 (many different numbers in different variations of the legend) bus departing from Yuanmingyuan main station bound for Fragrant Hill in Beijing. Among them are a young couple, an old woman, and the bus driver and conductor.

As the bus traverses the darkened streets, it encounters two peculiar passengers dressed in Qing Dynasty attire, accompanied by a seemingly unconscious man. Despite the oddity of their appearance, the passengers pay little attention, assuming them to be part of a film crew. However, the atmosphere takes a sinister twist when the old woman accuses one of the Qing Dynasty-clad men of theft, claiming he stole her wallet.

Sensing danger, the old woman persuades another passenger to get off with her, revealing that the strange men are legless ghosts from the Qing Dynasty. The bus mysteriously vanishes without a trace. Days later, the bus is discovered submerged in Miyun Reservoir, its interior bearing signs of a grisly demise: three bloodied corpses in advanced stages of decomposition.

Read the whole story here: The Disappearance of the Last Bus to Fragrant Hill in Beijing

The Takeout Ordering Ghost |鬼叫餐 | Hong Kong — An urban legend that is still haunting the streets

Most Haunted Places in China

In the bustling streets of Hong Kong, whispers of a ghostly phenomenon have long haunted the city’s residents. The tale of the Takeout Ordering Ghost, a spectral entity that summons food deliveries from beyond the grave, has become a chilling legend passed down through generations. Some believe that the origins of this eerie story can be traced back to a real incident, shrouded in mystery and superstition.

The story goes that after a restaurant receives an order by phone, the delivery boy heads to a nearby condo on Leighton Road, where he encounters a hand emerging from the door gap to pay him. Upon returning to the restaurant, however, he discovers that the money has transformed into ghostly joss paper, unsettling the owner and casting suspicion on the employee.

As the eerie incidents repeat themselves, with the money consistently morphing into ghost currency, the restaurant owner grows increasingly alarmed. Determined to uncover the truth, he decides to personally deliver the next order to the condo. What he discovers inside shocks him to the core: four decomposing bodies seated around a Mahjong table, with remnants of the restaurant’s food containers nearby.

Police investigations reveal that the deceased succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning, indicating that they had been dead for some time, although the neighbors had all heard them playing and partying.

Read the whole story here: The Takeout Ordering Ghost in Hong Kong

The most haunted places in China

These are only some of the Most Haunted Places in China, but far from every haunted place or ghost story from China. For more articles about this, head over to the entire archive of ghost stories from the country for more of the most haunted places in China.

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Most Haunted Places in China – links to sources are found in the respective articles

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The Dark History and Mysterious Hauntings of Bhangarh Fort

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If you’re a fan of ghost stories and haunted places, you might have heard the supernatural tales of Bhangarh Fort. Often deemed to be the most well known haunted place in India, the fort and surrounding village is said to have been cursed to doom. 

Bhangarh Fort in the Alwar district in Rajasthan, India is known as one of the most haunted places in the world and there are even government signs warning people to stay away from the place after dark.

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

Bhangarh Fort, or भानगढ़ दुर्ग as it is in Hindi was built in 1573 century by Raja Bhagwant Das, a ruler of the Kachwaha Rajput dynasty when the surrounding town also was established and is today well preserved and frequented by tourists. 

Legend of the Hermit Curse

According to the legend, the fort has been cursed for a long time. A hermit or sadhu named Guru Balu Nath used this place for meditation and had a house there. King Raja Bhagwant Das pleaded with the sage and wanted to build the fort there. The guru agreed on one condition: the shadow of the fort would not reach him and no house should be taller than his own. 

Although King Raja Bhagwant Das agreed to this term, it wasn’t upheld and the meditation spot for the sage fell into shadow when the columns that were added later of the fort were built too high. 

Royal Palace Bhangarh: A fortress wit an entire city and palace inside although most of it is in ruins today, the Bhangarh Fort is thought to be one of India’s most haunted places in the country. //Source: Chainwit /WIkimedia

So the hermit cursed the fort and the entire Bhangarh village ended up being destroyed as seen by how there are no roofs. Before 1720 there used to live over 10 000 people in the village until the population started to dwindle and today the village is just a ghost town.

Legend of the Black Magician

This is not the only legend, and not even the only curse that is said to linger at the Bhangarh Fort. Legend has it that a sorcerer and necromancer named Singhia fell in love with the princess of Bhangarh, Ratnavati much later. 

She is often said to have been the daughter of Chatr Singh, who was the grandson of Raja Bhagwant Das. She was said to be quite beautiful and Singhia fell in love with her. He tried to use black magic to make her fall in love with him by using sorcery on the oil she used for massages. Often it is said that they met in the market place and he tried to sell it to her. But Princess Ratnavati discovered his plan and threw the oil onto a huge stone that cracked, revealing its magical powers. 

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

The stone rolled on top and crushed the magician to death. Before he died, Singhia cursed the fort and all who lived there, saying that the city would be destroyed and no one would be able to live within its walls. 

The curse came true when the fort was attacked and destroyed by the Mughal army as it was annexed by force in 1720, and it has remained close to abandoned ever since compared to its former glory.

How it turned out for the princess is uncertain, but it is said that she is haunting the Bhangarh Fort, and at night you can hear her together with the people of Bhangarh, cursed to forever be trapped in limbo as one of the spirits that comes out after sundown. 

The Supernatural Experiences Reported by Visitors and Locals

Visitors and locals alike have reported a variety of supernatural experiences at Bhangarh Fort. Some have claimed to see ghostly apparitions, while others have reported hearing strange noises and feeling a sense of unease or fear and paranoia when taking a trip around the fort. 

There have also been reports of people feeling as though they were being touched or pushed by an unseen force on the ground of the fort. 

The Archeological Survey of India has put up signs everywhere around Bhangarh Fort of not coming here after dark and before sunrise. Despite the ban on visiting the fort after dark, some still venture there in search of a supernatural thrill. According to the legends, those who do, will never return.

Although the fort is supposedly haunted, it can also be dangerous because of the dark. Something that three friends experienced when they stayed after sundown and one of them fell into a well. Although rescued from the well on the way to the hospital, they got into a road accident and died. 

The Explanation Behind the Roofless Village

There are some things that legends claim that a more natural explanation tries to debunk. When talking about the roofless village, it is said by the locals that the way they are structured, are not meant to have roofs, and if built, it would collapse. They also claim that many have died because of this. It used to be a flourishing village, but today it is deserted.

The Abandoned Ghost City: Ruins of the Royal Palace in Bhangarh Fort, Rajasthan. //Radha Joshi/Wikimedia

As for why it is close to deserted today with only 1250 people remaining in 2001 in a village outside the old city limits, is a bit uncertain. After the death of Chatr Singh in 1630, it is said that it was the start of Bhangar’s slow decline. 

The deserting of the village and the fort might have something to do with the famine in 1783 that pretty quickly either drove the inhabitants away, or killed them off. 

The Current State of Bhangarh Fort

Despite its reputation as one of the most haunted places in India, Bhangarh Fort has become a popular tourist destination in recent years. The government has invested in the preservation and restoration of the fort, and visitors can now explore the ruins and learn about its history through guided tours. 

Although if you are a foreigner, you need a special permit to get into the Bhangarh Fort, a step the government took because of their disregard for the rules in the area. But do you really want to visit?

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References:

Bhangarh Fort – Wikipedia 

5 mysterious facts about Bhangarh that will scare you to bits | Times of India Travel 

12 Things to Know About Bhangarh Fort, The Most Haunted Place in India 

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Ghosts of the Taj Mahal Palace — India’s Grandest Hotel

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The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai is one of the city’s most luxurious places to stay, and even through horrible tragedy and decay, it has always come out on the other side shining. Still, there are some haunted stories echoing through the halls where one of the architects is lingering as a regretful ghost. 

The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai is one of the most iconic hotels in India. The five-star luxury hotel has been the preferred destination for celebrities, dignitaries, and even royalty since it was built in 1903 next to the Gateway of India. 

The hotel known as The Taj has been witness to some of the most significant events in India’s history, including being a military hospital during WWII and the country’s struggle for independence. It has also been the site of tragic incidents, such as the 2008 terrorist attacks that left the hotel scarred and at least 167 people were killed. 

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

Over the years, many guests and staff members have reported eerie experiences and sightings of ghosts roaming the halls and rooms of the hotel. From the ghost of a former chief engineer to the spirit of a young girl who drowned in the hotel’s pool, the Taj Mahal Palace’s paranormal tales continue to fascinate and intrigue visitors from all over the world. 

The History of the Taj Mahal Palace

The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel was built by Jamsetji Tata, a prominent Indian industrialist, as a response to the British-only hotels in the city. The hotel was designed by Indian architect W.A. Chambers, and was opened to the public on December 16, 1903. 

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

Since then, the hotel that is named after the Taj Mahal in Agra has undergone several changes and renovations, and after a period in the 50s and 60s where it was neglected and became a bit run down, it has retained its grandeur and elegance.

The Story of the Ghost of the Architect

One of the most popular legends associated with the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel is the legend of the ghost of the architect, W.A. Chambers. According to the legend, Chambers was so guilty of a mistake in his creation that he couldn’t bear to leave it even after his death. 

According to legend, he approved some blueprints of the hotel before going back to England for a short trip. When he returned to Mumbai though, he realized a mistake he had made in the design. Apparently the building was built facing the wrong way that it was intended. 

He could never let this mistake go and it is said that he took his own life by jumping from the 5th floor of the hotel. 

It is said that his spirit still roams the hotel, checking the quality of the work done by the staff. Many guests and staff members have reported seeing a man who matches Chambers’ description walking around the hotel’s corridors.

Some even claim that a staff member was knocked out by his ghost when the staff was trying to steal some of the silverware. 

Who was Really the Mastermind Behind the Taj?

Now, how much of this enduring legend of the hotel is actually true? It is true that English Engineer W.A Chambers did work on the Taj Mahal Hotel, although perhaps not as much as the legend gives him credit for. 

The project actually came from the Parsee Indian, Jamsedji Tata with a vision to build a hotel Mumbai, (Bombay at the time,) worthy and used as much steel to build the dome as the eiffel tower did. It was also the first building in Mumbai to be fully electrified. The original architects were Siddhesh S., Sitaram Khanderao Vaidya and D. N. Mirza. However, Chambers, Tata’s friend, came in and completed it after Vaidya died. 

A Seafront View: The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel with the rooms pointing out to overlook the water. Could the whole haunted story just be based on an architectural misunderstanding? Or is it really something about the rumours surrounding the Taj?

When talking about the mistake of where the hotel faces, it actually looks like it was Tata that wanted the rooms, not the entrance to look out to the sea, something very uncommon in India. Although it also made it easier for the horse carriages to pull up to the entrance. 

As for Chambers, death, well. Although not concluded with evidence, at least the reasoning for his suicide we can conclude not true. 

Check into The Taj Mahal Hotel

The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel is a grand and iconic landmark that has stood the test of time. However, behind its opulent façade lies a darker side of history, filled with spooky tales of ghosts and hauntings. The hotel has been witness to some of the most significant events in India’s history, and it continues to fascinate and intrigue visitors from all over the world.

Despite the ghostly legends that surround it, the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel remains an important symbol of India’s rich heritage and culture.

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References:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/dec/03/taj-mahal-hotel-mumbai

(The Almost Complete) History of Taj Mahal Palace Hotel & Tower, Mumbai – The Creativity Engine Haunted India: The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Mumbai

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The Haunting of Mumbai’s Tower of Silence

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The sky burial method by the Tower of Silence for the Zoroastrian in Mumbai has been up for debate after the vulture population started to decline. There has also been a rise of haunted horror stories in later years circulating online, but just what is supposed to haunt the ancient burial place?

Right by the exclusive neighborhood of Malabar Hill in Mumbai lies a centuries-old structure shrouded in mystery and macabre legend – the Tower of Silence. This imposing structure deep in the 54-acre forest has long been associated with the Parsi community’s unique funeral customs, which involve leaving the dead on the tower’s rooftop to be devoured by vultures. 

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

However, reports of strange sightings and eerie happenings surrounding the Tower have sparked widespread speculation about the supernatural. Some say that the spirits of the departed are haunting the Tower, while others believe that darker forces may be at play. Is there something behind these rumors, or are they only fancy tales about a dwindling minority?

History and significance of the Tower of Silence in Mumbai

The Tower of Silence is a circular structure located in Mumbai’s Malabar Hill area. This particular tower was built in 1672 by Seth Moti Hirji and the Parsi community who practice the Zoroastrian religion and is not meant for outsiders to come and see, but for the community to bury their own. 

Read more: Check out more ghost stories from cemeteries around the world

The Tower is a significant part of the Parsi community’s funeral customs that date back 3000 years, which involve the disposal of the dead in a sky burial. The concept of the towers are as old as 900 years. The Parsi religion believes that the body is impure after death and should not be buried or cremated. Instead, the dead are taken to the Tower of Silence, where they are left on the rooftop to be consumed by vultures.

The Zoroastrian religion and its beliefs around death

The Parsi community is an ethnic and religious minority in India that came to India around the 8th or 10th century AD after escaping from the rise of the Islamic Empire. In 1941 there were around 114 000 of them in India, but today, they estimate around 50 000. This does have something to do with 40 % of Parsi marrying outsiders, but you are only considered Parsi if you have a Parsi father. The women are often ostracized if they marry outside of their community. 

The Parsi follow the Zoroastrian religion, which originated in ancient Persia and is one of the world’s oldest faiths that possibly dates back to the 2000 BCE. The Zoroastrian religion has a unique view on death and the afterlife compared to most religions. This comes from the prophet Zarathushtra that believed that the soul is immortal and will eventually reunite with its creator. 

The Faravahar: also known as the Foruhar or the Farre Kiyâni, is a well-known symbol of Zoroastrianism. There are different interpretations of what the Faravahar represents, and there is no definite agreement on its meaning. However, it is commonly believed that the Faravahar is a Zoroastrian depiction of the fravashi, or personal spirit. The Faravahar is widely recognized in Iran and is often worn as a pendant. Although it has religious origins, it has also become a secular and cultural symbol for Iranians.

However, the body is considered Nasu which means impure after death and should not be buried or cremated. Instead, it should be left to decompose naturally. Not only was there the danger of spreading diseases, but it was also believed that corpses would attract evil spirits to possess them, also known as the Nasu Daeva, the body demon that infects the bodies. 

The Parsi community’s funeral customs involve taking the body of the deceased to the Tower of Silence, where it is left on the rooftop to be consumed by vultures. This funeral process is known as “dokhmenashini,” which means “to place the body in the Tower of Silence.”  and the towers themselves, called The Dakhma, originated in ancient Persia around 900 AD.

The process of disposing of the dead at the Tower of Silence

The process of disposing of the dead at the Tower of Silence is a unique and complex one. When a Parsi person dies, the body is taken to the Tower of Silence and placed on the rooftop in the dakhma, which is the funerary tower. The rooftop has three concentric circles, each with a specific purpose. The outer circle is for men, the middle circle is for women, and the inner circle is for children.

The Tower of Silence in Mumbai: A late 19th century engraving of a Zoroastrian Tower of Silence in Mumbai. Engraving from 1886 book “True Stories of the Reign of Queen Victoria” by Cornelius Brown.

Along with placing the body in the Tower of Silence, they recite the Vendidad which is a religious chant against the demons. 

Once the body is placed on the rooftop, it is left to decompose naturally. The vultures consume the body, leaving only the bones behind in a matter of days. The bones are then collected and placed in an ossuary, which is a receptacle for human bones.

Controversies and debates around the Tower of Silence

The Tower of Silence has been a subject of controversy and debate for many years. Some people believe that the Parsi community’s funeral customs are inhumane and should be abolished. They argue that the Tower of Silence is a health hazard and a breeding ground for diseases, especially after Mumbai’s urban growth closing in on the once isolated sky burial sites. In Iran, they were banned in the 1970s after urbanization declared it a health hazard. 

There was also the case of a shortage of vultures in India that made the burial method a controversy. After the drug Diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory medicine was introduced to livestock in the 1990s, it killed off 95 % of the birds as it was toxic for them to feed on the carcasses. It was banned in 2006, but the damage was already done.

On the other hand, the Parsi community argues that their funeral customs are an essential part of their identity and cultural heritage, although many Parsi have started to use cremation or burial instead, especially during Covid when the Tower of Silence was closed. 

Entry Forbidden: An old photograph of the Dakhma from around ca. 1880 – ca. 1890. Today it is found inside of a dense forest and is off limit to outsiders.

They believe that the Tower of Silence is the most natural and respectful way to dispose of the dead. But when a woman named Dhun Baria took pictures of the piled up corpses in the dakhmas, they saw for themselves that their ancient way of purification didn’t work as it should after the vulture shortage. The rumors about the delayed decomposing of the corpses and a smell coming from the forest, although not confirmed, took hold over the narrative of the ancient tradition. 

In recent years, there have been efforts to preserve and renovate the Tower of Silence, trying new and modern ways of decomposing. Like how they use solar power to speed up the process and work toward vulture conservation. The Parsi community has been working with the government and other organizations to ensure that the Tower is properly maintained and preserved for future generations.

Theories and speculations surrounding the macabre mystery

Now, perhaps this ancient and mysterious and different practice of disposing of the dead is what makes the place sound a little eerie and makes people question if there is something going on there. Perhaps it is the dwindling population that is leaving the Zoroastrian ways behind in the modern world that makes it all seem a bit out of place in modern Mumbai?

Or perhaps it is even the controversies and the difficulty the community had of disposing and honoring the dead after the vultures almost died out? Perhaps it is what the prophet said that the corpses are more vulnerable to attracting evil spirits and that is what is happening surrounding the legends and folklore of this cemetery?

There have been numerous reports of strange sightings and eerie happenings around the Tower of Silence. Some people have reported seeing apparitions of the deceased, while others have reported hearing strange sounds and voices. There have also been reports of unexplained movements and objects moving on their own.

The Tower of Silence’s Future

The Tower of Silence is a unique and fascinating structure with a rich history and cultural significance. It is a testament to the Parsi community’s unique customs and beliefs, which have been passed down through generations. Despite the controversy and speculation surrounding the Tower, it remains an essential part of the Parsi community’s identity and a significant landmark in Mumbai. 

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References:

Tower of Silence: The Vanishing Practice of Zoroastrian Sky Burial | Parsi Khabar 

Why India’s Parsi Population Is Shrinking Dramatically – The New York Times 

This is what you should know about the haunted ‘Tower of Silence’ in Mumbai..! 

Death in the city: How a lack of vultures threatens Mumbai’s ‘Towers of Silence’ | Cities | The Guardian 

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Behind the Scenes of Bollywood’s Favorite Haunted Location: Mukesh Mills

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In an old textile mill, the Bollywood film crews moved into the Mukesh Mills after a devastating fire closed it down. But soon, stories from those filming movies there started telling haunted stories, and how actresses were possessed by something that warned them about staying in the mills. 

Bollywood has always had a fascination with the supernatural and the paranormal. And when it comes to haunted locations, there’s one place that has captured the imagination of filmmakers and audiences alike. Located in the heart of Mumbai, Mukesh Mills has been the setting for some of Bollywood’s most iconic horror movies. But what’s the story behind this eerie location? What makes it so appealing to filmmakers? And is there any truth to the rumors of paranormal activity? 

History of Mukesh Mills

The Mills of Girangaon, integral to Mumbai’s economy during British colonial times when the city was dubbed the “Manchester of the East,” saw a steady decline as newer industries emerged in the area. In the 19th century, India exported and reimported cotton, but escalating costs led to the founding of the Indian cotton industry, with the first mill, “The Bombay Spinning Mill,” established in 1854.

Initially, Indian entrepreneurs led this industry, facing opposition from Lancashire mill owners, which was later offset by British textile machinery manufacturers’ support. These mills were mainly owned and managed by Indians, with initial investments from mill owners’ families and later, public shares. 

Muljibhai Madhvani, the Owner of East African Hardware Ltd., had established a large factory in Bombay. Some say it was the East India Company that set it up in 1870s. It was known as Mukesh Textile Mills. Mukesh Mills, situated in Colaba, Mumbai, was originally known as the Colaba Mill and was established in the late 1800s or early 1900s as the sole mill in South Bombay, strategically located by the sea. 

Initially, it was prosperous, contributing to the cotton export trade between Bombay and Britain. Unfortunately, labor disputes, the 1929 Bombay Mill Workers’ Strike, outsourcing to Japan and the aftermath of World War II caused a decline in the mills, with Mukesh Mills shutting down in 2000.

The Fire of Mukesh Mills

The mill was renovated in 1975, but it wasn’t long before tragedy struck. Mukesh Mills faced a tragic event when a devastating fire in 1982 led to the deaths of numerous workers and the mill’s abandonment. Just how many workers is unclear. Some sites even stated around a thousand, but the claims are unsubstantiated. 

The owners of the mill had applied for closure, but were denied it by the government. On the 18th of January that year they closed it after a year long strike of the mill. A few months later though the fire broke out with devastating consequences. 

After the mill was shut down, the property was left abandoned for many years and they never found the exact cause of the fire. The decaying buildings and overgrown vegetation gave the place an eerie and haunted look, which caught the attention of filmmakers. In the years that followed, Mukesh Mills became a popular location for Bollywood movies, especially horror flicks.

Mukesh Mills in Bollywood

Mukesh Mills has been the setting for some of Bollywood’s most iconic horror movies. From the classic “Mahal” starring Madhubala to the contemporary hit “Raaz” starring Bipasha Basu, the mill has been a favorite haunt of filmmakers, especially in the 1990s. Its dilapidated buildings, overgrown vegetation, and abandoned machinery provide the perfect backdrop for horror movies.

Mukesh Hill: Now the place is mainly used as a movie set for Bollywood productions or as a place that attracts paranormal seekers. //Source: Flickr

Apart from horror movies, Mukesh Mills has also been used in other Bollywood movies such as “Salaam-e-Ishq” and “Talaash.” The mill’s unique look and feel have made it a favorite location for filmmakers who want to add a touch of mystery and intrigue to their movies.

Haunted stories and legends associated with Mukesh Mills

Over the years, Mukesh Mills has gained a reputation for being haunted. There are many stories and legends associated with the mill, which have only added to its allure. One watchman once claimed to have heard music and voices coming from the mill, but there was no one there that day. When he saw someone smoking, he didn’t dare to enter it in case he would come face to face with a malevolent ghost. Most of these stories come from the film crews and actresses that have been at the place to shoot.

Haunted Bollywood: The movie Footpath is said to be one of the movies were they experienced something supernatural on set.

According to these stories there was one actress’s voice that suddenly changed, grew hoarse and manly and she started shouting to the crew members and warning them that they had to stay away from the mill. The director thought she had to be possessed by an evil spirit and the entire crew got out of there fast. 

In 2003, the actress Bipasha Basu was shooting a scene for her film Footpath. She felt like something was hindering her when she tried to walk over the room and say her lines. They performed a puja, a hindu prayer, to ward off the evil spirits. But it didn’t seem to work as they shot the scene at another location instead.

There is also a story of a child actor being possessed by something when shooting a scene. The child started to act strange and rolled on the ground with her hands behind her back. And although the possession lasted only a couple of seconds, the fear of those that witnessed it lasted for much longer. It is said that all the company present started crying and screaming, but the father of the child assured that she would return to normal as soon as they were far away from the mills. 

But what spirits are haunting this place? According to some people, the mill is haunted by the ghosts of the workers who died in accidents or due to poor working conditions. Some say it is a man that is now a restless spirit. 

The Lingering Ghosts at Mukesh Mills

Mukesh Mills is a hauntingly beautiful location that has captured the imagination of filmmakers and audiences alike, although from 2019, the location was shut down because the building’s structure was too weak and unsafe. Its dilapidated buildings, overgrown vegetation, and abandoned machinery provide the perfect backdrop for horror movies and photographs. But beyond its spooky reputation, Mukesh Mills is also a testament to Mumbai’s rich industrial history and a must-visit destination for history buffs and architecture enthusiasts. 

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References:

Feature Image: Flickr

Bollywood’s favourite Mukesh Mills shut for shoots; corporator Makarand Narwekar terms BMC’s action mala fide

Bollywood’s favourite Mukesh Mills shut for shoots; corporator Makarand Narwekar terms BMC’s action mala fide 

https://mysteriesrunsolved.com/haunted-mukesh-mills-mumbai/

Horror Tales of Mukesh Mills, Mumbai – Tripoto 

(The Almost Complete) History of Mukesh Mills 

What really haunts Mumbai’s Mukesh Mills? | Condé Nast Traveller India 

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The Terrifying Legend of Terra Vera: Bangalore’s Most Haunted House

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After the brutal murder on a 75 year old, it is said she is still haunting her old house. Terra Vera is called the most haunted house in Bangalore, and it is said that piano music could be heard as well as a face staring back through the window of the abandoned building. 

Bangalore, often referred to as the “Garden City of India,” is a bustling metropolis known for its vibrant culture, stunning gardens, and technological prowess. However, amid the city’s modernity and urban charm, there lies a sinister secret that has intrigued and frightened both locals and visitors alike. This secret is the Terra Vera House, an enigmatic and allegedly haunted place that has gained notoriety as one of the scariest spots in the city.

The Murder on St. Mark’s Road

In the early morning hours on 4th of September in 2002, a gruesome murder was committed. On that wednesday a 75 year old woman that lived in her house was stabbed to death. The woman was Dolce Vaaz and she lived there with her 80 year old sister, Vera who saw the whole thing. 

Just past midnight Vera had gone to sleep when she was woken up by the sound of her sister that was screaming for help. The sister could do nothing but scream as the murderer fled the crime scene. 

When she went into her sister’s room she saw her sister struggling with multiple stab wounds on her stomach, neck and hands and Vera cried out “Dolce, you are still warm. Get up…” But it was too late and Dolce was dead before she reached the hospital. 

During the police investigation the police suspected it had to be the thief that had broken into their home six months ago, but the culprit was never found. They also said that there was a motive that had to do with the property and the house the women lived in. It was the last residential house on the street next to Haji’s petrol pump and was even then in a sorry state. 

The Chilling History

The spine-chilling tale of Terra Vera House can be traced back to the year 2002, but its origins reach much deeper into the past. The colonial-style house, nestled on St. Marks Road in Bangalore, was constructed in 1943 or 1934 by some sources by its owner, EJ Vaj who was an advocate of the Bombay High Court. Vaj had two daughters, Dolce and Vera, and it was their lives that became entwined with the house’s dark history.

He left the house to his two spinster daughters who were both spinsters. Dolce was a piano teacher while Vera was an English tutor. 

Following the tragic murder of her sister, Vera left the house due to a property dispute or at least moved to a place deemed safer, abandoning not only the property itself but also a trove of valuable possessions, including a vintage car and furniture. Vera had accused her married youngest sister and some of her relatives that they tried to drive her off her property. She eventually moved out though and some say she went to Australia. The house was left to decay for the next 12 years, and as time passed, it gained a sinister reputation.

The Haunting of Terra Vera

Locals and brave explorers who dared to venture near Terra Vera have reported chilling encounters. Over time, there have also been some added stories to the brutal real murder, such that Dolce was buried on the premises by the murderer.

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

Strange occurrences, such as sightings of inverted crosses and eerie, unexplained sounds and horrified screams coming from within that have fueled rumors of malevolent spirits haunting the house. 

People have also claimed to have heard piano music coming from the house although it is completely dark and abandoned. 

The Demise of Terra Vera House

As the stories of Terra Vera’s haunting persisted, it became a magnet for thrill-seekers and paranormal enthusiasts. Ultimately, the house was demolished in 2014, but the enigma did not end there. It is also said that dozens of hindu priests had come by and performed Homa, a fire ritual, to chase the evil spirits away. But did they manage it?

Even after the physical structure was gone, eerie sightings and unsettling experiences continued to be reported on the land where the house once stood.

It is uncertain who the old house went to after the two sisters died, and when the workers that demolished the house were asked about who the owners were, they didn’t know and had only been given the order to tear the house down.

A Haunting Legacy

The Terra Vera House, with its tragic history and ghostly tales, remains etched in the annals of Bangalore’s paranormal lore. While skeptics may dismiss the stories as mere superstition, the undeniable presence of eerie phenomena and the lingering fear associated with the house continue to captivate the imaginations of those who dare to delve into its dark past.

In a city known for its rapid progress and technological advancements, Terra Vera House serves as a haunting reminder that the past, with all its mysteries and tragedies, is never too far behind. Whether one believes in the supernatural or not, the enigmatic aura of Terra Vera House is a testament to the enduring power of stories that transcend time and place, reminding us that some mysteries are destined to remain unsolved.

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References:

Vera Vaz stands strong despite tragedy | Bengaluru News – Times of India 

Terra Vera on St. Mark’s Road, Bangalore 

Ghostbusted… @Rs 20 crore? 

Elderly woman murdered on St Mark’s Road | Bengaluru News – Times of India 

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The Silent Sorrow of the Haunted Aokigahara Forest

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Perhaps best known for being Japan’s suicide forest, the haunted Aokigahara forest  has had a long story of monsters and ghost hiding underneath the thick tree roof on the foot of Mount Fuji. Is there really something ancient and mythological lingering within the trees, or is it only the modern tragedy that has taken its toll on the forest that is said to have more nooses than branches? 

In the shadows of Mount Fuji, Aokigahara Forest in Japan has earned a reputation as one of the world’s most haunted places. Some haunted places are mostly known for their dark and scary reputation, however, the haunted Aokigahara forest is perhaps more known for its tragic and sad history and often dubbed the suicide forest in media. Revered for its serene beauty and dense foliage, the forest’s ominous history has cast a dark and haunting shadow over its tranquility. 

Read More: Check of all stories from Haunted Forests

Aokigahara (青木ヶ原), also known as the Sea of Trees, is a place where eerie tales of despair, lost souls, and supernatural encounters intertwine with the rustling leaves, creating an enigmatic and chilling narrative that beckons exploration into the unknown.

The 30 square forest grows on hardened lava from the last eruption of Mount Fuji in 864 and houses Asian Black Bear, deers, hawks and foxes among many animals. Although it’s not the biggest forest around, part of the forest is very dense, creating a sense of solitude and there are many stories about it being a place where magnetic compasses don’t work, or electronic devices stop working. How true these stories are though, is uncertain. Especially since the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force has had navigation courses here since the 50s, it seems unlikely they would have chosen somewhere unsuitable to have their courses.

Aokigahara Forest: The trees grow thick inside of the alleged haunted Aokigahara Forest in Japan right by Mount Fuji. // Source: Jordy Meow

Although the haunted Aokigahara forest has especially since the 60s been known as a suicide spot, its ghostly story stretches further back than so. So let us first have a look at the paranormal rumors of this haunted forest. 

Yūrei and the Unseen Presence:

The forest has since its birth been associated with yokai’s and yūrei’s, japanese monsters and ghosts from mythology and has so for centuries. Some Japanese spiritualists claim that even the trees have soaked up the evil energy that has been around the forest over the centuries. You could find stories of monsters in the ice caves and ghost stories about spirits from among the thick forest the sun didn’t reach in places.

Japanese folklore tells of yūrei, restless spirits unable to find peace in the afterlife. Aokigahara, with its macabre history and association with tragedy, is believed by some to be populated by these wandering souls. Reports of inexplicable noises, disembodied voices, and spectral apparitions add to the forest’s mystique, leaving visitors with an eerie sense of being watched by unseen eyes.

The Haunted Forest: It is said that the Aokigahara Forest is filled with Japanese monsters and ghosts like yurei and yokai. Here pictured is a woman performs a cursing ritual (Hokusai), an illustration by Katsushika Hokusai  (1760–1849).


In addition to the forest itself, there is a car road through the sea of forest, and according to legend, there is a story about a woman falling on the front window of your var as you pass it at night. Who she is or where she came from, even if the ghost has a connection to the haunted forest is unknown. 

The Quiet Lament of the Wind in the Aokigahara Forest

Venturing into Aokigahara, the stillness is palpable—a silence that hangs heavy in the air, broken only by the rustling leaves and the distant murmur of the wind. Some believe that the quiet lament of the wind through the trees carries with it the whispers of the forest’s tormented history, amplifying the haunting atmosphere that pervades Aokigahara forest.

The forest has long strings and history with death. Along with the honorable samurai death of seppuku from Japan’s feudal era, Ubasute is a practice where sick or elderly people are carried to a mountain, forest or other remote place to die, and is also connected to the forest. 

This practice of Ubasute, mostly came to life during hard times of famine and disease. Many cultures have similar practices and it seems that this tradition carried into the 19th century in this forest, although many claim it was more of a folklore story rather than an actual tradition. 

Who is to say when people voluntarily decided that the haunted Aokigahara forest was the place to end their life in. Many claim that the forest is haunted by the spirits that were left there to die. 

The Haunted Forest of Despair

Aokigahara is infamous for a more modern and unsettling reason—it has become a destination for those seeking solace in the finality of their own despair. The forest’s quiet beauty belies a darker reality as it has gained notoriety as a site for suicides. The gnarled roots and twisted branches seem to echo the silent cries of those who have sought refuge within its depths, turning the once-tranquil woods into a haunting labyrinth of sorrow.

Warning signs: Signs like this, urging desperate people to turn around is put up throughout the forest.

The highest number of deaths was in 2003 when 105 bodies were found in the forest, although it was most likely higher in the years following the financial crisis in 2008. It is said that there are especially many attempts in March, the end of the fiscal year in Japan when financial reports are due. 

Read more: Check out all ghost stories from Japan

The forest is a testament to a dark spot in Japanese culture, especially its working culture. Although the suicide rates have gone down the last decade, in 2022  over 21.8 thousand people in Japan died by suicide, that is almost one every 15th minute.

Today the police have stopped to publicize the exact number of deaths and method in an attempt to steer the association with the forest away from suicide. But there are still warning signs trying to deter people from taking their lives as well as annual search parties from volunteers since the 1970s have gone into the forest to collect the souls that ended their life inside of the dark forest. 

If they find a body in the forest, it is brought to a room next to the forest where a guard will watch over the body to prevent the yūrei from screaming and acting out. 

The Ethical Dilemma of Talking about The Suicide Forest

As Aokigahara forest captures the imagination with its tales of the supernatural, it also raises ethical questions about the responsibility of those who explore its haunted trails as well as those that post its haunted reputations and remind people of its history. How could it ever be right? While the allure of mystery beckons many to tread the forest paths, there is a delicate balance between curiosity and respect for the lives that have been lost within its depths. 

Could posting about its past ever become something more than an advertisement, or could it actually bring people down from their fairytale story about death and their way to do it?

One of the things that are said to have made the haunted Aokigahara forest a popular place to die is Seichō Matsumoto’s 1961 novel Nami no Tō (Tower of Waves), about two lovers of a married woman and her younger actor lover who take their lives inside of the forest. It was also a best selling book called The Complete Suicide Manual by Wataru Tsurumi that claims that the forest is the best place to die. These two books have been found next to more than one of the dead people within the forest. Is the cure to this trend really to be quite about its past, or is it to give it an alternative storyline?

As in a global recognition, there was in 2015 made a film that took place there. Also the 2016 horror movie The Forest made people outside of Japan take notice of the forest. In 2017 the Logan Paul Controversy really solidified the forest on the map as he showed a victim of suicide on his Youtube channel and it really sparked a debate about dark tourism and the fine lines of exploitation of people and death as well. 

The haunted Aokigahara forest  prompts a thoughtful reflection on the impact of sensationalism and the importance of fostering an understanding of mental health. Perhaps this very article is just one of the many instances of this?

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References:

Aokigahara – Wikipedia 

Aokigahara – The Haunted Forest 

Number of suicides in Japan 2022 | Statista 

Yūrei – Wikipedia 

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The Haunting of GP Block in Meerut

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The GP Block in Meerut has been abandoned for decades now. Ever since then, people passing by have claimed to have seen something they think must be ghosts. Who are the women in the red sari lingering on the roof?

In Meerut lies a street that has become infamous for its paranormal activity. GP Block, as it is known, is the site of numerous ghostly encounters, unexplainable sightings, and spine-chilling experiences. Many locals claim that the area is haunted by the spirits of those who met a tragic end, and that their restless souls still linger in the dark corners of the block. 

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

Although Meerut is one of the fastest developing cities in India, it seems like the GP Block is the exception. There are especially three buildings that have been abandoned for decades now in the very old city of Meerut in Uttar Pradesh. The place used to be a nice area in the city, but now people are frightened of going there. They are owned by the Indian defense forces, but left it to decay in the late 1950s or even as far back as the 1930s.

The Haunted GP Block: Today the GP Block in Meerut, India has been left to decay for decades. During this time it has developed a haunted reputation. // Source

Even though there were hired caretakers in 2014, they misuse their position and rented the rooms out for seedy activity like to gamblers and couples for a few hours. When the caretakers were fired after they found out what went on in the buildings, they installed a big iron gate at the entrance. Is it this that people have seen when claiming to have met a ghost? Or could this be something else, perhaps something paranormal?

Haunted Stories of GP Block

There are many stories about who is haunting the buildings and the locals think that the buildings are haunted by evil spirits where they sit in isolated places that are now covered with wild plants. These are some of the more told ones. 

One of the most popular stories is that of a ghostly woman who is seen sitting on the roof of the building. People claim different things. Some say she is a woman wearing a red sari combing her hair on the roof. Some say they have seen her drift in and out of the building. 

Another ghost frequently reported on is different women wearing red clothes around the building. Could this be the same thing that people have seen on the roof? Perhaps it is just a rumor that turned out to be something more kind of thing?

There are also those that claim to have seen four men drinking beer either inside of the abandoned building or on top of the roof with a single lit candle on the table. 

Is GP Block Really Haunted?

Although there aren’t many details to the hauntings, they are plentiful and the stories of ghosts and hauntings have spread far and wide, attracting curious visitors from all over the country to try and have a look for themselves, although most of them are turned away at the gate.

However, despite the many stories and investigations, there has been no concrete evidence of paranormal activity in GP Block. While some people believe that the area is haunted, others believe that it’s nothing more than a legend and remains of the illegal stuff that went on for a period under the caretaker’s reign.

Regardless of whether GP Block is really haunted or not, one thing is for sure – the legend of the Haunting of GP Block will continue to fascinate and terrify those who dare to venture into its eerie depths.

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References:

Haunted House: जंगल के बीच में है भूतिया बंगला जहां लाल साड़ी में घूमती है चुड़ैल, जाने की है हिम्मत? | Hindi News, Uttar Pradesh 

Meerut ‘haunted houses’ pain for board 

When visiting Meerut, go to GP Block at your own risk | Times of India Travel 

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Inside the Haunted Tunnel No. 33 of the Kalka-Shimla Railway Line

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Inside of an abandoned Tunnel of the Kalka-Shimla Railway Line in Himachal Pradesh in India it is said the ghost of the engineer that built it is haunting it. But what exactly happened to the ill fated Tunnel No. 33 and the other haunted tunnels on these tracks?

Shimla was considered the summer place for the British and became the official summer capital in 1864 and also known as Queen of the Hills. It is the biggest city in the Himachal Pradesh Province and is in the Western Himalayas

This is why they needed a railway as the entire government and military had to move back and to Calcutta twice a year. 

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

The Kalka Shimla Railway was built in the late 19th century by the British government to connect Kalka to Shimla at the foot of the Himalayas. Known for its breathtaking mountain views it also has a couple of ghost stories going on along the track. 

Source

The Haunted History of Tunnel No. 33

One of the tunnels the line passes through is called the Barog Tunnel and is named after Colonel Barog who was in charge of construction  and is known as the straightest tunnel in the world. This is also the longest tunnel of 1143.61 meters long and is located at an altitude of 1565 meters above sea level. It will take around two minutes by train going at 25 kilometers per hour to ride through it before reaching Barog station on the other side.

In 1898, Colonel Barog was put in charge of building the tunnel. He was an English railway engineer and given a strict deadline. 

The legend surrounding Tunnel No. 33 is that Colonel Barog was tasked with constructing the tunnel but failed to complete it within the given time frame. To meet the deadline, he instructed the workers to dig from both sides and to meet in the middle. But because of his miscalculation the project failed. 

Tunnel No. 33: According to the stories, it is this tunnell said to harbour dark and ghostly secrets within on the Kalka-Shimla Railway Line. //Source: Sanoop/Flickr

As a result, he was fined a Rupee and humiliated in front of his peers. This was a lot to be fined for a construction worker at the time, and unable to bear the shame, he committed suicide close to what is now the Barog Pine Wood Hotel. It was also said he had struggled with depression already before this. According to the stories, he was out for a walk together with his dog when he shot himself.

After his death another engineer named HS Herlington completed the Tunnel No. 33 a kilometer away from the original spot together with an Indian diviner named Baba Bhalku.

The Paranormal Activity in Tunnel No. 33

Some have reported hearing disembodied voices, feeling a cold breeze, and seeing apparitions. Others have reported feeling a sense of unease and discomfort while inside the tunnel.

It is said that the locals see him frequently inside and around the tunnel, often on horse. He is known to be a talkative ghost that answers people’s questions and keeps conversations going with those that meet him. 

Now the tunnel has been closed, but activity seems to keep happening around it. Even though the government has put a lock on the tunnel several times to keep people out, people keep finding ways in, or perhaps something just needs a way out?

The Other Haunted Tunnels of the Kalka-Shimla Railway Line

Although the story of Tunnel No. 33 is the most told about, it is not the only place on the tracks thought to be haunted. 

There are also stories about Tunnel No. 46 and 103. Mostly they talk about Tunnel No. 103, otherwise known as the Inveram Tunnel, and that it is haunted by a British ghost that likes to speak with travelers. It is worth nothing that many of the stories get mixed up with the story of Colonel Barog and Tunnel No. 33. Tunnel 103 is the last tunnel on the way toward Shimla

There are also stories about the spirit of a woman moving through the walls of the Tunnel No. 33 and giving off horrifying screams. She is also said to be wearing a black sari as she is carrying a malnourished baby. 

The Truth Behind the Legends

But what about these legends about Tunnel No. 33 and the rest of the supposedly haunted tunnels are actually true? What we find when digging a bit deeper is that the Barog tunnel was called so even before 1899 as an article from the Bombay Gazette on August 14th in 1899 said, and the Construction of the Kalka Simla line didn’t start until Summer of 1900. 

“A detailed and final reconnaissance for the Simla-Kalka railway has now been completed by Mr Harrington (the chief engineer)….The proposed alignment will necessitate the construction of three important tunnels, viz. Koti spur…Barogh…and Tara Devi.”

The fact that we don’t even know Colonel Barogs first name as well as there is no mention of his death in a matter that was written so much about in the papers seems suspicious. There is also no mention of him on the project plan. Did he even exist?

Even the help from the Indian diviner is to the engineer that completed the tunnel is not mentioned with a word in the papers throughout the construction. Could they really have missed such a good story, or are most of the stories known around this construction just this? Just stories? 

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References:

Volvo Car India drives forth the sustainability and climate impact dialogue with its #PoweringLife initiative 

Tunnels & Bridges – the Kalka Shimla Railway — Google Arts & Culture 

https://mysterioushimachal.wordpress.com/tag/the-ghost-of-tunnel-103/

India’s Most Haunted: Tunnel No 33 or Barog Tunnel in Shimla | India.com 

The Ghost of Tunnel 33 Barog Tunnel(Tunnel No. 33)- Facts, History and Stories – Tripoto