Tag Archives: goa

Ukategorisert

The Goan Haunting and Tragedy of Calvim Bridge in Aldona

Leave a comment
Advertisements

After a terrible and deadly accident on the ferry crossing in Aldona, they decided to build the Calvim Bridge to connect to the mainland. But after the bridge was built, the reports about the place being haunted started to come in. 

Stretching over to the village of Aldona, Goa, the Calvim Bridge stands as a somber reminder of a tragic incident that continues to haunt the local community. In February 2012, an unexpected calamity struck this otherwise peaceful locale, leading to the death of seven individuals, including four young students. 

Before the bridge was built, there was a ferry crossing from Aldona-Calvim. A mini-bus on the Aldona side with six or seven passengers who died, three or four of them being school girls on their way home to their island.

Read more: Check out all ghost stories from India

Four students of the St Thomas Girls’ High School at Aldona—cousins Diana (8) and Elvina (11) Dias, Priyal Salgaonkar (10) and Nagel Gracias—were killed, with two women and a man. The driver and the conductor managed to swim to land and fled the scene.

After a terrible and deadly accident on the ferry crossing in Aldona, they decided to build the Calvim Bridge to connect to the mainland. But after the bridge was built, the reports about the place being haunted started to come in. After a terrible and deadly accident on the ferry crossing in Aldona, they decided to build the Calvim Bridge to connect to the mainland. But after the bridge was built, the reports about the place being haunted started to come in. 
Deccan Herald

The exact details of the incident remain shrouded in sorrow and confusion, but the loss of life was profound and deeply felt by the community. 

After this, the locals made a huge effort to get the bridge built and a decade after asking for it and many deaths later, they did. But according to local lore, the newly built bridge is anything but peaceful.

The Haunting by the Calvim Bridge

As night falls and the dark hours envelop the village, those who dare to venture near the Calvim Bridge report experiencing a range of unsettling sensations and supernatural occurrences at night. 

One of the most commonly reported phenomena at Calvim Bridge is the eerie sound of voices carried on the wind of the drowned passengers. These sounds often appear to come from the water below or from the bridge itself, adding to the unsettling ambiance. The voices are sometimes accompanied by the chilling sensation of being watched, an invisible presence lingering in the shadows.

Another frequently recounted experience is the sighting of ghostly apparitions near the bridge. Some have reported seeing shadowy figures that resemble young students. These apparitions are often seen near the spot where the tragedy occurred, their ethereal presence a stark reminder of the lives cut short. 

Calvim Bridge: The thing that would hinder further accidents like in 1012, but are now said to be haunted. // Source: Wikimedia

The Haunting Remembrance

Over the years there have been several instances of light missing on the bridge, creating a dangerous atmosphere and potential accidents. It has also become a popular place for younger people to party and drink, further fueled the haunted rumors that lingers over the bridge. 

Although the bridge has gotten a lot of attention in the later years because of its rumor as a haunted place, the locals still remember the horrible accident as a terrible tragedy, still lingering every time they pass over the bridge. 

More like this

Newest Posts

References:

Calvim – Wikipedia 

The Goan EveryDay: Finally, six deaths later, a bridge over Calvim 

Calvem bridge Goa….(haunted!!) — Steemit 

14 Most Haunted Places In Goa 2023 & Associated Ghost Stories!

Goa most horror places – mancity29096 

Darkness turns Calvim Bridge into den

Ukategorisert

The Haunting of Char Khambe Four Pillars in Goa

Leave a comment
Advertisements

Four white pillars known as Char Khambe on the road in St. Cruz in Goa are said to be haunted. Strange things seems to happen to cars passing them, and some even go as far as claiming they are cursed.

On the Old Santa Cruz-Panjim road, now known as Vasantrao Dempo Marg, stands four white pillars known as Char Khambe, forlorn and forgotten among the paddy fields of St Cruz. These seemingly innocuous structures, shrouded in mystery and a palpable sense of dread, have earned a notorious reputation as one of the most haunted sites in Goa.

Read more: Check out all ghost stories from India

The four pillars of whitewashed minaret style obelisks were built in 1896 to commemorate a Portuguese prince to the Goa colony. The prince was the son of the duke of Porto, Afonso de Bragança. It also marked a line into the city from where you were not allowed to go bare chested, and where all the kashti clothed farmers changed into something else.

The Cursed Pillars

The history behind Char Khambe is murky, with various accounts attempting to explain the haunting. Some suggest that the pillars mark the site of a tragic event or an unmarked burial ground, giving rise to restless spirits. 

Others believe that the pillars themselves are cursed, perhaps due to rituals or dark practices that imbued the area with a lasting malevolent energy. 

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

One of the most common and unsettling phenomena reported at Char Khambe is the sudden and mysterious breakdown of vehicles, particularly motorcycles. Many bikers have found themselves stranded near the pillars, their engines inexplicably stalling and refusing to restart. The darkness and isolation only heighten the sense of vulnerability, as attempts to fix the vehicles often prove futile until daylight breaks. This recurring issue has led to the widespread belief that the area is under a malevolent influence, deterring those who might otherwise travel this route at night.

It is also worth noting that there are several reports about cars ramming into the pillars as well. Something cursed going on here, or what’s going to happen when pillars are placed on the road. 

Ghostly Figures around the Pillars

Adding to the ominous atmosphere are the frequent reports of apparitions and ghostly figures appearing around the pillars. Witnesses describe seeing shadowy forms that seem to materialize out of nowhere, only to vanish just as quickly as well as strange cries in the night can be heard.

On full moon nights, the sightings become more vivid and numerous, with some claiming to see full-bodied apparitions dressed in antiquated attire, wandering silently between the pillars.

There are also stories about seeing a woman in a white saree asking passing cars for a lift, as many of the other haunted road stories in India tells about. 

More like this

Newest Posts

References:

St. Cruz, Goa – Wikipedia 

Four silent sentinels of St Cruz | Goa News – Times of India

Ukategorisert

The Haunting of the Rodrigues Home in Goa

Leave a comment
Advertisements

A mysterious haunted house known as the Rodrigues Home in Verna, Goa is supposedly left from colonial times. Although looking like any other house, it is said to have ghost lingering. 

In the Salcete village of Verna, about 10 kilometers north of Margao, stands the Rodrigues Home according to local lore. This old mansion from colonial times during Portuguese rule, though outwardly a charming and beautiful retreat often called normal looking, harbors a dark and chilling secret.

Locals whisper of the spirits of the Rodrigues family who are said to haunt the premises, making it one of the most infamous haunted locations in Goa, although its exact whereabouts and details of its story are scarce. 

Read more: Check out all ghost stories from India

For generations, locals have recounted stories of strange and inexplicable occurrences within the house, attributing them to the restless spirits of the Rodrigues family who still own the mansion according to most sources.

Haunted Rumors from Verna

So what is it about this manor house that looks seemingly fine when seen by the naked eye? Visitors and passersby have reported a series of unsettling phenomena that seem to defy rational explanation. 

One of the strange things often reported is the flickering lights, as if unseen hands are playing with the electrical switches. There is also reported about sudden and unexplained opening and closing of doors and windows.

Perhaps the most disconcerting of all are the accounts of cutlery moving on its own, clattering unnervingly in the empty dining room. The linens in the house have also mysteriously disappeared and then reappeared without anyone having had access to the premise.

The Ghost of the Rodrigues Home

But who is haunting this alleged haunted house? A member from the Rodrigues family is an obvious culprit, but seeing how common the last name is and the missing specific details of the ghost story, it is difficult to pinpoint who and what Rodrigues family we are even referring to. 

Local legends speak of the tragic history of a Rodrigues family though, whose untimely deaths are believed to be the source of the haunting. It is said that the family met with a series of misfortunes, each more devastating than the last. The exact nature of these misfortunes varies with each telling, but the common thread is a sense of unresolved sorrow and lingering attachment to the family home.

The Missing House

From whom and when did these haunted rumors start though? The first mentions of it online seems to be articles from 2012, claiming the unspecified house is haunted, and still used as a family home. Various of other sources later claim the house has become abandoned. Who really knows at this point. As with many of the other haunted houses in Goa, India, the details of their whereabouts are vague with a lot of hearsay.

But for now, who really knows what the truth is, and what really lurks inside the home of this mysterious manor house. 

More like this

Newest Posts

References:

https://www.thegoan.net/The-Great-Goan-Weekend/Rec-Room/Jeepers-Creepers/01651.html?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3PgaB1l9APAB1vqUHHmzHKWGBQ6SxLkZRgvGRjBdt0igVO5Jk8ZPsjn0Q_aem_AToATUWfntYlaC0UoOigRMVyltjDphEcdeNBmGUZpcHKmOQwSvVaaXgLIhWh6n3_MWQBNGPqV_IuI1SR4AFhpS_I

Avoid These Haunted Places in Goa That Can Give You The Chills 

The Rodrigues Home – Wikipedia

Ukategorisert

The Haunted Seminary Arch and the Mystical Village of Rachol in Goa

Leave a comment
Advertisements

Leading into the Rachol Village Seminary, the Seminary Arch from the ruined fort is still standing. So is the ghost of a lonesome soldier from Portuguese rule as well if we are to believe the stories. It is said he is still guarding the village, only letting them he deems worthy to enter. 

Perched on the scenic banks of the winding tidal Zuari River leading out into the Arabian Sea, the village of Rachol in Goa is a captivating blend of natural beauty and historical intrigue. Yet, beneath its tranquil facade lies a chilling tale that has earned Rachol a reputation as one of Goa’s most haunted locations. 

Read more: Check out all ghost stories from India

The Salcete village also known as Raiturais is said to be protected by the ghost of a soldier from the Portuguese colonial era, a spectral sentinel who guards its entrance and keeps watch over its inhabitants said to linger under the Seminary Arch.

Rachol Seminary Arch

The Seminary Arch on Fr. Angelo Road is a significant historical monument, emblematic of Rachol’s rich past from when it was under the leadership of the Jesuits. It leads to the Rachol Seminary, one of the oldest and most prestigious theological institutes in Goa. It used to be connected to Rachol Fort, now only ruins remain of it. The Portuguese abandoned the fort, but the ghosts did not according to the stories.

The famous seminary, established by the Portuguese in the early 17th century, has educated countless clergymen and scholars over the centuries. 

The Seminary Arch: A lonesome soldier is still guarding the Rachol seminary arch. //Source: Wikimedia

The Soldier Haunting the Seminary Arch

According to local lore, the spirit of the soldier is often seen near this arch, meticulously dressed in his military attire. This ghostly figure is believed to patrol the area, ensuring that only those deemed worthy are allowed to enter the sacred grounds of Rachol. Who is worthy enough for this ghost though?

Read more: Check out The Redshirt Soldier in Biennale Gardens, The Haunted Observation Post Rock in War Torn Afghanistan and The Soldier Ghosts Haunting the Iconic Château de Chambord for ghost stories about soldiers still at their posts after their death. 

The origins of the haunting date back to the time when Goa was under Portuguese rule, so the ghosts are said to be centuries old. The soldier, whose name has been lost to history, is said to have been a fierce and loyal protector of the village. 

Locals recount numerous stories of strange occurrences and sightings, particularly around the Seminary Arch. It is also said that sightings of this ghost are said to happen around festivals and dates that are important for Portuguese culture, although exact dates are rarely mentioned.

Visitors and residents alike have reported witnessing the spectral soldier donning his uniform and performing his nightly patrol. Some have felt an inexplicable chill when passing under the arch, while others have heard the faint sound of footsteps and the clinking of armor. 

More like this

Newest Posts

References:

Ukategorisert

Cristalina’s Haunted Banyan Tree in Saligao Village

1 Comment
Advertisements

In the quaint Saligao Village in Goa, there is a Banyan Tree by the road. According to legend, the tree is haunted by the ghost of Cristalina, waiting for those passing by to possess. 

One Sunday morning in January in 1953, the villagers of Saligao in Goa, India, sat waiting on the priest leading the mass. 

The missionary Padre Inácio Lourenço Pereira had come to this quaint little village from Portugal in 1951 to be the supervisor when the Saligao-Pilerne Seminary went under construction in 1952. The Saligao village is around 15 kilometers outside of Panaji known for its beautiful churches. 

Read more: Check out all ghost stories from India

Pereira was at least said to have gone missing under mysterious circumstances on a Saturday night in January, 1953 when he went for a walk down the Seminary road that took him past the banyan tree at night. 

This particular banyan tree in Saligao Village with its deep roots casting long shadows was known to be haunted though, by a woman named Cristalina, and avoided by the locals. But did Pereira know this as he used to walk past it to get to church?

He didn’t return that night and didn’t show up for mass the next morning. When Pereira was eventually found by some workers the next morning, it was under this banyan tree where he lay unconscious. When his helping hand, Frank and the other workers that looked for him found him, he laid flat on the ground, his face buried in the mud.

Pereira was in a state of shock when he finally woke up, covered in scratches and wounds, unable to recall the full details of his ordeal. 

The locals of Saligao Village took him to a doctor, or at least his house, but he didn’t speak for four days. They even brought a priest to take care of him and Frank and the other workers attached a cross in one of the Banyan Trees branches. 

When he first started to speak, it was said it was in a female voice and in Konkani, one of the Indian languages spoken along the western coast of India. One of the things he repeated over and over again, was the name, Cristalina.

After the whole ordeal he was admitted to a hospital and then sent back to Leiria in Portugal in 1953. He never returned to Saligao Village or Goa, but his legend certainly remained there. 

Cristalina Haunting the Banyan Tree

For over sixty years, her spectral presence has been associated with a particular banyan tree in the Saligao Village. It is said that still to this day, people are avoiding walking past this tree after dark, as it is said that Cristalina can possess you, as she once did.

From testimonies from locals, it looks like the banyan tree was already rumored to be haunted by the ghost of Cristalina before the possession of the priest. But how much of it actually happened, and how much of it was gossip and fear mongering from the locals?

Who actually was Cristalina? One of the most told versions of the Banyan tree is that she hanged herself from it. But no further details about who she might be has been found. 

Further Haunting of Cristalina’s Banyan Tree

It was especially when the horizontal part of the cross went missing from the branches in the tree that the legend resurfaced and breathed new wind into it as something more than a one time haunting. Ever since then it has become a local legend in Saligao Village.

There have also been talks about the tree glowing in the dark, and the tree itself has been the case of scientific studies. What really happened to it? According to the scholars, they claimed the lights were from carts of petromax lights that were parked near the tree. 

Banyan Tree and why they are Haunted

But what about the tree found in Saligao Village? How come so many ghost stories are connected to the majestic looking Banyan Trees as well as Peepal Trees in India?

For one, they have spiritual connection with mythology, both Hindu and Buddhist, and are seen as sort of divine places. There are also many legends attached to the old trees with its twisting branches, often found in secluded areas                 

One popular legend is that you are not supposed to sit under one of these trees at night because ghosts and other supernatural things live there. 

Read Also: Check out Ghostly Shadows by Dwarka Sector 9 Metro Station and the Haunted Peepal Tree for more haunted trees. 

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? Could this have a connection to what happened to Padre Inácio Lourenço Pereira?

The Haunted Saligao Village

The eerie tales of Saligao Village have made it a point of interest for paranormal enthusiasts and curious tourists. Despite the fearsome stories, the Saligao Village remains a beautiful example of Goan heritage, with its well-preserved churches and traditional houses. 

The Cristalina Banyan Tree: The haunted tree in the Saligao Village is now a very known landmark. // Photo by Frederick Noronha (FN)

Visitors to Saligao often report strange occurrences near the banyan tree. Some have felt an inexplicable chill in the air, while others have heard whispers and seen fleeting shadows. 

The locals practicing both various Hindi and Christian rituals have tried to appease the ghost of Cristalina by having built a small altar where they offer gifts to her. According to the Hindu villagers living close to this haunted tree, they call the spirit, Ximecho Devchar or Boundary Devil. 

More like this

Newest Posts

References:

[Goanet] The ‘haunting’ of Padre Lourenço 

https://creepysilencefy.blogspot.com/2017/01/old-saligao-village.html

Konkani language – Wikipedia 

Saligao christalina Tree – Spooky Goa

Ukategorisert

The Haunting of Dona Paula Beach and the Pearl Wearing Ghost

Leave a comment
Advertisements

People on the Dona Paula Beach in Goa, India claim to have seen the ghost of a woman coming out from the ocean, wearing only a pearl necklace. Legend claim it is Dona Paula, lamenting over her tragic love.

Along the coastline of Goa, Dona Paula Beach is a renowned destination for tourists seeking relaxation and adventure in Panaji. With its pristine sands, azure waters, and vibrant atmosphere, it offers an idyllic escape where the Mandovi and Zuari meet the Arabian Sea. It is crowded during the tourist season with people flocking to the beach, but a calm place during monsoons. 

Read more: Check out all ghost stories from India

However, as the sun sets and shadows deepen over the Marmugao Harbour, this seemingly serene paradise transforms into one of the most haunted places in Goa, steeped in tales of love, loss, and the supernatural.

Dona Paula Beach: Source: Flickr

The Story of Dona Paula

The Dona Paula Beach derives its name from Dona Paula de Menezes, or as her full name was: Paula Amaral Antonio de Souto Maior. She was the beautiful daughter of  the Portuguese Viceroy of Jaffnapatnam, Sri Lanka, or at least related to him. 

Dona Paula is said to have come to this place in 1744. It used to be a fishing village known as Oddavell. So what happened after Dona Paula arrived in the village that would eventually be named after her?

The legends about Dona Paula are many and confusion about who she really was runs so deep, even the tourists guides slip up. 

The Tragic Love Story

Legend has it that Dona Paula fell deeply in love with a local fisherman, some give him the name Gaspar Dias or Paulo, a romance that defied the rigid social norms of their time. Her aristocratic family vehemently opposed the union, forbidding Dona Paula from seeing her beloved. 

Heartbroken and despairing, she chose to end her life rather than live without him. One fateful night, she leaped from the cliffs into the turbulent Arabian Sea, her tragic story forever entwined with the locale. In some versions, he jumped with her. 

Other Variations of the Legend

There is also a bit of a different myth about her where she was a lady-in-waiting for the Governor General’s wife. The Portuguese Governor took a shining to her and his wife didn’t like it one bit and took action to tear them apart. 

According to the stories, the Governor even gifted her a pearl necklace. As punishment, she was stripped of all of her clothes on top of the cliff. With only a pearl necklace around her neck, the wife pushed her off the cliff. 

Dona Paula Cliff: It is also said that she actually did marry the fisherman, but he went to sea, but never returned. She waited for him at the cliff for the rest of her life, eventually turning into stone. Here from the unrelated statue on Dona Paula Beach that have started to merge with the legend. // Source: Wikimedia

Lovers Paradise in Goa and Dona Paula Beach

It is said that Dona Paula was entombed in the Cabo Chapel nearby and that her spirit remains. To this day, the area where she leapt off the cliffs are still referred to as lovers paradise. According to many locals, it is also thought to be haunted by Dona Paula. 

It is said that on moonlit nights, the ghostly figure of Dona Paula can be seen emerging from the sea, clad only in a shimmering pearl necklace. Her spectral form glides silently along the shoreline, a forlorn reminder of her unfulfilled love and untimely demise. The sight of her apparition has left many with an unsettling chill, as her sorrowful eyes seem to search for the lover she lost to the cruel tides of fate.

The True Tale of Dona Paula

The haunting tales of Dona Paula Beach have persisted for generations, with each retelling adding new layers to the legend. Some believe that her spirit wanders not out of malevolence, but out of a desperate yearning to reunite with her lost love. Others suggest that her restless ghost guards the beach, ensuring that no one else suffers a similar fate. But how much of it is actually true?

What we do know is that Dona Paula married when she arrived in Goa, as her title Dona would suggest. She married a hidalgo, a Spanish nobility in 1756 called Dom António Caetano de Menezes Souto Maior. They were a very affluent family, owning everything from Cabo Raj Nivas to Caranzalem.

She was known to the locals as a woman with a big heart and remembered for her charity and this is the reason why the former village, now neighborhood, named it after her. As of her death, she is said to have died on 21st of December, 1782, but of what is uncertain.  

How her legacy became a haunted one though is uncertain. One can perhaps wonder if a woman dedicating her life to charity, must be reduced to a lovesick woman that can’t deal with life if she can’t have her possible fictional lover. 

More like this

Newest Posts

References:

Problems `haunting’ Dona Paula | undefined News – Times of India 

Dona Paula – Wikipedia

The legend of Dona Paula – truth or tall-tale | undefined News – Times of India 

Of love and legends: The story of Dona Paula

Ukategorisert

A School Bus of Ghosts Haunting the Jakni Bandh Bridge

Leave a comment
Advertisements

Said to be only a temporary bridge, the Jakni Bandh Bridge in Goa claimed the life of a bus loaded with young children. According to local lore, you can still hear their dying screams echoing off the road at night. 

Between the villages of Navelim and Drampur lies Jakni Bandh Bridge shrouded in darkness—a bridge built as a temporary measure. How temporary though is uncertain as it has been the only bridge there for decades. 

Known as Jakni Bandh, this seemingly innocuous structure conceals a chilling secret, one that continues to haunt the hearts and minds of those who dare to tread its path.

Read more: Check out all ghost stories from India

Although the narrow path has gone through modernization, it is still remembered for its pasts and how it costs countless lives throughout the years. The most well known story and victims being the school bus filled with children that never returned home. 

The Horrible Accident on the Bridge

Jakni Bandh, initially intended as a simple connector between two communities, has become synonymous with tragedy and terror. Its traumatic past is rooted in a fateful accident in 1979 that forever altered the fabric of reality in its vicinity. 

It was on a seemingly ordinary day that a mini-bus bus, teeming with children, met its untimely demise at the hands of fate, or as some blame it, the driver’s fault. What really happened that day we will never know, as none of them lived to tell. 

The driver lost control of the bus in any case, toppling over the bridge’s edge, the bus plummeted into the abyss below, claiming the lives of all aboard in a horrifying instant. The locals rushed to the scene to try to help, but it was too late.

The Haunted Jakni Bandh Bridge

Since that fateful day, Jakni Bandh has become a hotbed of paranormal activity, with reports of inexplicable phenomena flooding in from all corners that are said to happen after sunset.

Passersby speak of hearing the anguished cries and blood-curdling screams of children through the night air, their voices a haunting reminder of the tragedy that befell them. But when people try to track down where the wailing of the children comes from, there is no one there. 

Read also: The Ghost Children at Mang Gui Kiu Bridge

The people reporting of paranormal activity also claim to have seen apparition of what looks like children running around in the area, long after bedtime. This cumulates especially to night time or certain nights of the year, although it is hard to find out what days the locals claim this is. 

The Other Ghosts Haunting the Jakni Bandh Bridge

In addition to the sound and sighing of ghostly children running around, the place around the Jakni Bandh Bridge is also said to be haunted by a woman as well. 

The Jakni Bandh Bridge: As the bridge was in 2014. //Source: Joegoauk Goa/Flickr

Whether or not she also was a victim to the road and bridges narrowness, is unknown. But there have been many accidents throughout the years, and a wandering woman haunting the road is not an uncommon thing along the Indian roads. Like with the case of: The Ghost of the Lady in White Sari of Delhi Cantt, The Haunting of MG Road and the Mystery of the White-Sari Lady and Ghostly Shadows by Dwarka Sector 9 Metro Station and the Haunted Peepal Tree.

The Future of Jakni Bandh Bridge

In the heart of Goa’s lush countryside, Jakni Bandh stands as a silent sentinel, its secrets buried deep within the recesses of memory and where school children still sometimes choose minibus drivers over bigger ones because of their convenience. 

And although the road has gone through developments since then, and that it is after all said to be just a temporary thing, the Jakni Bandh Bridge still remains a dangerous place to venture, especially after dark if we are to believe the legends. 

More like this

Newest Posts

References:

Jakni Bandh bridge – Wikipedia 

13 Haunted Places in Goa that will Leave your Skin Crawling 

India’s most haunted: Janki Bandh in Goa | India.com

India.comIndia’s most haunted: Janki Bandh in Goa 

Ukategorisert

The Haunted Home of the Cursed Braganza House in Chandor

Leave a comment
Advertisements

One of the huge Portuguese families branched out into the colonies and The Braganza House is the testament to it, now thought to be haunted. Could it have something to do with the family curse that once plagued The Braganza Family?

The Braganza House stands as a magnificent yet eerie relic of the past in Chandor Village in Goa, India. This grand mansion close to the church square in Chandor, built over 350 to 500 years ago, is a testament to the opulence and grandeur of Portuguese colonial architecture with its Italian marble antique chandelier from Europe and carved rodewood furniture. 

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

Behind its ornate facades, private library and family portraits lies a history steeped in tragedy, mystery, and according to some coming out of the manor house, paranormal activity, making it one of the most haunted places in Goa.

Braganza House: One of the two parts of the house, the Menezes Braganza House exterior. It used to belong to one of the most powerful Portuguese families, and is a silent witness to the Portuguese rule in Goa. // Source: Wikimedia

A Glimpse into History

The Braganza House, a sprawling mansion divided into two wings with the family divided into two different branches, was constructed by the affluent Braganza family, who were prominent Portuguese nobles, built centuries ago when Goa was under Portuguese rule. 

The mansion’s East Wing is owned by the descendants of the Pereira-Braganza family, while the West Wing belongs to the Menezes-Braganza family. The house is renowned for its stunning collection of antiques, vintage furniture, and artifacts that reflect the family’s wealth and status during the Portuguese era.

The Tragic Ending of a Braganza Family

Wikimedia

The mansion’s history is intertwined with tales of power, betrayal, and sorrow. Among the most notable events is the tragic story of a young woman from the Braganza family who is said to have committed suicide in one of the mansion’s opulent rooms. 

There are not many details about who she was and as of why. Some local gossip claims that she was the daughter of the master of the house and fell in love with a servant, a relationship her father didn’t accept. He then killed her lover when they tried to elope and she took her own life right after.

Her untimely death has become the cornerstone of the haunted reputation that envelops the Braganza House. Her spirit is said to linger in the room where she died, a place now shrouded in an unsettling aura.

The Ghostly Woman of the Braganza House

Today the Archaeological Survey of India has opened the house to visitors as a museum. Visitors and locals alike have reported numerous eerie encounters and unexplained phenomena within the Braganza House. Most often, a descendant are said to lead the tours through the house.

Many who have ventured into the room recount feeling an inexplicable sense of sadness and despair. Some have reported seeing the ghostly figure of a woman dressed in traditional Portuguese attire, her face pale and mournful, drifting through the corridors of the mansion. 

The flickering of candles, sudden drops in temperature, and the sound of soft sobbing are just a few of the paranormal activities attributed to her restless spirit.

To be noted, although there are few details and very few resources stating who the woman was, for what reason, or even which room are now haunted, it is worth noting the name, Braganza. If it weren’t for the family owning the house, one could almost write off the history as just rumors, but according to myth, the Braganza Family has said to be cursed for centuries.

The Curse of the Braganza Family

King John IV of Portugal: The first Braganza to reign and be cursed.

Adding to the house’s haunted legacy is the alleged curse that is said to plague the House of Braganza. The Braganza family, once a symbol of nobility and power and the rulers of Portugal as well as their colonies for centuries, is believed to be cursed due to a series of unfortunate events that have befallen its members over the centuries. 

The curse is said to have originated during the reign of John IV of Portugal in the 17th century. Allegedly he kicked a Franciscan friar who was begging for alms. Because of this offense, the friar cast a curse over his family, saying that no first-born male in his family would live to sit on the throne.

This act doomed the family’s lineage to a cycle of misfortune and sorrow and since then, without three exceptions all first-born boys in the family died before taking the crown.

House of Braganza in Goa

So could this curse have something to do with the haunted rumors that seems to linger as a whisper outside of the main conversation. Although, the curse and its female ghostly counterpart seems unlikely. 

King John VI seemed adamant about ending the curse, and annually visited Franciscan monasteries in both Portugal and Brazil. But it is said that it first ended with the reign of Braganzas ending at the start of the 1900s. 

While the Braganza House stands as a beautiful relic of a bygone era, it also serves as a haunting reminder of the tragedies and mysteries that continue to captivate and terrify those who dare to enter its shadowy confines.

More like this

Newest Posts

References:

Braganza House 

Enter at Your Own Risk: The Most Terrifying Places in Goa 

Curse of the Braganzas – Wikipedia 

Luís de Menezes Bragança – Wikipedia The Colonial Houses of Goa – Braganza House, Chandor

Ukategorisert

The Borim Bridge Where Ghostly Whispers Haunt the Nights in Goa

Leave a comment
Advertisements

A woman jumping over the Borim Bridge in Goa is said to haunt the area where the ghost is said to latch onto the closest it will encounter. But what really happened when the woman decided to jump from the bridge down to the Suari River?

Spanning the tranquil waters between Ponda in North Goa and Margao in South Goa and going across the Zuari River. The Borim Bridge stands as a testament to both the architectural prowess of the Portuguese and the chilling legends that shroud its existence. 

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

Built during the Portuguese Era spanning from the 1500s to after the war in 1945, the bridge exists to connect distant villages, this historic structure harbors a dark past that continues to haunt the present.

Until thirty years ago, there was a bridge connecting Panjim with Ponda. It was damaged by a barge, making it unusable. During liberation, part of the bridge was blown up with dynamite, but it was repaired and reopened to the public. A new bridge was built due to weight and width restrictions, and damage from barges. Only light vehicles could use the temporary bridge, until it collapsed after being hit by a barge. After a new bridge was built in 1986, the old bridge was neglected until it was completely abandoned in 2005, and has since had large chunks falling out. .

Borim Bridge: There is a long time since the bridge has been whole, and even though drivers are not using it anymore, it is said that the bridge is haunted by ghosts.

A Legacy of Sacrifice

Constructed by Portuguese soldiers to fortify their stronghold and keep the Indian military out, the Borim Bridge bears the scars of a turbulent past. 

Legend has it that during its construction, countless children were sacrificed to appease malevolent forces, their innocent souls forever bound to its timeworn stones. These children are said to haunt the area around the bridge as well. Locals whisper of restless spirits that roam the bridge, their anguished cries echoing through the night.

The Woman of The Borim Bridge

Among the most spine-chilling tales associated with the Borim Bridge is that of the Woman of the River—a spectral apparition said to haunt its shadowy depths. Many claim to have witnessed her ghost leaping from the bridge into the murky waters below, only to vanish into the darkness. 

Read More: Check out more haunted stories from bridges like The Ghost Children at Mang Gui Kiu Bridge, The Lady in Red of Bang Pakong River and The Ghost Bridge in the Jungle

Apparently she suddenly appears on the road, running over the bridge, looking mad and jumps from the side of it. There is no sign of splashes or anyone having jumped at all if you go and check. Not even ripples in the dark waters below. 

Those who drive their cars when they see her, can suddenly catch a glimpse of her in the backseat when she suddenly appears before vanishing into thin air. 

A Curse Unleashed

Terrifyingly, those who have come face to face with the ghostly woman have been plagued by sickness and misfortune in the aftermath. Such encounters serve as a chilling reminder of the malevolent forces that lurk beneath the surface of the Borim Bridge, waiting to ensnare the unwary in their web of terror.

The Most talked about story is when a group of friends was by the bridge in December in 2011. They were driving over the bridge around two thirty in the night and were all sleepy when something startled them awake. 

The three friends saw a woman jumping from the bridge but found no proof of it as it was no splashes, no sound and no body to be found. This was sadly not an unusual thing as several hundreds took their life from this bridge around this time yearly. 

So although the story was as per usual, they returned back home, confused about what they did or didn’t see. 

They drove away but were haunted when then the man sitting in the back of their car started  shouting at them about a female ghost haunting them and being in the car with them. According to him, it was the very same woman they had seen jumping from the bridge.  

They asked who she was and where she came from, but he had no answers. They tended to his shivering body, his temperature low and got sick. He was sick for days, claiming that the woman they had seen jump from the bridge was haunting him, sitting next to him for all eternity. 

What happened to this man is not said though in what looks like the original blog posts from 2014, so we kan assume he turned out fine. After this story got around though, the story about the bridge being haunted really became part of its story. 

The Haunting of The Borim Bridge

In the heart of Goa’s lush landscape lies a bridge shrouded in mystery and dread—a bridge that bears witness to the tragedies of the past and the restless spirits that linger in its shadow. 

After many tragic deaths of people that have jumped into the water, they have decided to build the fences higher, the protection stronger. Perhaps this will also work with alleged ghosts?

More like this

Newest Posts

References:

https://www.heraldgoa.in/Goa/North-Goa-2/Borim%E2%80%99s-precarious-bailey-bridge-/111933

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/span-of-abandoned-borim-bridge-snaps/articleshow/83470573.cms

https://paranormalactivitiesingoa.blogspot.com/2014/10/old-borim-bridge-goa-india.html

https://www.navhindtimes.in/2017/10/09/opinions/opinion/anti-suicide-barricade-on-borim-bridge

THE BORIM BRIDGE OF GOA – Dreadbots 

Amche Goa – Borim Bridge : Haunted or Myth ?? Read story… | Facebook 

Old Borim bridge ruins cleared, to be redeveloped for tourism in Goa | Goa News – Times of India 

Ukategorisert

The Midday Haunting of Igorchem Bandh Road

Leave a comment
Advertisements

A small patch of dirt road known as Igorchem Bandh is said to be extremely haunted, especially during the day. It is said that evil spirits lurk along the path, waiting for someone to possess, sometimes ending in a deadly manner. 

Hidden within the serene village of Raia, nestled adjacent to Rachol in Goa, India, lies a road veiled in shadows and whispered tales—the infamous Igorchem Bandh road, meaning Church Road. Aptly named for its proximity to the Church of Our Lady of Snows it is right behind. 

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

This stretch of road of red dirt is described as a quiet place except from the wind and narrow and close to empty. This pathway has also garnered notoriety for its chilling association with midday haunting in contrast to the more common night haunting.

The Haunting of Igorchem Bandh

The Igorchem Bandh road has become the stage for a myriad of spine-tingling encounters, each tale more unsettling than the last. Witnesses speak of eerie possessions followed by inexplicable deaths, sending shivers down the spines of even the most skeptical locals. 

Igorchem Bandh: How the narrow dirt road by the church in Goa looked in 2023. It is said that the Igorchem Bandh is haunted during the day. // Source: Wikimedia

Residents recount nights filled with the haunting echo of phantom footsteps and the unsettling rasp of heavy breathing, emanating from the darkness of the surrounding foliage, weaving a tapestry of fear that cloaks the road in an otherworldly aura.

The Local Legend of Haunting in Broad Daylight

So what is the story behind the supposed haunting going on at this particular stretch of road? According to a chilling legend there is a warning against crossing the bandh at 2 pm. According to local lore, this ill-fated hour brings forth dizziness and incomprehensible speech, leaving travelers at the mercy of unseen forces.

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

Travelling on this route between 2 and 3 pm are more in danger of being possessed by evil spirits that roam in these parts.

Could there be something paranormal going on? Or could this simply be a case of severe sunstroke that are known to happen in such a warm place as Goa south in India.

Folklore About Malevolent Spirits

Where do these rumors come from? Is there really such a thing as daylight haunting? According to reports from Incredible Goa magazine, the Igorchem Bandh is said to be teeming with spirits, their presence palpable even in the harsh light of day and we can supposedly find backing of this from local lore even recounted by the priest of the nearby church. 

These malevolent entities are rumored to prey on those with weak wills, seeking to possess their very souls in the region, especially people with low self-control. Once possessed, victims are said to exhibit unearthly behavior, like speaking in an unknown language, their eyes ablaze with crimson and their skin ashen. Their whole body is trembling until they die within a couple of hours according to the legends. 

So before crossing the road, check the time. Perhaps this road is best traveled in the dead of night. 

More like this

Newest Posts

References:

যে পথে দিন-দুপুরেও হানা দেয় ভূতেরা! 

Legend Of Haunted Igorchem Road In Goa, India 

7 Igorchem Bandh – Haunted Places in Goa 

Igorchem Bandh – Wikipedia