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Haunting Tales of The Lower Circular Road Cemetery

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After the mutilated body of Sir William Hay MacNaghten was brought back to Kolkata from Kabul, he was buried in the Lower Circular Road Cemetery. After his death it is said that he is haunting the place and the nearby tree shivers every time someone tells the tale. 

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At the Lower Circular Road Cemetery that are constantly being filled up with the Christians in Kolkata, there is one grave said to house the ghost of Sir William Hay MacNaghten that are said to haunt the cemetery. 

The Lower Circular Road Cemetery in Kolkata, stands as a silent sentinel to bygone eras as it was established in 1840 during the colonial times in Kolkata and can be found a short walk away from the South Park Street Cemetery. 

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

This cemetery is still in use and this historic burial ground also known as General Episcopal Cemetery serves as a poignant memorial of the city’s rich and tumultuous past with over 12 000 graves. Although many have been moved to make way for new burials, there is one grave at The Lower Circular Road Cemetery left said to be haunted.

And if we are to believe the stories, there is a tree in The Lower Circular Road Cemetery that shakes every time someone narrates this story, at least while being close to it. 

The Barbaric and Bloody First Anglo Afghan War

Legend has it that The Lower Circular Road Cemetery harbors a spectral presence, none other than Sir William Hay MacNaghten, a prominent civil servant during the British colonial era. His untimely demise at 48, a grisly affair that sent shock waves through the community, has become the stuff of local lore. 

Sir William Hay MacNaghten: Buried in the Lower Circular Road Cemetery

MacNaghten was also a Baronet born in 1793, came to India at 16 and played a big part in the first Anglo-Afghan War from 1838-1842. The British had successfully invaded the country after using an internal dispute of the rulers in Afghanistan to their advantage. 

Although an important figure in history, people were surprised by his involvement in war. “What? Lord William Bentinck was to exclaim when he heard Macnaghten had launched an army against Afghanistan. “Lord Auckland and Macnaghten gone to war? The very last men in the world I would have expected of such folly”.

Macnaghten purchased a mansion in Kabul, and brought his wife, decorating their home with crystal chandeliers, a fine selection of French wines, and hundreds of servants from India. The act of just making themselves at home further enraged the Afghans. If we are to believe the sources he was not necessarily a well liked man and was known for his arrogant manners, and was simply called “the Envoy ” by both the Afghans and the British.

By 1841 the British forces were depleted and their commanders were old and not up for the task. The plan was for the British to march back to India under a guarantee of safe passage from the Afghan tribal elders. However, in a last ditch effort, they tried to play the chiefs up against each other, and MacNaghten met up with Mohammed Akbar Khan, the son of a chief, but one that had no reason to like the British. 

Macnaghten presented Wazir Akbar Khan with a fine pair of pistols as a gesture of friendship and good faith on December 23rd. However, Wazir Akbar Khan murdered Macnaghten on the spot. If he meant to kill him or if he was killed because he resisted capture is unclear to this day. 

The aftermath of it all was gruesome for the British, as around 120 was taken prisoners, including his wife and a certain Lady Sale who wrote in her diary about the murder: “All reports agree that both the Envoy’s and Trevor’s bodies are hanging in the public chouk: the Envoy’s decapitated and a mere trunk; the limbs having been carried in triumph about the city”

‘Remnants of an Army’: by Elizabeth Butler portraying William Brydon arriving at the gates of Jalalabad as the only survivor of a 16,500 strong evacuation from Kabul in January 1842.

In fact, his death was recorded as “one of the basest, foulest, murders that ever stained the page of history” in the post-mortem investigations. It is said that his wife stumbled upon his lifeless body, horrifically mutilated and strewn across the street. His remains are said to have been recovered from the pit they threw him into and brought back by his widow. 

Awful as it must have been, it is interesting to note that most of the prisoners thought the Afghan kidnappers were polite enough, but Lady Macnaghten remembered in a bad light as she didn’t want to share any of her clothes or sherry. 

The Haunting of the Lower Circular Road Cemetery

Despite his mortal remains finding their resting place within the confines of the Lower Circular Road Cemetery, Sir William’s spirit is said to linger among the tombstones and mausoleums. 

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

One chilling aspect of these ghostly sightings at The Lower Circular Road Cemetery is the peculiar behavior of a solitary tree that stands all by its lonesome over Sir William’s final resting place. According to local lore, whenever the gruesome details of his murder are recounted, the tree above his tomb begins to shiver as if stirred by an unseen force, adding an eerie atmosphere to the already haunted grounds.

The spectral presence of Sir William MacNaghte is not the only source of unease within the Lower Circular Road Cemetery. Late-night guards, tasked with keeping watch over the silent slumber of the dead, have reported spine-tingling encounters with inexplicable phenomena. Eerie noises echoing through the stillness of the night, ghostly whispers carried on the breeze, and fleeting glimpses of shadowy figures flitting among the tombstones have left many a sentry shaken to their core.

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References:

First Anglo-Afghan War – Wikipedia 

William Hay Macnaghten (1793-1841) – Find a Grave Memorial 

“One of the basest, foulest murders that ever stained the page of history”? The brutal death of Sir William Macnaghten 

William Hay Macnaghten – Wikipedia 

Lower Circular Road cemetery – Wikipedia  https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/places/drowning-hands-to-headless-bodies-these-haunted-places-in-kolkata-are-filled-with-ghost-stories-pbfhhotogallery/cid/1869126?slide=5

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Ghosts of Tagore House – Jorasanko Thakur Bari

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In the old house of a famed Bengali poet and philosopher, the ghosts of Tagore House or Jorasanko Thakur Bari are said to linger. Throughout the years, the family of Rabindranath Tagore have told about the haunting said to have happened inside of the mansion. 

North in Kolkata lies Tagore House, an anglicized way of saying Jorasanko Thakur Bari, a grand mansion that once served as the residence of the illustrious Tagore family built in 1785. The stately home of high ceilings, black and white marble floor and arched doorways is today a nod to just how powerful the ancestral home of the Tagore family was. They were one of the leading families in Kolkata and key players in the Bengali Renaissance. 

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

This sprawling palace stands as a testament to the legacy of Rabindranath Tagore, the Nobel laureate poet and polymath who called it home. In 1913 he became the first non European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. Now his ancestral home operates as a house museum and has, according to his family, always been haunted. 

Jorasanko Thakur Bari: The Tagore House is the formal house of the nobel prize writer Rabindranath Tagore and his family for generations and also thought to have been or is haunted by his family. // Source

Rabindranath Tagore and his Life of Ghosts and Spirits

Several eerie tales shroud Tagore House in an aura of mystique, adding to its allure as a haunted abode which is said to come to life at night. When he was alive, Rabindranath Tagore had a keen interest in the supernatural as well and had often planchette sessions inside of the building after his father, Debendranath died. 

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Even in his writings, like the tale found in Mastermoshai there are haunting tales happening. And one particularly story about a student drive his teacher to suicide is said to have been inspired by something that happened at Jorasanko Thakur Bari, and most ghost stories comes from his era. 

Rabindranath Tagore (রবীন্দ্রনাথ ঠাকুর) was born in Jorasanko Thakur Bari in 1861 and his poetry and writing have been called both spiritual and magical. 

Among the most chilling accounts are those of phantom footsteps echoing through empty corridors and the haunting sound of anklets tinkling in deserted rooms and other strange occurrences inside of the Jorasanko Thakur Bari building. 

These spine-tingling tales have been meticulously documented and shared from the Tagore family over the years, finding their way into writings like ‘Thakurbarir Bhooter Golpo’ (Ghost Stories from Thakurbari), a collection that chronicles the chilling legends of Tagore House. 

Hauntings of Jorasanko Thakur Bari

One of the stories you will find written down is from when Rama, who was Tagore’s granddaughter died. The family was distraught by her death and didn’t want to send the body away. Instead they put her downstairs that evening and waited and grieved. 

Rabindranath Tagore: (7 May 1861 – 7 August 1941), also known by the sobriquet Gurudev, was a Bengali poet, Brahmo Samaj (syncretic Hindu monotheist) philosopher, visual artist, playwright, composer, and novelist whose avant-garde works reshaped Bengali literature and music in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Amita Thakur was one of the women in the family who sat in the room next door that evening and told about what happened next. Suddenly the lanterns in the room went off one by one in the row they hung in. Everyone in the room freaked out, not daring to light the lights again.  And when a cold breeze started coming from nowhere, they knew that there was a spirit with them. 

The Ghost Walking in Tagore House

Another story told from the Tagore House was when Tagore’s nephew, Nitish died. In the period right after his death the family claimed that Nitish was seen almost every evening as he was walking down his favorite corridor. Which also says something about just how big this house was. 

There would also be stories about the relatives living in Jorasanko Thakur Bari waking up and seeing a ghostly figure standing and watching them.

The Dead Wife in the Picture

Mrinalini Devi

From the book detailing the haunting of the mansion they also discuss one of the mysterious pictures taken of the family that sparked a debate that yet again a ghost in the family lingered in the Tagore House. 

Mrinalini Devi, the wife of Rabindranarth Tagore, was also a translator and described as a woman with a great personality as they described her. She died in 1902 after a serious illness the doctors never managed to diagnose. She was only 28 and according to legend, her ghosts have shown up from time to time. 

In 1904, the family gathered for a family picture, and as a shadow behind her husband, it is said she sat in the picture, two years after her death. Was this the final haunting from her side? Some say that she is still haunting the place.

The Haunted Jorasanko Thakur Bari House

As dusk descends and the shadows lengthen, Tagore House takes on a hauntingly beautiful aspect, its majestic facade concealing secrets that defy rational explanation. 

Whether fueled by imagination or rooted in reality, the haunted rumors surrounding this historic palace continue to captivate the imaginations of those who dare to delve into its shadowy depths. A story just as good as the fictional stories that were written in the Tagore House. 

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References:

https://www.boldsky.com/insync/life/2012/ghosts-famous-people-030152.html?story=1

10 haunted places in Kolkata you MUST visit to see what a horror movie really looks like

Jorasanko Thakur Bari – Wikipedia

Transforming the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra into a Technological Marvel | – Times of India  

Rabindranath Tagore – Wikipedia 

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The Haunted Rabindra Sarobar Metro Station in Kolkata

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On the rails of Rabindra Sarobar Metro Station in Kolkata people claim to have seen and heard ghosts from the departed both on the platform as well as in the tunnels. Who can be haunting the station otherwise known as ‘Paradise of Suicide’?

The Rabindra Sarobar Metro Station (রবীন্দ্র সরোবর) in Kolkata known as the city of joy, holds a chilling reputation as one of the most haunted places in the city. Along Kolkata’s bustling metro line 1, this station, found on Shyama Prasad Mukherjee road, derives its name from the nearby Rabindra Sarobar, an artificial lake. Yet, behind its mundane facade lies a sinister reputation earned from the tragedies that have unfolded within its confines. 

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

The underground station built in 1986 has earned the grim nickname of the “Paradise of Suicides” due to the alarming number of individuals who have taken their own lives by leaping onto the tracks over the last couple of decades. Shockingly, it’s estimated that a staggering 70 to 80% of the metro’s suicides occur at this particular station, casting a shadow of despair over the station.

Supernatural Encounters on the Rail

Adding to the eerie atmosphere are the numerous accounts of supernatural encounters reported by commuters and station staff alike. Many claim to have felt an otherworldly presence lingering in the air, with sightings of ghostly apparitions and inexplicable shadows haunting the station’s platforms. Distorted figures have been spotted moving aimlessly before vanishing into thin air, believed to be the tormented souls of those who met their end in tragic circumstances. 

Rabindra Sarobar Metro Station: This station on the underground in Kolkata is said to be the most haunted station in the city and many stories from passengers and drivers talk about their paranormal experiences.// Source

Commuters passing through Rabindra Sarobar Metro Station have recounted hearing unsettling cries and moans, echoing through the deserted station late at night, while others have described witnessing ghostly movements inside the trains themselves, especially on the last train for the night.

Ghost Wandering the  Rabindra Sarobar Metro Station

One of the many stories about strange things happening at the station was shared online about a guy that saw a good looking man on the station. The man approached him and asked him to take his picture, but vanished into thin air. 

Read More: For more ghost stories from haunted subway stations around the world, check out Take the Haunted Subway in Beijing and The Ghost Suicide at the Yau Ma Tei Station.

When the guy asked around, there was an older man that told him about a young man that wanted to become a model, but his parents tried to pressure him to become a doctor instead. He committed suicide at the station and now his soul is haunting it, trying to make people to take his photo. This story was originally posted on Instagram, and many people in the comments shared similar experiences. 

The Metro Drivers and Ghosts

Even metro drivers and station attendants have attested to these eerie occurrences, with sightings of ghostly figures and footless apparitions causing delays and disruptions to train services at Rabindra Sarobar Metro Station. 

From an article back from 2015, a driver talked about when he recently had to stop the train when he was crossing Rabindra Sarobar Metro Station. According to him, he had seen someone inside a tunnel, but on closer inspection, there was nothing there. Was it a ghost? Perhaps access to the tunnels is too easy for the living? Either way, the ghost stories are whispered. 

The Haunted Rabindra Sarobar Metro Station

As the clock strikes 10:24, the station falls silent, devoid of any living soul daring to linger amidst the spectral entities that are said to roam its empty corridors. Local residents steer clear of the area after dark, wary of the chilling tales that have woven a web of fear around the haunted Rabindra Sarobar Metro Station. Though these ghostly figures are said to have never harmed anyone, their presence alone is enough to send shivers down the spines of those who dare to tread near this eerie locale.

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References:

https://www.telegraphindia.com/opinion/the-other-side-of-reason/cid/1440430

Rabindra Sarobar Metro Station: Every Passenger Horrified by Distorted Shadows & Moving Figures! 

What’s with these haunted stories from Ravindra Sarovar Metro? : r/kolkata 

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The Haunted South Park Street Cemetery in Kolkata

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The old Christian cemetery sits as a Gothic reminder from colonial times. Over the years, the South Park Street Cemetery has been reclaimed by weather and time, and rumors of it being haunted sits as a veil over the place. 

Tucked away amidst the vibrant streets of Kolkata lies the South Park Street Cemetery, a hidden gem shrouded in history, mystery, and rumors of the supernatural in the street now known for pubs and food. 

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

This old burial ground, formerly known as the ‘Great Christian Burial Ground,’ is not only one of the earliest non-church cemeteries in the world but also a place of rest for British soldiers, administrators, and noteworthy individuals like Henry Louis Vivian Derozio and Sir William Jones. It also has a lot of young people resting here as they succumbed to tropical diseases they didn’t survive. 

South Park Street Cemetery: The Christian burial ground in Kolkata, India is said to be haunted and that strange things are happening there.// Source

Historical Insights of the Cemetery

The origins of this hauntingly beautiful cemetery trace back to 1767 when it was established, and a new road leading to it, known as the Burial Ground Road, was built with over 1600 tombs today over 8 acres. 

Gothic Cemetery: The cemetery is filled with Gothic styled graves from the time India was a British Colony.// Source

The gothic cemetery and road were later renamed Park Street in honor of a private deer park founded by Sir Elijah Impey. By 1785, the burial ground had extended northward of Park Street. While a plaque at the cemetery gate claims it was opened in 1767 and closed in 1790, burials continued into the 1830s until a new cemetery was established east of the Lower Circular Road.

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

After India gained independence, funding for colonial civil cemeteries was withdrawn, leading to a decision to level the Park Street cemeteries. This move faced opposition from the Anglo-Indian community in Calcutta. In 1953, the North Park Street Cemetery was slated for demolition, and the income generated by leasing the land was intended to maintain the South Park Street Cemetery. In the late 1970s, the cemetery came under the care of the Association for the Preservation of Historical Cemeteries in India (APHCI) and the Christian Burial Board.

In 1984, an attempt to demolish the cemetery for an arts center was halted by a Calcutta High Court intervention, but significant damage had already occurred, with the grave of Charles Stuart being destroyed and later restored. The restoration project initiated in the early 2000s aimed to conserve the cemetery’s heritage and prevent further deterioration.

The Haunting of South Park Street Cemetery

This Gothic cemetery, which was laid to rest itself in the 18th century, now serves as a mysterious and intriguing destination for the living. Thousands visit each year, many of whom believe the cemetery is haunted. In fact, it has earned the title of the most haunted place in Kolkata, attracting dark tourism enthusiasts.

There are some strange graves though. Like with the pyramid shaped tombstone that is called the bleeding tomb as it is said it oozes what looks like blood during monsoons. It belongs to a whole family called Dennison who died within a couple of weeks, although the reason is not said. 

Haunted Cemetery: The Cemetery is slowly getting overgrown and the haunted legends around the South Park Cemetery are growing with it.// Source

Although said to be one of the most haunted, not many specific details are mentioned in the ghost stories from the cemetery, not even specific graves. Nonetheless there are common threads that people claim are happening. 

Many claim to have experienced dizziness and seen strange visions after visiting the cemetery. Cameras have gotten strange things in their pictures that some claim must be ghosts or some other sort of paranormal thing. Worst of all is perhaps even the healthiest people have claimed to have experienced breathing problems. 

Whether it is true that something paranormal is happening at the cemetery or visitors just get caught up in the gothic vibe of it is left unanswered.

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References:

South Park Street Cemetery – Wikipedia 

Is South Park Street Cemetery Really Haunted? A Mysterious Abandoned Graveyard In Kolkata! 

India’s Most Haunted: South Park Street Cemetery in Kolkata 

City of Forgotten Souls

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Calcutta High Court and the Ghost Seeking Justice

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The sound of anklets is heard throughout the old building of Calcutta High Court, thought to be the ghost of a woman who is still seeking justice in her afterlife. 

In Kolkata, lies the imposing edifice of Calcutta High Court in its red colored colonial architecture. While by day it’s suppose to serve as a symbol of justice and legal proceedings, by night, whispers abound of spectral apparitions and eerie phenomena that haunt its corridors. 

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

The building was built in 1872, ten years after the court itself was established. Calcutta High Court is the oldest high court in India. Among the most chilling tales is that of the ghosts of convicts, their restless spirits lingering within the court’s walls, the story about the ghost of the woman wearing anklets is looming larger than the rest.

Calcutta High Court: With its recognizable red building, the Calcutta High Court is thought to be haunted and is said to house more than one ghost. //Source: Wikimedia

The Headless Woman Haunting Calcutta High Court

Among these tormented spirits, none are more feared than the ghost of a convict who met her fate at the gallows. Legend has it that her execution was a spectacle witnessed by scores of onlookers. In death, her presence lingers, her restless spirit haunting the very courtroom where his fate was sealed.

Witnesses who venture into Calcutta High Court after dark speak of chilling encounters with the convict’s ghost. Most stories come from those that have worked at the court for years. Some claim to have heard his disembodied cries echoing through the empty corridors, while others swear they’ve seen his phantom form lurking in the shadows. 

Perhaps most notably is the sound of her steps, as you can hear the sound of her ankle bracelets as she walks down the corridors. When they see her though, they see that she is missing her head. 

There is one story told from two people that worked at the court, Manamohan and Vajahari Paitandi. It was a winter night and they were working later than the rest. Manamohan went to the toilet that was at the end of a long and dark corridor. That is when he heard the sound of the ankle bracelets. 

When Vajahari went to find his college, he found him lying on the floor. A woman was sitting beside him, trying to wake him by splashing water in his face. It was the headless ghost and she just disappeared when Vajahari came closer. He managed to wake him and together they ran out of the place.

The Prostitute Seeking Justice

Haunted Hallways: Several of the staff members claim to have seen the ghost of the headless woman haunting the halls. //Source: Wikimedia

But who was this woman who was haunting the halls without her head? If we are to believe the stories, she was a prostitute named Nistar Raut. She wanted to start fresh and remove her name from the registered sex workers. 

She had fallen in love with Shalikhram, a businessman dealing with diamonds and wanted to marry him. The judges of the court didn’t like this though, as she was a beautiful woman. They didn’t want to lose access to her and the men tried to talk her out of it. She refused though and they turned their eye on Shalikhram. 

He too refused to listen to them and one of her former clients, a very influential man, accused the couple for a robbery and he was arrested in 1881. 

What really happened after this is a bit of a mystery. The police found Nistar’s body after a few days in the garden of her lover with her head cut off. She wore nothing except for her ankle bracelets. 

After this, it is said that her ghost is still roaming the court that denied her the life that she wanted for herself. 

The Ghost Looking for Water

But the headless woman is not the only ghost said to haunt Calcutta High Court. From the eerie sound of rattling chains to inexplicable cold drafts that chill the air, countless reports of paranormal activity have fueled the court’s reputation as a hotbed of supernatural phenomena. 

Another ghost said to roam is the 19th century poet Tapis. He had protested against the British East India Company and the oppression the Indian people faced under colonial rule. He was imprisoned and denied water and food for a long time. 

He was eventually executed after a long time without anything to drink. After his death, the rumor about him haunting the court started to spread where they said that the ghost of Tapis was searching for water. 

The Haunted Room No. 11 at Calcutta High Court

The haunting is said to happen around the whole court, but is especially concentrated inside of a particular room. Room No. 11 has over the years seen many convicts receiving the death sentence. 

Both notorious criminals and Indian revolutionaries are said to have been walked through a secret tunnel below the room to court and there are many people that claim that something paranormal is happening both inside as well as outside of the room. 

Policemen on duty don’t want to be put on guard outside of Room 11, some claiming to have seen the ghosts of prisoners sitting on the benches outside and walking in the corridors. 

So, the next time you find yourself near Calcutta High Court after dusk falls and the city sleeps, tread carefully and listen closely—for you may just hear the whispers of the convicts’ ghosts, their tales of sorrow and despair echoing through the hallowed halls of justice.

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References:

Featured Image: Paul Hamilton/Wikimedia

Ghostbusters coming to Calcutta High Court to probe haunting spirits 

The Most Haunted Places To Avoid After Midnight In Kolkata 

The ghost who loved: Tinkle of anklets from the corridors of Calcutta High Court

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The Ghostly Whispers of Kolkata Dockyard by Wajid Ali Shah

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The ghost of the last Nawab Wajid Ali Shah of Awadh is said to be haunting the Kolkata Dockyard. After being betrayed and left by the British he is waiting for the chance of retribution as he is waiting for his ship that never came.

The Kolkata Dock, also known as Kidderpore Dock, is a historic maritime facility located along the banks of the Hooghly River in Kolkata, India. This bustling dockyard has played a pivotal role in the city’s maritime trade and industrial history. The dock spans a significant stretch of the riverfront, characterized by its extensive network of piers, quays, and warehouses.

The Kolkata Dock is also home to a labyrinth of narrow alleyways, bustling marketplaces, and vibrant waterfront promenades. Here, sailors, traders, and dockworkers once mingled amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life, their voices blending with the sounds of creaking ships and lapping waves.

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

Today, while much of the Kolkata Dock remains active, parts of it have fallen into disuse and decay, lending an air of nostalgia and melancholy to its surroundings. Abandoned warehouses and crumbling piers stand as reminders of a bygone era.

Kolkata Dockyard is also said to be haunted by a very particular ghost. 

The Deposed King Haunting Kolkata Dockyard

The haunted rumors surrounding the dock have a surprisingly royal host. The Nawab Wajid Ali Shah of Awadh was the 11th and last king there. The Kingdom had long been protected by the East Indian Company after the British took over India, before they turned and annexed the kingdom in 1856. 

Wajid Ali Shah: The deposed King, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah of Awadh is thought to be the one haunting the Kolkata Dockyard.

Wajid Ali Shah (واجد علی شاه) came after relinquishing his throne and Kingdom and wanted to get to London. He was hoping the British would give him refuge and live in comfort for the rest of his days. Arriving at Bichali Ghat not far from Kiddipore by steamboat, little did he know, he would not get any further.

He wanted to plead his case to Queen Victoria, as he believed in the British justice system. Instead, he was imprisoned at Fort William by them during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 as they believed he could be a rallying figure for the sepoys. 

The government had left him there on the banks of the Hooghly river with houses and he spent the rest of his life in Kolkata, building the dock. Heartbroken that he would never return to his beloved homestead in Lucknow.

Many sources claim that Wajid Ali Shah was the one building the dock and that is the reason why he is haunting it to this day. How much involvement the former king really had with the dock is uncertain, although we know he did spend a lot of money on building throughout his exile in Kolkata, although mostly lavish homes for himself in Garden Reach close to the river banks of the Hooghly River west of Kidderpore. 

In fact, Kolkata Dockyard has existed in some form of capacity since the early 16th century when the Portuguese came to Bengal. It was a rather small port until the British East India Company made it to a major center of maritime trade. The wet dock in Kidderpore was put up in 1892 after the merchants in Kolkata demanded it. 

The Ghost of the Nawab Wajid Ali Shah

Now, centuries later, whispers of the Nawab’s restless spirit haunt the Kolkata Dockyard, his spectral form said to wander the shadows in search of vengeance over the British who betrayed him. 

It is said that the Nawab’s ghostly apparition roams Kolkata Dockyard, still bitter of how the British treated him. Witnesses report seeing shadows darting among the abandoned warehouses and decaying piers. The Nawab was fond of Hindustani classical music and dock workers believe haunting notes of music can be heard in the area.

According to the stories, there are also the ghosts of soldiers and sailors who died at the Kolkata Dockyard as well, waiting with him in the afterlife. 

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References:

Port of Kolkata – Wikipedia 

Wajid Ali Shah – Wikipedia 

11 Haunted Places In Kolkata That You Should Not Visit Alone

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The Haunted Wipro Office Building of Kolkata’s Salt Lake City

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Can a modern office building like the Wipro Office Building in Salt Lake City, Kolkata be haunted? According to frightened employees it can, and many believe it is because of the haunted ground it was built on. 

On the streets of Salt Lake City, a satellite city and IT hub in Kolkata lies an office building shrouded in whispers and eerie tales—the Wipro Office Building. While it may seem like just another workplace for the tech-savvy denizens of the IT world, beneath its modern façade lurks a dark and haunted history that sends shivers down the spines of those who dare to venture within.

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

Legend has it that Salt Lake City, or Bidhannagar (বিধাননগর), as it is officially known, was constructed upon a wetland—a land steeped in ancient mystique and rumored to be an ancient burial ground. 

Before the IT Boom the city is known as now, the area Salt Lake City is built upon, used to be a jungle, and according to local lore, a place of murders and crimes took place in the dark. One speculation is that the reported haunting that is said to go on in the building comes from this.

Wipro Limited is an Indian multinational corporation that provides information technology, consultant and business process services. It is one of the leading Big Tech companies within cloud computing, computer security, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, robotics, data analytics, and other technology consulting services to customers in 167 countries with many hundreds of thousands of employees.

The Haunted Wipro Office Building

As dusk descends upon the cityscape and the hum of activity fades into the stillness of the night, strange figures are said to emerge from the shadows, haunting the corridors and cubicles of the Wipro Office Building. It is especially said that the 3rd floor of the building is the most haunted floor. 

Employees working the midnight shift speak in hushed tones of eerie encounters and inexplicable phenomena that defy rational explanation. Many recount tales of encountering spectral apparitions and unsettling presences lurking in the dimly lit hallways.

But it is not just the apparitions that instill fear in the hearts of those who frequent the Wipro Office Building. Employees working late into the night speak of an overwhelming sense of dread that washes over them as they navigate the labyrinthine corridors, afraid to venture too far from the safety of their desks. 

According to the stories, the employees working at night are sometimes even afraid to go to the washrooms or use the lifts alone, in case they experience something more paranormal or at least, unexplained. 

Details about the haunting going on in the building is sparse, and not easily verified. Much of the stories come from people claiming to know someone working there. A video that was being passed around claimed to have gotten the haunting on tape. Have a look for yourself. Is this truly a haunting and not a hoax going on, is it even inside of the Wipro Office Building?

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References:

Bidhannagar – Wikipedia 

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Kolkata’s New Market and the Ghosts of the Murdered Women

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The ghosts of two women allegedly murdered at the New Market in Kolkata is said to be haunting the area. As does the former police commissioner and the one that built the market.  

Since its inception in the late 19th century, the historic marketplace New Market in Kolkata has been full of life and activity, attracting locals and tourists alike with its eclectic array of shops, stalls, and vendors with almost 3000 different shops. 

Even after several huge fires the market has bounced back and offers everything from From traditional textiles and exquisite jewelry, local cheese only found in the market to delectable street food and aromatic spices. 

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

The local lore of this place is that you can find everything at the New Market, perhaps even a ghost or two if we are to believe the stories.

New Market: This market is celebrated for its wide range of products, catering to virtually every need and preference. From clothing and accessories to electronics, household items, spices, and fresh produce, New Market offers a plethora of shopping options. //Source: Rajarshi MITRA/Wikimedia

The History of New Market

The New Market was first known as Sir Stuart Hogg Market and comes from the English colonists. By the 1850s, the British had a strong holding over large areas in the city then called Calcutta. 

Because the colonists didn’t want to mingle with the native Indians at the local Bazaars they decided to build one for themselves. In 1874, the market opened to the English residents and held a big colonial sway well into the 1900s. And it is from this time that the ghost stories emerged.

The Ghosts of the Murdered Women

According to local lore, New Market is haunted by more than one ghost. The most prominent reports about the haunting at the market is about women that were murdered close to the market.

How many women that haunts the market is uncertain. Most people talk about two separate ghosts although sources vary. Although one can be sure that throughout the years there have most likely been murdered more than three women there.

The women are also said to be Anglo-Indian and are often connected with the string of murders in 1868 that had at least five victims.

Read Also: The Chanting Monks Haunting La Boquería Market

Their restless spirits are said to wander the corridors of the marketplace, forever trapped between the realms of the living and the dead. It is said that they appear sometimes in a narrow lane next to the clock tower by the market.

People at the market claim they have heard the voices of the women, crying out for help. When they went to help them though, there was no one there. 

New Market: The ghost of the two murdered women have been said to appear right by the clock tower. // Source: Sudipta Mallick/Wikimedia

The Ghost of Hogg

The murdered women is not the only one said to haunt the New Market though. The man that the market was once named after, Commissioner S.S Hogg is said to have appeared among the stalls and stores, refusing to leave the market he helped build.

He was both the Police Commissioner of Calcutta were he established the Detective Departed as well as a chairman for the Calcutta Municipal Corporation. 

Through his time working as a policeman, he was involved with many murders that happened throughout the city. Perhaps also with the alleged killing of the women in New Market. Perhaps the ghosts haunting the market are connected to the string of murders from 1868, targeting white women in the streets not far from the market and close to the police station. 

Especially the murder of the Anglo-Indian sex worker Rose Brown that was found on Amherst Street north of the market changed the way the police worked as the first case where they used photographic evidence. Another five women were killed that year, and it looks like they never found the killer. 

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References:

https://www.kolkataonwheels.com/story-details/202

Stuart Saunders Hogg – Wikipedia 

10 haunted places in Kolkata you MUST visit to see what a horror movie really looks like

New Market, Kolkata – Wikipedia 

Searching ghosts in haunted houses 

The Amherst Street Murder and Calcutta’s Real-Life Sherlock Holmes 

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The Haunting Horror of Kolkata’s Putulbari – The House of Dolls

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Once an opulent warehouse, Putulbari mansion in Kolkata is today better known as The House of Dolls. Rumors of the rich and powerful murdering their servants as well as a story about a daughter’s obsession with dolls makes this one of Kolkata’s most haunted places. 

Kolkata, a city renowned for its rich history and vibrant culture, hides an eerie secret within its heart. Among the centuries-old mansions and Rajbaris that grace the city, one stands out for its haunting tales and chilling past.

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

Putulbari, also known as the House of Dolls, is today a heritage building and infamous for being one of the most haunted places in Kolkata, where the decaying structure tells a story of darkness and despair. Most locals know about the history and the supposed haunting in the building adjacent to the Circular Railway track on 22 Hara Chandra Mullick Lane and are said to stay away from it. Especially at night as the rumors haunting this building are pretty grim and violent.

Historic Building: The old building Putulbari along the river bank is said to be one of the city’s most haunted ones. Allegedly it was a place were they used to traffic women who are now haunting the place. Was it all true?//Image Source

The Opulent Era of Shovabazar

Once upon a time, in the heart of Kolkata’s Shovabazar, stood Putulbari, a sprawling mansion belonging to one of the wealthy families that thrived during the British colonial era. Shovabazar, nestled along the banks of the Hooghly River, was a hub of trade and commerce like spices and silk, fueling the rapid ascent of Bengali aristocrats. 

Their immense wealth and power made these Rajbaris symbols of opulence and grandeur. Still to this day, you can sense the power of the rajbaris, although perhaps not as much as a century ago.

It is said that Putul Bari was used as some kind of warehouse by the river bank ready to ship to the world. However, many of the legends claim it was something more, perhaps even a home for the rich Bengali Babus.

The Sinister Past of Putulbari

However, beneath the surface of grandeur and prosperity lay sinister stories of exploitation, abuse, and inhumane treatment of especially women by the rich and powerful. The mansion owners, often taking advantage of the local women working in their homes and warehouses, subjected them to sexual assaults and torture. 

Source

To silence these victims, many were allegedly tragically murdered and buried within the confines of the property. Such incidents became alarmingly common, hidden behind the façade of grandeur. All of this is rumored to have taken place inside the walls of Putul Bari.

It is also said that the rich aristocrats came to see a performance by Baiji’s. One night there was a dance performance and one of the dancers was murdered in the building. After this she came back to haunt it and is still seen dancing on the terrace under the full moon nights.

The Doll Obsession

The owner of the mansion’s daughter was known for her peculiar obsession with dolls and filled the house with it. Her collection grew to become one of the largest and creepiest doll collections in the mansion. An eerie statue of dolls adorning the building’s exterior is a haunting reminder of her obsession. 

The sinister aura surrounding Putulbari took a horrifying turn when the doll-obsessed daughter met a tragic end due to a freak accident although details of it are not known. After her demise, the mansion became the focal point of inexplicable and terrifying events. 

Some say that the daughter started to haunt the building, through her dolls as well as throughout the rest of the house. And together with the rest of the girls allegedly buried there, their souls seem to linger there still.

Paranormal Encounters of the Building

People living in this ill-fated mansion shared spine-tingling stories of their encounters of the supernatural kind. They spoke of unearthly cries resonating through the night, apparitions of girls dancing on the mansion’s terrace, and a pervasive feeling of unease that lingered in the building’s every corner. Strangely, some dolls from the past still inhabit the mansion, covered in layers of dust and decay. Some believe that these dolls come to life, although the truth behind these claims remains shrouded in mystery.

There is also the case of the many women that were allegedly murdered that are said to haunt the place as well. And the voices of women screaming are heard by the locals coming from the old building. 

Kolkata’s Putulbari – the House of Dolls

Kolkata’s Putulbari is more than just an abandoned mansion; it is a repository of horrors and secrets from a bygone era. Even though the tenants in late years have put up signs that say “this place has no ghosts” to deter paranormal seekers, they still flock to this place to try to have a look for themselves after hearing the stories.

The landlord when the building was used as some sort of knitting factory claims that someone made up all the stories online, and they have been bothered by unwanted guests looking for ghosts ever since.

So how much of the horror stories behind Putulbari and the House of Dolls are true? The tragic tales of exploitation, the eerie obsession with dolls, and the unexplained encounters have turned this once opulent mansion into a place of terror. 

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References:

Putul Bari: The Ghastly Tales From The Past Dog The House Of Dolls In Kolkata – NRI Vision 

Kolkata’s Putulbari House of Dolls is more like house of terror | Times of India Travel 

Putul Bari – The Case of the Missing Ghost – Indian Vagabond

Kolkata Has A Haunted House Of Dolls That Will Give You Chills Down The Spine 

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Uncovering the Haunted History of Kolkata’s Writers’ Building

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Once a symbol of the oppressive British regime in India, the administrative Writers’ Building was the target of a bloody rebel attack said to echo hauntingly long after India’s independence. 

Kolkata’s Writers’ Building (মহাকরণ) is a beautiful colonial-era structure that has been the center of power and politics in West Bengal for over 200 years. The red stoned Writers’ Building is a 150 meter long building right by the Lal Dighi and Tank Square. 

The building often shortened to just Writers was for the East India Company to house the junior level servants who were then called ‘Writers’ and because of this the building got its name.

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

But beyond its grand facade lies a dark and eerie history, one that has left many visitors spooked and intrigued. You see, the Writer’s Building is said to be haunted by the spirits of British colonial officers and Indian freedom fighters who perished within its walls. 

The History of the Writers’ Building

The Writer’s Building, located in the heart of Kolkata, was originally built as the office of the East India Company in the late 18th century. It was later occupied by the British colonial government, and during the Indian independence movement, it became a symbol of British power and oppression for the local Indians. 

The building has seen many significant events, including the assassination of Sir William Hay Macnaghten, the British envoy to Afghanistan, in 1841. It was also the site of several historic protests and rallies during the Indian freedom struggle, including the Quit India Movement.

Therefore the Writers Building has a reputation of being haunted by both unhappy scribes that worked there as well as people that died during the fight for independence.

Writer’s Building: An iconic building in Kolkata and also thought to be one of the more haunted places in the city. //Source: Jan Bockaert/Wiki

The Shooting in Writers’ Building

On December 8, 1930, Badal Gupta, together with Dinesh Gupta and Benoy Basu was on a mission from the underground revolutionary group Bengal Volunteers against the British rule of India.

Disguised in European attire, infiltrated the Writers’ Building with loaded revolvers and fatally shot Simpson, a police inspector known for treating the Indian and political prisoners horrible. 

In response, the police within the building engaged in a brief exchange of gunfire with the three young revolutionaries. The police eventually subdued them, but the trio had no intention of being apprehended. Badal ingested Potassium cyanide, while Benoy and Dinesh used their own revolvers to take their lives. 

Badal succumbed on the spot, at just 18 years old during this tragic incident. Benoy survived before dying five days later in the hospital. Dinesh lived only to be hanged the next year.

The trio have later been known as freedom fighters and the Dalhousie Square is named after them with a statue of them outside of the Writers Building. 

Haunted Stories Associated with the Building

Bengalis have at least 15 words for ghosts based on the spirit’s caste, marital status, behavior and the fate suffered in the pre-paranormal past. Most of the ghost stories are told from security that are patrolling the building when it’s empty. They say they hear rattling windows when there is no wind, or the sound of typing from machines from locked and empty rooms. 

These disturbances have become so disconcerting that none of the security staff will venture there alone at night.

Ever since its attack, it is also believed that the brutal police man, Simpson and possibly the trio that shot him are haunting the building. 

The Wounded Ghost

During the 1970s a night guard named Munshiram told about his ghostly experiences in a Calcutta newspaper. He said that while patrolling the first-floor corridor of the first block, he encountered a ghostly white man, dressed in a suit and appearing gravely injured, bending over in agony. 

This spectral figure emerged from the Central Despatch Office and was followed by several shadowy entities. Simultaneously, Munshiram heard the haunting sound of heavy boots ascending the staircase. Frightened, he called out to the sentry on block one before fainting.

The Ghost Party

In Munshiram’s recollection, the entire first floor was inhabited by several resident spirits, including another harrowing experience in block three. While on duty in the block’s secured area, he noticed a neon light illuminating a minister’s chamber and distinctly heard music. 

Believing an emergency meeting was underway, he entered the room and witnessed men in old fashioned attire engaged in what appeared to be a drunken party. Munshiram’s screams summoned police personnel, but by the time they arrived, the room had reverted to darkness and emptiness.

The Ghost of the Housekeeper

It is also said that a Zamiruddin, that is the head of housekeeping at Writer once saw an armed security guard outside of the toilet in block five. Allegedly where a worker had died of a heart attack. 

Another tale from the 70s is from the security guard called Mehboob that was working on the first floor of block four that heard the sound of something falling and when rushing out in the corridor, he found a body dressed in an expensive suit laying there. However, when he called over other people working that night, there was nothing to see except an empty room. 

Also when a bust of the three freedom fighters were going to be installed on the first floor in 1967, a man called Roy saw an European man come out from the Chief Minister’s office. Thinking it was someone trying to ruin the event held in their honor, he followed the man who just vanished into thin air. 

The Haunted Writers’ Building

The Writer’s Building is a beautiful and historic structure that has been at the center of power and politics in West Bengal for over 200 years. But beyond its grand facade lies a dark and eerie history, one that has left many visitors spooked and intrigued.

Over the years, the Writer’s Building has undergone many renovations and upgrades, but it has managed to retain its colonial charm and grandeur. Today, it houses the offices of the West Bengal government, and its corridors and rooms are filled with the hustle and bustle of bureaucrats and politicians. But despite its modern-day importance, the building’s haunted history continues to fascinate and terrify visitors.

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References:

Colonial conundrums and spirited sojourns – The Statesman 

Kolkata is fertile ground for Indian ghost stories – Los Angeles Times 

Writer’s Building, Kolkata: Origin and interesting facts 

Badal Gupta – Wikipedia 

Hauntings and history blend at Writers’ Building 

Writers’ Building – Wikipedia 

Hauntings and history blend at Writers’ Building 

Writer’s Building, Kolkata: Origin and interesting facts