Kuldhara – The Ghost Village in Rajasthan
The charisma of the ghost villages is very different from that of the ruined fortresses. The ghost villages give us a chance to look closely into the lives of the people who once resided there. Rajasthan has no scarcity of such villages. Two of the most famous ghost villages is Bhangarh and Kuldhara, probably because of the folklore associated with them. Almost 18 kilometers from the beautiful city of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, Kuldhara Village is most conspicuous for being deserted by all the villagers in just a single night.
Kuldhara is a lonesome place with a deserted look that brings grieve to one’s mind when one thinks about the doomed fate of hundreds of villagers who were compelled to leave their ancestral land. It is not only the stories that make Kuldhara spooky but also the place itself. Series upon series of mud houses with ruined walls and no roofs, standing tall like the skeletons of an unfortunate past. From the date it has been deserted, the village remains barren, lying same like the villagers had left it centuries ago! It is believed that people who try to stay in the area during the night-time, experience strange paranormal activities.
Constructed By | Paliwal Brahmins |
Location | 18 km from Jaisalmer, Rajasthan |
Maintained By | Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) |
Public Visit | Yes |
Made Of | Comprises of 85 villages made of mud houses |
Nearest City | Jaisalmer |
Best Time to Visit | October to March |
What’s strange/spooky about Kuldhara Village
The story of this village dates back to the 1800s, when it was a prosperous village of the Paliwal Brahmins. According to the popular folklore, the villagers were supposed to pay the taxes levied on them to the minister of the state, Salim Singh. While visiting Kuldhara, Salim Singh’s eyes fell upon the chief’s beautiful daughter and he expressed his desire to marry her. He threatened the Kuldhara villagers that if they refused to give him the girl, he would levy exaggerated taxes on them.
Instead of marrying his daughter to the minister, the chief of the village along with those of 84 adjoining villages decided to leave behind Kuldhara and migrate to some other place. No one saw the villagers leave nor did anyone know where they all went. But how could so many villagers vanish in a single night? This still remains a mystery!
Another probable reason can be the huge amount of taxes levied on the villagers by Salim Singh. The taxes became heavy-handed to the extent that the villagers decided to migrate to some other place. But who doesn’t love a tingle of mysery and romance? This is what makes the former story more popular!
Kuldhara Village is almost 18 kilometers away from Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. So once you reach Jaisalmer you can easily take a taxi or take your own car. For reaching Jaisalmer from Delhi, Mumbai or Bangalore, you can pick any of the following mode of transportation.
By Air
The Jaisalmer airport is located at a distance of 5 kilometers from the city and is well connected by air from Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. This airport is managed by the Indian Air Force and is only functional from September to March. The best alternative is Jodhpur airport which is at a distance of almost 285 kilometers. The nearest International Airport is in Delhi.
By Train
Almost 2 kilometers away from the city is Jaisalmer’s railway station. It is well connected with Delhi and other major Indian cities including Mumbai and Bangalore.
By Road
Buses by Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation run to and fro from Jaisalmer on daily basis. The main bus stands in Jaisalmer are Roadways and Golden Bus Terminals. Travellers can easy avail taxi services from here on.