Bestiary · Cursed Fortress / Forbidden Ground
Bhangarh Fort
A ruined Rajasthani fortress where the Archaeological Survey of India officially prohibits entry between sunset and sunrise. Two curse legends compete. The rational explanation is famine. The ban is real.
Night Terror
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- Adze
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Bhangarh Fort stands in the Alwar district of Rajasthan, on the edge of the Sariska Tiger Reserve. It was built in 1573 by Bhagwant Das for his son Madho Singh I. The complex includes temples, palaces, havelis, and market streets. It is entirely abandoned.
The Curses
Two legends compete. In the first, a holy man named Baba Balnath allowed construction on the condition that no building’s shadow touch his meditation retreat on the hillside above. When a palace was built tall enough to cast a shadow over his dwelling, he cursed the entire settlement.
In the second, a sorcerer named Singhiya fell in love with Princess Ratnavati. He enchanted a pot of cosmetics intended for her. She discovered the enchantment, threw the pot against a boulder, and the boulder rolled downhill and crushed him. As he died, he cursed Bhangarh.
The Reality
The Great Famine of 1783 depopulated the region. Bhangarh was abandoned along with many other settlements. Political decline under the Mughal successor states contributed. The curse legends likely attached themselves to an already-empty ruin.
The Ban
The Archaeological Survey of India maintains signs at the entrance gates stating that entry is prohibited between sunset and sunrise. No official explanation has been given for the restriction. The most prosaic reason is the danger of navigating ruined structures in darkness. The effect on the fort’s reputation has been considerable.
Visiting
Bhangarh Fort is open daily from sunrise to sunset. Entry is free. The site is about 85 kilometres from Jaipur and 260 kilometres from Delhi. No facilities exist at the site. The nearest town with accommodation is Dausa.