Bhangarh Fort in the Alwar district of Rajasthan is widely considered the most haunted location in India. The fort, built in the 17th century by Raja Madho Singh, was purportedly cursed by a tantrik (sorcerer) named Singhia. According to legend, Singhia fell in love with the princess Ratnavati and attempted to enchant her with a love potion. When the princess discovered his scheme, she had the potion thrown at a boulder, which rolled down the hill and crushed the sorcerer. With his dying breath, Singhia cursed the fort and everyone within it, condemning the settlement to destruction and its inhabitants to never find peace. The fort was abandoned and has been in ruins since the early 18th century. The Archaeological Survey of India has placed a notice at the entrance prohibiting entry after sunset and before sunrise — officially for safety reasons, but widely interpreted as acknowledgment of the supernatural danger. Locals describe hearing screams, music, and the crash of collapsing buildings from within the fort at night. Those who have entered after dark report overwhelming terror, the sensation of being watched by hundreds of unseen eyes, and difficulty finding their way out. Bhangarh's desolate setting — ringed by the Aravalli Hills in the arid Rajasthani landscape — amplifies its cursed atmosphere.
