Bhangarh Fort, located amidst the Aravalli hills in Alwar district of Rajasthan, is counted among the most famous historical and mysterious places of the country. Spread among deserted palaces, old temples, market streets and ruins, this fort attracts tourists due to both history and folklore.
History related to the rulers of Amer
The construction of Bhangarh is linked to Raja Madho Singh, the ruler of Amer. It is believed that this area developed into a prosperous city in the 17th century. Evidence of markets, mansions and temples around the fort is still visible. Temples like Govind Devji, Someshwar, Hanuman and Keshav Rai in the Bhangarh complex reflect its religious and architectural heritage.
Mysterious story of Bhangarh
The most famous folktale associated with Bhangarh is the story of a Tantrik and Princess Ratnavati. According to the local legend, the Tantrik was in love with the princess. He allegedly attempted to cast a spell on the princess, but the princess found out.
According to the story, after the death of the Tantrik, he cursed Bhangarh to be destroyed. After this, the city was ruined due to war and destruction. Sadhu Balunath is mentioned in another folk tale. It is said that he had put a condition for settlement in this area that the shadow of the fort should not go beyond his ashram or residence. Later, as the construction progressed, he allegedly cursed the destruction of the city. There is no historical evidence for these stories, but these folktales have given Bhangarh a mysterious identity.
Why no entry after sunset?
The most talked about thing about Bhangarh is that there is a ban on entry of tourists here after sunset. Being a monument protected by the Archaeological Survey of India, entry into the complex is not allowed after the stipulated time. Due to this rule, many stories of ghosts and mysterious incidents became popular around Bhangarh. However, there is no scientific evidence available of supernatural activities in Bhangarh.
Specialty of Bhangarh
The structures of the old market are visible as soon as you enter the fort. As we proceed further, remains of temples and palaces are found. The ruins situated amidst the hills and natural environment give this place a different identity from other forts of Rajasthan.
Unique combination of history and mystery
Calling Bhangarh merely a “ghost fort” diminishes its historical importance. It is an important place related to the medieval urban settlement, temple architecture and Rajput history of Rajasthan. That is why Bhangarh today remains a center of attraction for history lovers, tourists and people interested in mysterious places. The biggest specialty of Bhangarh is the history hidden in the ruins and the mysterious folklore born around those histories.
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