Kuldhara village situated near Jaisalmer in Rajasthan is still known for its mystery and desolation. There used to be a lot of activity here, but now this place is deserted. It is counted among the so-called 'ghost villages' of Rajasthan. The mysterious story here is such that many people are afraid to visit this place even in broad daylight. It is said that due to the insistence and threat of a powerful minister, the people of the village left their homes overnight.
The most surprising thing about Kuldhara is the old houses and temples present here. These houses built in the middle of the desert look very beautiful even today. Looking at many places, it seems as if people have been living here till some time ago. Streets are present, houses are standing and temples are also visible, but no human being is visible amidst all this.
Where is Kuldhara and what does it look like?
Kuldhara is located about 17 to 20 kilometers south-west of Jaisalmer city. This village, built amidst the Thar desert spread all around, is not completely inhabited today. Here the remains of old stone houses, narrow streets, temples and broken structures can be seen. People of Paliwal Brahmin community once lived here. Despite living in a harsh desert area, they had developed better methods of farming and water conservation. For this reason this area was considered prosperous for a long time.
When was Kuldhara settled?
According to information related to Rajasthan tourism, Kuldhara was established around 1291. This was not a single village, but was part of a group of about 84 Paliwal villages situated in Jaisalmer area. In historical accounts, the population of Kuldhara is said to be quite large. At one time about 400 to 600 houses and about 1,500 to 1,600 people lived here. But by the beginning of the 19th century the population here started decreasing. By about 1815, about 800 people were said to be living here.
Why did people leave the village?
The most famous story regarding the vacancy of Kuldhara is related to Salim Singh, the minister of Jaisalmer state. It is said that he had his eyes set on the daughter of the village head and wanted to marry her. The villagers refused to accept this demand. According to folklore, after this Salim Singh threatened the villagers of dire consequences. After this, the people of Kuldhara and surrounding Paliwal villages decided to leave together. According to the story, people left their homes overnight. While leaving, he reportedly cursed that no one would be able to inhabit this land again.
Did people really disappear overnight?
This question increases the mystery of Kuldhara the most. However, there are not enough documents available in history to convincingly prove the story of the entire village being emptied overnight. Some historians believe that the village's abandonment may have been the result of long-term changes rather than a sudden event. Reasons like worsening economic situation, water problem, increase in taxes and change in trade routes may have forced people to move to other areas.
Why is Kuldhara called a haunted village?
Houses lying vacant for years, deserted roads and the story of curse associated with the village gave Kuldhara the identity of a 'ghost village'. Many people claim that strange sounds are heard here at night and people have unusual experiences. However, there is no solid scientific evidence for these claims. Many people living nearby have also denied any such scary incident. He says that the stories that say Kuldhara is haunted are mainly based on folklore and beliefs of the people.
What happens in Kuldhara now?
Today Kuldhara is seen as a protected heritage site. Tourists come here to see old houses, temples and streets. Apart from people interested in history, photographers and filmmakers are also attracted to this place. The specialty of Kuldhara is that here both history and mystery are visible together. This village, which has been deserted for almost two centuries, still forces people to think under what circumstances its people left everything behind.