Haunted Trail in Jaisalmer

Key Highlights

• Kuldhara
  Kuldhara is an abandoned village in the Jaisalmer District that is considered to be haunted and is sealed off by the Government. The legend says that it was once the largest village of the Paliwal Brahmins. But, the reason why this once populous village lies in ruins today is because Paliwal Brahmins from over 84 villages just left the place overnight.This happened because of Salim Singh, a diwan (noble) of the king; who was quite popular for being a womanizer. He had laid his eyes on a young Paliwal girl and asked her parents to get her married to him the next day or else pay 3 times the tax. Stressed by Salim Singh’s demand the villagers had a Panchayat and decided to leave their homes to rid themselves of Salim Singh. But, as they knew Salim Singh would send his troops after them, the girl’s father killed the girl and all the villagers from Kuldhara and 84 other villages left for the Ganga plains overnight.

  It is said, that the ghost of the girl still haunts the village and some people have witnessed paranormal activity in the village. Moreover, when they left, they cursed the village and said that it would never be inhabited again and that is how it lies even today.

• Cremation Ground near Kuldhara
  There is a 400-500 year old cemetery near Kuldhara, which is considered to be one of the most haunted places in Jaisalmer, where not even the locals dare to visit. Some people who came here at night have even witnessed handprints of little children on their cars and on their windshields, while some have heard voices of payals and ghungroos at night.It is believed that a lot of women and their children were burned alive for ‘sati’ and it is their ghosts that still wander here.
• Jasairi Oasis
  This natural oasis lies between Kuldhara & Khaba and serves as the source of water for various animals, birds and local villagers in the day. But it is said that evil spirits of those who died while digging the oasis still dwells around the oasis at night.This spooky oasis has a cremation ground on one of its banks and the locals never visit this oasis after dusk because a lot of villagers have heard voices and seen people walking around the lake at night, just to see them disappear into the stillness of the desert.
• Haunted Well in Dedha Village
  The well in Dedha which once used to be a source of water for the villagers now lays abandoned and people fear going near it. The legend tells us that the king ordered his men to kill the villagers who had a rift with him and his troops threw their bodies into the well which was then cursed.The legend also reveals that a lot of people saw the ghosts near the well and have hence built a Shiva temple nearby. Even today, the locals shy away from visiting the area near the well.
• Khaba
  The Khaba Fort was once the fort of the Maharaja of Jaisalmer, but he later shifted his regime towards the Trikuta Hill for strategic defense. As Jaisalmer lied on the wealthy silk route, the Khaba Fort used to act as a Sarai Fort for the traders passing through Jaisalmer. Here they used to pay taxes and then continued their journey.But, as it lied on the wealthy silk route, it was often raided by looters and dacoits, who robbed the innocent traders and sometimes, even killed them mercilessly. It is said that people visiting the fort still sometimes feel the negative energy of the spirits.

  Moreover, the village was also cursed by the Paliwal community after they left to save their honour from Salim Singh and hence it lies in ruins even today and only those with brave hearts dare to wander here in the dark.

• Sati Site at Nabh Dungar
  One of the most haunted places is the cremation and burial ground near Nabh Dungar. It is believed, that more than 400 women were cremated alive as ‘sati’ here. Their ashes were then buried near the cremation ground.Many have reported strange sightings and have heard voices in the dark and hence no local dares to wander around this area in the dark.