This particular palace, built under the reign of Raja Jai Singh doesn’t just reside among the old hills of Aravalli, (48 kilometers from Udaipur), it also finds itself between the whirlwind of stories regarding the melancholic queen, who held onto her anger at the betrayal of her king. In the olden days, the purpose of its construction was to serve as a summer palace for the queens to relax in, with the panorama of the second largest freshwater lake in Asia, The Jaisamand Lake, also referred to as, Dhebar Lake. The palace was initially known as the Hawa Mahal, but later, because of the residence of the Queen Umade, it popularly came to be known as, ‘Roothi Rani Ka Mahal’ and if, taking the note of spelling variation, ‘Ruthi Rani Ka Mahal’.
Source: Saurabh Jain
Constructed in the 17th century, it is now mostly in ruins. But back in the day, it must have gloriously stood atop staring down at the world with all of its magnificence. It is a rather small palace in comparison to other palaces of India but its architecture and designs stand up to the standard of royalty. Even cruising around in the Jaisamand Lake, if you look in the direction of this palace, you could see the explicitly of the Chatris and Jharokhas sitting like jewels on the palace.
Source: rajasthantourismbuzz
The palace, claimed by many people, is roamed around by ghosts. It is one of those palaces in India that haunts. Many people trek on the mountain to put the rumor to test. But, as it’s famously said, ‘Dead men tell no Tales’. Queen Umade, arrived at this palace after her husband broke her heart, and she vowed never to give him the satisfaction of forgiveness. She lived the rest of her life in this palace with her unmendable heart in solitary.
Source: wikimediacommons
Maybe the Queen’s grief never left the palace, instead, it seeped into the walls, the pillars, every fabric of its edifice, and naturally became a haunting. Whenever you visit Jaisamand, do trek to this palace at your own risk. Grief is quick to scare.
It is widely believed that violent deaths leave everlasting imprints on the places they occurred. Violence is a crime that never leaves its spectators in peace, imagine what it does upon whom it was inflicted. Places that have the most scenic beauty in the day, manage to look scariest at night. Or maybe it’s how people perceive beauty. It’s really the difference in judgment that makes someone haunted or just a soul desperate for help. Judge for yourselves as you read about the “haunted” places in Udaipur.
Udaipur is at peak of the list that holds the names of the world’s most beautiful cities. It’s not just beautiful, it’s ridden with rumors about horrors of the dark. When the black ink splashes across the sky and the moon has circled to its throne, the night lets out a fierce breath, as a representation of what frightens mere mortals.
Sajjangarh Fort (The monsoon palace)
Forts have a way of becoming absorptive as they live for centuries. They start to drink all that happens inside their walls, as is called its history. The underground level of the fort is said to be one of the haunted places of Udaipur. Now, it’s kept locked after complaints arising from an unknown presence that people felt while exploring the stories of this palace. How ironic, as this palace was constructed for the sole purpose of rejoicing in nature.
Chittorgarh Fort
This particular fort has screams of women flowing through its walls. The heat still arises from that depression in the floor where 700 women jumped in the protection of their honor. Folks believe that Devi Padmini still roams within these halls. It truly has the most terrifying story of women fighting for their honor. Be careful as you go in, you might get the realization of the force of nature.
Gulab Bagh
The thing that is in abundance here is breathable air. You might need it more, as you walk in these gardens at night thinking about its history of painful exorcisms. It’s said that some of the worshipping places nearby Gulab Bagh performed exorcisms on possessed people. As the entity is forced out of a human, it looked for another living flesh to take over. Wander here at night, if the mind has been too quiet a while.
Chandani Village
23 km away from Udaipur, Chandani Village echoes with the pains of a woman who roams around crying when the earth has circled away from the warmth of the sun. The villagers have often warned people to stay away as this woman is too difficult to understand. This village has a river flowing through it and the scenery is exceedingly magical. Visit, if you miss the beauty of the wilderness.
Source: bcmtouring
Bedla Mata Temple
According to the locals and local tales, it’s a belief that when you enter the miraculous cave where the Goddess is said to draw away evil spirits, you will be asked not to look back. If you do, all the spirits left there might cling to you. Follow the rules if you must. The temptation will prove to be unwise. Visit if you are not too tempted.
Source: worldorg
Natni ka Chabutra
There was a woman who was challenged by Maharana Jawan Singh. She was told that if she walked on the rope tied from one end of the lake to another, the King would grant her half of his kingdom. She was gifted at walking on ropes. As she was about to be victorious, the King ordered to cut the rope from his end. She fell and succumbed to death in the lake, but not before placing a curse on the royalty. It’s often said that, when a human dies with revenge in their heart, they never leave. It’s believed that the rope-walking woman still lingers in the lake that drowned her.
NH 79 Ajmer
The legend is, this highway from Udaipur has witnessed such cruelty, that it’s made home to a spirit of a woman crying for help while carrying her dead child. According to the lore, the woman was running from the villagers who had decided to throw her child into the bounds of marriage. She was against it and ran towards the open road. Both she and her child died after meeting with an accident that night.
Source: shutterstock
A few roads that locals believe are haunted – Rani Road and the road adjacent to the Badi Lake – are both said to be lodgings to strange presences. From midnight until the arrival of dawn, vehicles stop mysteriously for a minute or two before starting up again.
Lakes are indeed deeper than they look. Udaipur is rich in its history and even richer in its hauntings. The pretty town that believes that its ghosts are wailing. Do visit Udaipur if you haven’t yet.
