Ghost village of Jaisalmer

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Image credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gofootloose/8339610120

Kuldhara, a deserted village near Jaisalmer was abandoned within a night some 200 years ago. Here’s what the story says about the reason for such sudden abandonment:  https://www.thebetterindia.com/48562/abandoned-cursed-200-year-old-village-kuldhara-rajasthan/

As one drives out to the city of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan to enjoy the sunset at Sam dunes, Thar dessert, one may find tucked at the sideways, some 18 kilometers away from the city, a desserted village, Kuldhara, the Ghost Village of Jaisalmer.  

The eriee air, whirrling dessert sand and the ancient ruins are testiment to the bizarre incident of 1825, when all the residents of Kuldhara, along with those of 83 nearby villages abandoned their houses within a night. The settlement was once said to be inhabitated by prosperous Paliwal Brahmins. According to legends, the Diwan of Jaisalmer, Salim Singh, wanted to marry the daughter of the village’s chieftain and threatened to levy heavy taxes on the villagers if they did not comply with his orders. The villagers chose not to surrender to the Diwan’s demands and instead left the place after cursing it.

Ajay, a local taxi driver says, “It is believed that while leaving the village, the Paliwals cut a bit of their finger tips and cursed their houses with their blood - that no one would ever be able to settle in the village. The curse spooks people out and though many have attempted to build houses besides the ruins, they eventually leave the place.”

However, that does not deter many Bollywood movies to be shot at the backdrop of these mysterious ruins. Movies like Reshma Aur Shera, Kachche Dhaage, Rudaali and the recent Agent Vinod had this ‘Ghost village’ as backdrop.

As one passes by the deserted place, the errie silance and the sad nothingness of its past, makes one wonder about the sacrifice done by the entire village to safegaurd the honour of a woman. Maybe, it’s time we all should learn something from history yet again.



Comments

  1. Weekends in MaineApril 9, 2020 at 4:54 AM

    Ghost towns really do have a strange eeriness about them. Interesting story. Weekends In Maine

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ashaApril 9, 2020 at 8:34 PM

      Very true... anything unknown and supernatural has its own pull I guess...

      Delete

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