Top 5 Mysterious Places in India

India is the land of mysteries and fantastic stories. In every city of every state in India, when you ask the locals, they will have some mysterious happenings to recount about their area. That is just how India is. Maybe it’s the land of superstitious beliefs, but maybe there is some fact behind the rumours too. Whatever it is, I’m going to list down the top 8 mysterious places in the country that have baffled people for decades.

1. Kailash Temple in Ellora, Maharashtra

Kailash Temple is one of it’s kind in the world. Situated in the Ellora caves of Maharashtra, don’t mistake this temple to be in a cave or being a part of a cave. In fact, it’s construction is what sets it apart from all other temples and shrouds it in mystery.

Ellora caves are in the Sahyadri Hills, and these hills are believed to be more than 65 million years old. The massive complex consists of many temples dedicated not only to Hindu gods but also to Mahavir (Jain religion) and Buddha. Thus, you find a conglomeration of beliefs and faith here. The caves are a must-visit for anyone who comes to India.

The Kailash Temple is different from the other temples of not only the Ellora but also from the other temples of India itself. This temple was carved out of a rock. And not just a small rock but on a huge 400,000-tonne rock. Considering the imperial size and width of the temple, and the fact that it was completed in 20 years, is still something that baffles scientists and architects all over the world. To achieve such a feat using just chisels and hammers in such a short period, and that too in 750 AD is indeed mysterious.

You can find giant statues of elephants and lions, intricate carvings on the walls depicting Lord Shiv and some sacred Hindu texts like the Mahabharata and the Ramayana and massive pillars that make you look tiny in front of them. People say that the temple has a very active and influential energy within it. Some say it was constructed with the help of extraterrestrial power; some say it’s an evidence of extraordinary craftsmanship. Well, you will have to decide that for yourself.

2. Roopkund Lake, Uttaranchal

This lake is as creepy and mysterious as it can get. It is located in the Himalayas at 5000 m above sea level.

Because of the cold climate of the Himalayas, the lake remains frozen all the time. This does look beautiful surrounded by snow-capped mountains. But the one month when the temperature rises and the lake melts, you are in for a shock. What you see in the lake is not crystal clear water but skeletons. And not just one skeleton, but approximately 200 or more than that. Now imagine this sight in the midst of nowhere. It sure is creepy.

Archaeologists still cannot figure out as to what happened in this area, who these people were and what they were doing at such high altitudes. These remains were dated back to 800 AD. Because of the extreme temperature, many of their body parts were not completely degraded, and many artefacts were also found here. Some say they belong to a king, queen and their group who died in a sudden hailstorm while travelling through this area. Some say it is much older than that. The skeletons remain a mystery.

3. Abandoned Village of Kuldhara, Rajasthan

Kuldhara is a small village in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. It has very neatly laid houses and a small temple. The only problem being that no one has lived in this village for the last 200 years.

The story goes on that this village was occupied by Brahmin families two centuries back. But one night, for an unknown reason, all of the inhabitants of this small village abandoned it and fled. All their belongings were within the houses. Legend says that before leaving, they cursed the village. As a result, no one has been able to live there till now. The government has declared it as a Heritage site.

Visitors are allowed in the morning but the villagers who live nearby, close the gate at sunset because they believe that the place is haunted. Is it haunted or not? You will have to check it out yourself.

4. Shetpal, Maharashtra

Have you ever had this crazy fantasy of living with deadly snakes? Well if you did, then I have just the right place for you.

Every house in this small village has a small niche built into their roofs into which the snakes can get in and reside. This has been a custom of theirs for decades. Surprisingly, there has not been a case of even one snake bite in this place. Even the children of this village play with snakes as if they were pet dogs.

The snakes that live here don’t fear these humans. No one kills them here. Well, this village sets up an example of peaceful coexistence with animals, even if that means living with snakes. If you are up for a daring adventure, visit the Shetpal village.

5. Bhangarh Fort, Rajasthan

This fort has claimed the title of being the most haunted fort in Asia. The massive fort as we see it today was built by a King about 500 years ago. During that time, this fort was a village unto itself. There were even small markets or bazaars within the fort. The fort is enormous, and that only makes it more spooky.

The story goes on that the princess who lived in this fort was exquisitely beautiful. A Tantrik (a person who performs black magic) fell in love with her. When she refused, he cursed the Bhangarh Fort and the lives of the people within it were never the same after that.

Many paranormal investigators from all over the world have come here. The villagers say that they can hear, screams, whispering, sounds of anklets, sounds of the king giving orders, etc. Some investigators feel a presence while some don’t. Whatever the reason, this place surely has a dark and deep mystery to it.