This haunted village near Jaisalmer is your go-to place

Kuldhara, 27km from Jaisalmer is a ruined and haunted village which now comprises of a palace, small houses and a ruined temple

For people who are seeking adventure after COVID, this is your go-to place. Kuldhara, near Jaisalmer, is a village with a historic and a horror-filled story The village is an hour drive from main Jaisalmer. 

In the previous years, the village has had visitors in thousands as its tale is been spreading around the county. With its proximity to Jaisalmer and surrounded by the yellow sands of the Thar desert, Kuldhara is becoming a major tourist hub in the district. 

My visit to Kuldhara

I visited Kuldhara in 2018. From Jaisalmer, I drove to Kuldhara and reached the place in the afternoon. With the afternoon heat, I could not explore much of the village but visited the palace, the small houses and a ruined street. 

I had a few conversations with the locals who told me about the village's in-depth history and mystery. The sand and the yellow walls of the village make it look like a ruined-gold village. 

What is the story of Kuldhara?

From the mid-18th Century, the village was inhabited by the Paliwal Brahmins. The population of the village in the 19th century ranged between 1500 to 2000. The story of Kuldhara village has various geographical as well as cultural reasons.

1. In the mid-19th Century, Kuldhara and a few nearby villages were struck by an earthquake. The earthquake had its early signs and due to this, the villagers abandoned it. A Current Science's study found that the ruins of the village had signs of earthquake-related destruction. 

2. Minister Salim Singh of Jaisalmer was attracted to a girl from the village. To get over this, he sent his guard to get that girl and to this, the villagers told the guards to come tomorrow. In the dark of the night, all the villagers escaped from the village, never to be found. 

3. In the early 19th Century, the village had faced acute water shortage and almost all the wells were dried up. To this, the minister Salim Singh had imposed higher water taxes on the villagers. With water scarcity and high tax demand from Jaisalmer, the villagers fled from Kuldhara. 

Why visit Kuldhara?

The locals say that the village is haunted by the spirits of the villagers. They frequently have heard strange noises and lights, especially in the night. 

People who wish to kick their adrenaline rush must visit this small village near Jaisalmer. Other than sojourning in the ruins of the village, one can get to know about the real-life experiences of the locals. 

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