It is little wonder that Delhi has a spooky side to it, considering that it is home to old palaces, monuments, tombstones, memorials along with stories of kings, queens, emperors and princes. So, it is only natural that the city has an association with supernatural activities as well. In fact, the famous author William Dalrymple wrote on this facet of Delhi and lo! He named Delhi as the City of Djinns. There is one side of Delhi that is vibrant and bustling, but there are also places that are abandoned, desolate and give you the creeps by the mere mention of their names. But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any visitors to these places. In fact, many brave hearts do visit these places but not many would like to go there at night.
Here is a list of 10 places in Delhi that are known as the scariest places in the city. Visit if you must but a word of caution, these visits are not for the faint hearted!
1. Sanjay Van
Located near the Qutabi Institutional Area in South West Delhi, Sanjay Van is a vast forest area spread over 784 acres. Though the forests are also known as the lungs of the city with their green trees and flora, they’re is also regarded as pretty spooky places to be in. There are many stories about paranormal activities in the region. The mausoleums of Sufi saints located in the forest only add to the mystery. Nobody dares roam around here after sunset. Those who unwittingly got caught in the wilderness have claimed to have heard strange voices calling out to them. There are also cremation grounds in the area that lend an aura of fear to the region. There are stories about a woman dressed in white seen around. With such fearsome stories, Sanjay Van remains aloof and uninhabited and is thus one of the most haunted places in New Delhi.
2. Agrasen ki Baoli
It is actually an ancient step well with a unique design. There are 103 steps that end in a water reservoir. These steps are made from red stone which looks beautiful. It was built around the 14th century by Maharaja Agrasen, and is one of the well-known places of New Delhi, a prime tourist attraction. At the same time, it also finds itself in the list of the most haunted places in New Delhi. It is said that once you walk on these steps, you sense some strange activities. It is also known as ‘Baoli of the unseen’ which adds to the scary stories. There were even many visitors who claimed that they felt that somebody was following them, when they were walking around the well and if they turned back, they would see no one. If they walked faster, the sound of the trampling steps too will be louder. You should visit Agrasen ki Baoli for sure, as you can be a witness to one of the most unique and astonishing architecture of the past and at the same time, experience some shudder.
3. Delhi Cantonment Area
Though the Delhi Cantonment area, also known as Delhi Cantt looks beautiful and alluring during the day, it looks like a ghostly place at night. Many have reported experiencing strange incidents at the place. As the stories narrated by most of them happen to be the same, the Delhi Cantonment Area is believed to have been haunted. People who drove by the area claimed that they came across a woman clad in a white saree asking for a ride and then suddenly disappearing, only to be racing past the speeding vehicle. It is said that a woman was killed in the area, and it is her ghost that wanders at the place even now.
4. Malcha Mahal
It is a palace which was used as a community house in 1600 AD for the villagers. Later on, it became an abandoned place which took on a haunted air, as no one lived there. In 1985, the palace was given to Begum Awadh and her two children, a son and a daughter. The Begum committed suicide in 1993 by swallowing crushed diamonds. It is said that her children, who are now believed to be in their 50s or 60s, continue to live there and, it was for their safety that the government gave permission to shoot anyone who trespassed the property. In fact, there is a board outside the Malcha Mahal that declares the same. The idea of two lonely people living amidst such ruins itself is spooky. They do not come outside and are rarely seen by the locals, which add to the mystery. Hound dogs patrol the area for their safety. Because of all these reasons, no one dares to go near the Malcha Mahal. Also, those who have wandered about in the area have claimed to have experienced some sort of invisible energy which made them uncomfortable. If you wish to experience what is it all about, do visit it, but only during day time.
5. House Number W-3
If the name of the place itself sounds like a B-grade Bollywood horror flick, then the mere sight of the place will make you believe that there is something hideous attached to the place. This house was occupied by an old couple some years ago, who were murdered by some criminals. After that, house number W-3 remained unoccupied and abandoned and no one chose to buy or rent the property. Locals and passers-by have reported that they have heard whispers coming from the empty house. Some even have heard subdued laughter coming from the place. It is believed that ghosts of the couple are still wandering here.
6. Lothian Cemetery
Lothian Cemetery is a burial ground, which is reason enough for it to be known as a haunted place. It was built during the British rule and is situated near the Kashmiri Gate in Delhi. The story goes that a soldier committed suicide as he was spurned by a girl. People have claimed that the headless ghost of the soldier wanders about the place and on new moon night, the ghost becomes more visible. It is one of the scariest places in New Delhi and no one shows the courage to be anywhere near it even during the day.
7. Bhuli Bhatiyari Ka Mahal
Located in Central Ridge Reserve Forest, the Bhuli Bhatiyari ka Mahal was actually named after a person who worked as the caretaker of the place. His name actually was Bu-Ali Bhatti. It was built in the 14th century by Tughlaq rulers to be used as a hunting lodge. The place was abandoned after some time, and it is believed have been so since centuries. Today, it stands as a desolate place which not only looks spooky but is also one of the most haunted places in Delhi, as many have said that they have heard strange noises coming from the place. Even during the day, the place looks scary.
8. Khooni Nadi
The name itself means, ‘bloody river’ which means a river that is thirsting for blood. The Rohini river looks as if it was ripped straight out of a ghost flick, with shrubs and trees all around, and so quiet. It is said that Khooni Nadi works like a magnet and that there is some invisible force in the area that lures people to the river which sucks them in. There were reports of many having died like that. That is the reason, no one dares to even go anywhere near the Rohini river.
9. Feroz Shah Kotla Fort
It is a fort that is so seemingly in melancholy. Feroz Shah Kotla Fort was built in the 14th century during the Tughlaq regime in Delhi. It is believed that the fort is home to many Djinns, and that is why the fort is not visited during the night or after sunset. In fact, William Dalrymple’s book, ‘The City of Djinns’ features the fort in the very beginning. In fact, locals and other visitors’ light candles, incense sticks and make other offerings on Thursdays so as to appease the Djinns. Maybe they are still lurking around angrily, as the Thursday rituals continue even today.
10. The Delhi Ridge
Located in Delhi NCR or the National Capital Territory, Delhi Ridge is a part of a vast forest that is believed to be more than a thousand million years old. Though it is known as one of the most haunted places in Delhi, it is also famous as the green lungs of the city, with its vast vegetation and fresh air. There are also several monuments near it which add to the spookiness. There are stories of ghosts wandering around the region after sunset, as if they are marking their territory and not allowing anyone to go beyond a point. Anyway, nobody goes even near the Ridge, let alone the point.
If you want to confirm the stories behind these places, you should pay a visit to these haunted locations in Delhi after having visited the historical places. Maybe, you too will return with your own scary story.
