The elderly Christian cemetery is a Gothic reminder of colonial times. Over the years, the South Park Street Cemetery has been reclaimed by weather and time, and rumors of it being haunted cloud the site.
Hidden amidst the bustling streets of Kolkata is South Park Street Cemetery, a hidden gem shrouded in history, mystery and rumors of the supernatural on a street now known for its pubs and food.
This is an elderly burial ground, formerly known as “Great Christian Cemetery” it is not only one of the earliest non-church cemeteries in the world, but also the resting place of British soldiers, administrators and notable figures such as Henry Louis Vivian Derozio and Sir William Jones. Many youthful people who suffered from tropical diseases that they did not survive also rest here.
Historical monuments of the cemetery
The origins of this incredibly stunning cemetery date back to 1767, when it was established and a novel road leading to it, known as the Burial Ground Road, was built with over 1,600 graves that now cover an area of 8 acres.
The Gothic cemetery and road were later renamed Park Street after the private deer park established by Sir Elijah Impey. By 1785 the cemetery had expanded north of Park Street. Although a plaque at the cemetery gate states that it opened in 1767 and closed in 1790, burials continued into the 1830s until a novel cemetery was established east of the Lower Circular Road.
After India gained independence, funding for colonial civilian cemeteries was withdrawn, leading to the decision to raze the Park Street cemeteries. This move was met with opposition from the Anglo-Indian community in Calcutta. In 1953, the North Park Street Cemetery was to be demolished and the income generated from the lease of the land was to be used to maintain the South Park Street Cemetery. In the behind schedule 1970s, the cemetery came under the care of the Association for the Preservation of Historic Cemeteries in India (APHCI) and the Christian Burial Commission.
In 1984, an attempt to demolish the cemetery into an art center was stopped by the intervention of the Calcutta High Court, but considerable damage had already occurred, and Charles Stuart's grave was destroyed and later restored. A renovation project begun in the early 21st century aimed to preserve the cemetery's heritage and prevent further destruction.
Haunted Cemetery on South Park Street
This Gothic cemetery, which was buried in the 18th century, is now a mysterious and intriguing place for the living. Thousands of people visit it every year, and many of them believe that the cemetery is haunted. In fact, it has earned the title of the most haunted place in Kolkata, attracting obscure tourism lovers.
However, there are some strange graves. Like the pyramid-shaped tombstone, called the bleeding tomb because it oozes what looks like blood during the monsoons. It belongs to the entire Dennison family, who died within a few weeks, although the cause is not given.
Although it is said to be one of the most haunted places, ghost stories from the cemetery do not mention many specific details or even specific graves. Nevertheless, there are common threads that people believe are happening.
Many claim that they experienced dizziness and strange visions after visiting the cemetery. Cameras have captured strange things in the photos that some believe must be ghosts or something else paranormal. The worst part is that even the healthiest people say they have had breathing problems.
It remains unanswered whether it is true that something paranormal is happening at the cemetery, or whether visitors are simply drawn into its Gothic atmosphere.
Reference:
South Park Street Cemetery – Wikipedia
Is South Park Street Cemetery really haunted? Mysterious abandoned cemetery in Kolkata!
India's most haunted: South Park Street Cemetery in Kolkata
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