Who exactly haunts the Nahargarh Fort in Jaipur, India? Could this be a ghost that was said to haunt the area even before the hill fort was built? And could it have anything to do with a tragic death that occurred recently?
Situated on the rugged edge of the Aravalli Hills, Nahargarh Fort stands like a hushed sentinel overlooking the Pink City of Jaipur. Its towering walls, designed to isolate the royal family from the world, conceal not only a affluent historical legacy but also a terrifying reputation as one of the most haunted places in Rajasthan. Despite its architectural grandeur, the fort’s eerie atmosphere and spooky tales continue to captivate and terrify visitors.
Built in 1734 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, Nahargarh Fort was part of a triad of forts, including Amer Fort and Jaigarh Fort, built to bolster Jaipur's defences. Ultimately, it was never attacked.
Spirit of Nahar Singh Bhomia
Nahargarh Fort, originally called Sudarshangarh, was later renamed as Nahargarh, meaning “tiger's apartment' Legend has it that the fort was named after a spirit called Nahar Singh Bhomia, a Rathore prince or perhaps the guardian of the place, whose restless soul was soothed by the dedication of the fort in his name and the construction of a temple in his honour.
The Rathore dynasty, or Rathor, was an Indian dynasty belonging to the Rathore clan of Rajputs that historically ruled parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
It is said that when they were building the fort, the workers would come in the morning and find their work destroyed, the walls torn down at night when no one was there. They believed that this must be the work of a spirit, displeased with the construction of the fort. It was said that this went on for many days until they took action.
Ponderik Ji was a royal Brahmin, a high caste Hindu priest who tried to appease the spirit by performing tantric rituals and promising to build a temple on the Amagarh hill, one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world, an unfortunate prince whose former territory had been taken over by someone else. You can still see and visit the temple at Ghat Ki Guni. In addition, they also built a temple in the fort itself, simply for safety.
The Spirit of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II
But the most enduring spirit associated with Nahargarh Fort is the presence of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II himself (November 3, 1688 – September 21, 1743). He was the 29th ruler of the Kingdom of Amber and moved the capital of his kingdom from the city of Amber to the newly established walled city of Jaipur in 1727.
His passion for this fort, built as a place of retreat often used by him and his twelve wives, was so deep that it is said that his spirit still resides within its walls, even though he died after the Battle of Gangwana without ever recovering.
Despite the passing of centuries, the spiritual presence of the Maharaja still casts its shadow over the fort, linking its heritage with tales of supernatural phenomena.
Trapped Dancer in Nahargarh Fort
One of the legends of Nahargarh Fort is that one of the dancing girls of the Jaipur court, Ras Kapoor, was imprisoned here. She is said to have been at the court during the reign of Sawai Jagat Singha (1786-1818 CE).
Her mother was a court dancer, and she was born a dancer and studied dance under Paro begum, the faculty of skills, arts and talents. He fell in love with a dancer and wanted to marry her, giving her half of his empire and wealth. Although by that time he already had 21 queens and 24 concubines.
This gave her the right to sit in the court right next to the king on the throne and a great deal of power. She also used her power and began to rule. He became disinterested in local affairs and the story of why and who the dancer was spread among the locals. The court and the public did not like this and some feudal lords opposed Ras Kapoor publicly.
Fearing the court and public opinion, Sawai Jagat Singh felt he had no choice but to imprison her in the fort. Or was it the court that imprisoned her there while her Maharaja fought the Pindaris?
How it ended varies. Was she killed there by court ministers or by the queen? Was she thrown out of her bedroom window? Did the king die of a broken heart a year later? Some say that when the king died, Ras Kapoor was alive, but she escaped from prison and threw herself on the pyre at his burial.
But did it happen? Some say that it was not at Nahargarh Fort that all this happened, but that she was trapped in Jaigarh. Some also say that this legend has its share of haunting legends that are said to exist in the fort. Is it possible that some victims of the courts and social rules of the time still haunt it?
Mysterious murder or suicide
One of the more recent rumors about the Nahargarh Fort is that the spirit of a haunting ghost returned during its renovation at an unspecified time. It is said that the work so angered the ghost that it had something to do with the sudden death of the leader of the renovation effort, who was found dead in his home.
But what really happened here and how did it impact the legend of the haunted fort?
One incident that made the haunting murmurs grow louder again was the finding of a 40-year-old man hanging from one of the fort’s bastions in one of the rooms, which created a stir and reminded everyone of the haunting stories. The man was a local gem polisher named Chetan Kumar Saini, who was found on November 24, 2017.
A strange charcoal scribble with the cryptic words, “We don’t just hang effigies, Padmavati.” It was the only message around. Perhaps it was aimed at the protests against Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati. People in Rajasthan were protesting the portrayal of Padmini in the film, which led to clashes between Muslims and Hindus. There were other messages like, “Every infidel will meet this fate,” “We are people of Allah, we are powerful.”
The death was suspicious, and police never determined whether it was murder or suicide. The man's family claimed it was murder. Police found pre-mortem injuries on his body that suggested suicide. It also showed that he owed a huge amount of money.
What really happened on that tragic day is uncertain and mysteries remain. However, it reminded people of other mysteries about the fort that existed even before it was built.
Tales from the Dark
Stories of ghosts and unexplained phenomena are common among those who have spent time within the imposing walls of the Nahargarh Fort. Some claim to have seen the specter of the Maharaja himself, wandering the corridors and ramparts as if he still oversaw the fort. Others report hearing disembodied voices, footsteps echoing through empty corridors, and doors that open and close on their own.
As the sun sets over the Aravalli Hills and the shadows lengthen, Nahargarh Fort transforms from a monument of historical grandeur to a place of unsettling mystery. Tales of restless spirits, mysterious deaths and supernatural phenomena ensure that Nahargarh Fort remains a haunting presence, its walls whispering the secrets of a bygone era to those who dare to listen.
References:
Haunted Places in Jaipur and Nearby Region – Feel the Fear
Nahargarh Fort Jaipur | Insider's Guide | JaipurThruMyLens
A Love Story That Caused a Shock – Raskapur and Swai Maharaja Jagat Singh. – My Sayings
Image Source: Pixabay.com
