Kuldhara Village: Know Everything From Haunting Ruins To Mysterious Tales

Kuldhara village was once a beautiful place which is now shrouded in mystery and ghostly tales. When you visit the region, you will see a deserted establishment with ruins that date back to the 19th century. No one can say for sure what really happened in this hamlet, or why the residents decided to leave overnight. However, locals around the village believe that the place is cursed and no one can stay there without being spooked. These uncertain stories are the reason people have always been interested in Kuldhara. 

Here’s everything to know about the village, its history, the famous ghost legends along with some scientific predictions from experts who believe that there is nothing ‘haunted’ about this ancient place. 

Location of Kuldhara village

Kuldhara village is located approximately 18 kms from Jaisalmer city and has a north-south orientation. It has an area of 861 metres x 261 metres. The layout of the village is fairly simple. It has three main lanes that are intersecting with several smaller lanes. Despite the ruins, you can identify the village’s southern and northern ends because of the city walls that are present on either side. On the western side, the locals near the village have built back walls more for the protection of their own households from the rumoured ‘haunted’ village. On the eastern end, you will see a dried-up river bed where the Kakni River once flowed. 

Kuldhara village is present in the expanse of the Thar desert and you will find minimal trees or green vegetation in the region. 

There is a temple in Kuldhara village that is dedicated to the mother goddess who people say, used to protect the residents while they were still staying there. Just like the rest of the place, the temple is also in ruins and you can see signs of decay. It has a simple Rajasthani-style architecture and was built with sandstones. Even though it is small in comparison to the other temples in India, you can see the intricate work done to make it stand out in the village. 

Unlike the other beautiful villages in India, Kuldhara is empty without civilisation. Owing to its geography, it is more or less easy to reach the place but no one would dare to reside in the village overnight. 

History of Kuldhara village Jaisalmer

In the 13th century, Kuldhara village was established by the Paliwal Brahmins. These people migrated from the Pali region in Marwar to settle in the fertile area near Jaisalmer. They were known to have advanced knowledge of agricultural practices, especially in the Rajasthani terrain. They established a total of 84 villages that were interconnected to each other and Kuldhara village is among the prominent ones. 

The Paliwal Brahmins employed their knowledge of water management and irrigation to grow their crops in the village. This let them endure the heat and also face the harsh conditions of the desert. They also built canals and reservoirs to support their agricultural activities and everyday livelihood. Mostly, the administrative practices in the 84 villages were taken care of by the village heads. The local affairs were all solved within the community and everyone stayed cordially with each other. 

During that time, the jurisdiction of the Jaisalmer state fell under the rule of the Bhati Rajputs. They provided the needed protection and governance assistance to the people of Kuldhara village. 

Apart from agriculture, the people of Kuldhara also indulged in animal husbandry and trading. They were known to export their wheat, grams and pulses. The residents also built well-planned streets, simple houses and small buildings. They also built a temple to honour the mother goddess or the Earth goddess who was bestowing them with the finest crops. 

Why is it called Kuldhara Haunted Village?

There are several legends and local stories that say that Kuldhara is a haunted village and no one should dare to enter the region after the sun disappears behind its horizon. There are two main legends that people often discuss over the bonfires in Rajasthan. 

In the 19th century, the king’s prime minister was called Salim Ali. One day, when he was travelling by the village, he saw the beautiful daughter of Kuldhara’s village head. She was a young girl with natural beauty. He was immediately stunned by her charm. He let the villagers know that he wanted to marry the girl. But, the girl was not keen on marrying him so the villagers and the girl’s father refused the alliance. But, Salim Ali wanted to marry the girl anyhow. Even after several threats, the villagers refused to bow to Salim Ali. 

To protect themselves and the girl from Salim Ali, they decided to leave the village. But, before they stepped out with their belongings, it is said that they cast a curse upon the region that no one will ever be able to inhabit the place. 

Some also say that the haunted nature of the abandoned village has nothing to do with a love story. Salim Ali was a brutal administrator. He imposed high taxes on the people of Kuldhara and owing to the harsh conditions of the desert, it was very hard for them to pay such inflated taxes. So, they decided to leave the place. But, disappointed with how their lives were being disrupted for no reason, they cursed that no one else would be able to live in the region. Kuldhara village will forever be without inhabitants. 

Paranormal activity near the village 

People who live in the villages that surround Kuldhara say that there is always an eerie atmosphere around the place even during the daytime. Many claimed that they hear voices and conversations though no one ever stays there. More say that they have seen apparitions of people in traditional attires, a style that was more common during the 13th to 19th centuries. They say that it is normal to feel a sense of unease when you step into the place and you will also encounter cold spots even under the scorching heat of the sun. 

Especially during the night, people noticed whispers from the village. They’ve also seen lights and sounds that shouldn’t be there owing to the ruined state of the village. People believe that the departed souls of the villagers who once resided there come back to relive their memories. They are said to walk on the lanes of the village, cook and even laugh around. Sometimes, especially on the no moon day, locals say that they’ve heard chants echoing from the ruins. 

For the locals that live in the surroundings, it is forbidden to enter Kuldhara village or walk by the place after the sun sets. It is said that this invites a lot of unrest into one’s life and invites paranormal encounters that no one wants to deal with. They also fear the wrath of the spirits that wander the place at night. They also caution tourists to not stay at the place once the sun sets and usher them away when the sun begins to set. 

However, there is no established rule that people cannot go into the village after sunset. Unlike other haunted places like Bhangad Fort, the government has not imposed any restrictions. But, the localities strongly recommend people to not stay there after sunset. 

Several paranormal investigators visited Kuldhara village at night. They’ve found electromagnetic disturbances, sudden drops in temperature and some unexplained figures were captured in photographs. They also detected whispers and sounds in their audio recordings. 

Scientific predictions of the events in Kuldhara village

While most believe that Kuldhara Jaisalmer village is haunted, some scientists beg to differ. The experts say that the reason the villagers left the place may have nothing to do with the legends that are keeping people busy. Just like the Paliwal Brahmins migrated from Marwar to the region, it is possible that they migrated from here to another region because of the unfavourable living conditions. The region is now devoid of groundwater. So, it is possible that they left the village because of water scarcity. During the 19th century, there was also a steep decline in trading activity because of the change in trading routes. This may have been another reason for the villagers to shift their base. 

There are also reports of an earthquake that hit the villages here during the 19th century. It is said that the impact was enough to wobble the foundation of the villager’s well-thought houses and buildings. Assuming that the region may be hit with more such harsh natural calamities, they may have left the place.

Some experts also point towards the rulers of that time. Things were not as smooth as they were in the 13th century when the Brahmins first set their foot there. The rulers imposed harsh taxes on the locals and they were too huge for them to pay. It is possible that they left because of the oppression. 

Tourism in Kuldhara Jaisalmer

Kuldhara village is being taken care of by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI). They have done a lot of work to renovate certain parts of the village. This includes the temple dedicated to the mother goddess, certain boundary walls and houses that were not completely destroyed. You will see that most of the houses here don’t have roofs. The renovation was done to give tourists a glimpse of what life was like during the 13th to 19th centuries for the people of Paliwali Brahmins. 

Bollywood movies like ‘Agent Vinod’ were also filmed in this ghost village. Usually, the timings of the visit are between 8 AM to 6 PM. There is an entry fee to visit Kuldhara village. It can change in the future but currently, it is INR 10 per person and INR 50 if you are coming there with a vehicle. 

Best time to visit Kuldhara

You can visit Kuldhara village any time you want, throughout the year. It will remain open and accessible. However, we suggest that you avoid going there in the summer season. The scorching heat will pose to be a hindrance to your exploration plans. Most of the houses there have no roofs and it is very hard to find a roof to rest under in case you are tired. The monsoon and winter months are the best for exploration.

Though the heat remains, it is much better than the summer’s elevated temperatures. Always carry an umbrella or hat to protect yourself from the sun. Also, get some snacks to eat when you are hungry. Do not forget to get sufficient water bottles to quench your thirst. Please be mindful of your surroundings and do not litter in the village. The hidden ghosts may not like it, don’t you think? 

How to reach Kuldhara?

Jaisalmer is the closest city to Kuldhara. We suggest that you book your hotels in Jaisalmer, seeing as you will not find any good lodging options in Kuldhara or the surrounding villages. 

By Air

There are very limited flights that take you from major Indian cities to Jaisalmer. Another option would be to land at Jodhpur and then take a taxi or bus to reach Jaisalmer. 

By Rail

Jaisalmer has its own railway station and receives trains every day from major Indian cities like Jodhpur, Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai, Kolkata and Ahmedabad. Trains are less frequent but still available from Lucknow, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune and Bengaluru. 

By Road

To reach Jaisalmer, you will have to ultimately join NH11 from your respective highway routes. Also, you will find several service roads that connect Jodhpur to Jaisalmer. NH-70 junction near Myajlar connects places like Bikaner and Pokhran in Rajasthan to Jaisalmer. 

Irrespective of its haunted nature, Kuldhara village is a beautiful place that shows you how advanced our ancestors were. You will find unfenced wells, stepwells, village pavilions, pillars with carvings and even a temple in the region. You will be surprised to see how the Paliwali Brahmins put their mind to making lanes that connect all parts of the village. The reservoirs seem like the foundational design for the modern variants that you see today. Visiting Kuldhara village is definitely worth your time and energy.