Kolkata, the City Of Joy is famous for a wide variety of reasons, ranging from juicy spongy rosogolla to dhuti panjabi and laal pere saree to Satyajit Ray’s “Pather Panchali” to Rabindra Sangeet, the Indian Museum, the beautiful sunset at Princep Ghat, the Durga Pratimas of Kumortuli, the list being endless. You name it, Kolkata offers it. Kolkata is also famous for its Putulbari, National Library, Park Street Cemetery, the Race Course etc but for a different reason altogether. These places hold the key to the haunted secrets of the city. So if you are a horror movie buff, if you find adventure in spookiness, if paranormal activities seem to attract you then you have probably one more reason to visit Kolkata.
The 9 Haunted Places of Kolkata :
1. The Putul Bari (House Of Dolls) : Situated in Ahiritola, this old house popularly known as the Putul Bari will give you an eerie feeling if visited after sunset. Though one would find the ground floor of the house being occupied by inhabitants but the upper stories remain vacant as nobody dares to visit the upper stories. This old building is constructed on Roman architectural style and the dolls on stand add to the spookiness of the place. The house is said to be possessed with the spirits of young women who were sexually exploited and later killed by the “babus” (the land lords) of old days. Local people claim of hearing shrill laughter, clinking of bangles and payels etc. People visiting this place have complained about the malfunctioning of their mobiles as well.
2. Under the Howrah Bridge : One of the busiest place of Kolkata, a place which never seems to sleep. People often wonder how can such a busy place be ever haunted! Ask the locals and you will know it all. There is a spot just under the Howrah Bridge which is near the Mullick Ghat flower market which is known for paranormal activities. Locals such as wrestlers or people who normally take a bath there claim to have seen flailing hands in the river as if seeking help which they are not sure of being hands of human being or some spirits. Locals believe that these are the spirits of people who committed suicide by jumping into the Ganges or drowned accidentally. As these spirits did not attain eternity they keep on wandering and haunt the place.Incident of a lady in white sobbing in nasal tone, calling out names of people, hypnotizing them towards Ganges have also been reported by a few.
3. Nimtala Shamshaan Ghat (The burning ground) : It is believed by people that on the night of Kali Puja, the Aghoris visit the ghat for various rites and to invoke the Shamshaan Kali, their reigning deity. These Aghoris feed on the flesh of the burnt bodies and use this ritual to generate occult powers in themselves.
4. Park Street Cemetery : This is the oldest burial grounds in Kolkata and probably the spookiest one. Tourists have reported paranormal activities like dysfunctioning of cameras, malfunctioning of mobile phones, shadows moving, hazy out of focus pictures being captured etc. It is even heard that the health of a group of friends strangely deteriorated after visiting this place. This place is considered spooky but spirits don’t annoy any visitor.
5. Rabindra Sarovar Metro Station : This metro station has seen the maximum of metro suicides and accounts for 80% of all the suicides. According to the metro passengers the last train is haunted. People including station attendants and train drivers have seen shadows and images moving aimlessly and vanishing within split seconds.
6. National Library : There are many stories about this particular place. Some say that the wife of Lord Metcalfe keeps roaming in the halls. People working in the library have complained of their chairs being pulled away, books being dropped down, pages riffled. Some have heard sounds of footsteps coming from nowhere while others felt close breathing near them when they did not put back the book from the place taken. There have been so many supernatural activities in the library that nobody dares to take up the job of a guard in the night shift.
7. Writer’s Building : This is an 300 year old building hiding some deep secrets. The large rooms are said to be inhabited by ghosts and people often hear shrieks, giggles and screams late at night though the building is deserted by 7pm. It is also said that this building has been haunted for many years and caretakers staying here could not continue their job for more than a month. Even today none of the office staff take the risk of working late evening here.
8. The Royal Calcutta Turf Club (Race Course) : It is said that the spirit of the beautiful white horse “Pride” can be seen galloping over the stands on moonlit nights specially Saturdays. Pride was known as the “Queen of Tracks” as she had won countless races, fame and prizes for her master George Williams, a horse race maniac. Pride lost her last race because of age and deteriorating health and Williams lost his fortune. Next morning Pride was found dead on the tracks.
9. Wipro Office : The Wipro Office, Salt Lake is supposed to be built on a graveyard and locals claim to have seen visions in the darkest hours of night. Employees are strictly advised not to wander in the 3rd floor of tower three and the floor remains shut most of the time.
Ghosts, spirits, paranormal activities, the age old topic of debate. Some will believe while others won’t but there’s no way we can ignore it. As it is said seeing is believing so the best possible thing to do would be to visit these places and find out for yourself. What say?
