Highways of Horrors: 6 Haunted Roads In India, Only For The Bravehearts!
There are those who laugh at the idea of a ghost. There are those who start reciting the Hanuman Chalisa the moment they hear the word. And then there are those who are either brave enough to desire a confrontation with any supernatural being, or simply enjoy the thrilling, spine-tingling fear at the thought of getting their necks wrung by one. Those who fall in the last category enjoy watching Aahat and Fear Files, and either go to bet without the slightest bit of flinch, or shiver beneath the head-to-toe covering – it’s hard to tell which one. If you are among the last group of people, irrespective of the subdivision, then the idea of taking a walk or drive along a haunted road will probably get you excited. Take a look at some of the haunted roads in India.
1. Delhi Jaipur Highway
Bhangarh Fort on the Delhi Jaipur Highway by Fear and You
If the haunted roads in India beckon you, then the Delhi Jaipur Highway is one that you can’t miss. Bhangarh, with an official board by the government to prohibit entry after sunset, falls along the highway between Delhi and Rajasthan, The Bhangarh Fort was constructed in 1613 by Madho Singh. Legend has it that there was a condition: that the fort must not built to a height where its shadow would reach the retreat of a Guru Balu Nath. But, when Madho Singh’s ignorant grandson, Ajab Singh, had it built to the feared height, the roof collapsed. In fact, the entire fort city is believed to be cursed. Another theory suggests that there was a local tantric, Singhia, who fell in love with the princess of Bhangarh, and she used his own curse against him, but not without cursing the fort. Allegedly, ghosts still lurk within the walls of the fort, and locals are still waiting for the princess to save it. The highway is believed to be haunted too, with its own fair share of incidents that cannot be explained. Drivers have reported strange sights and sounds as they get closer to the dreaded fort.
2. Tunnel 33, Shimla
Tunnel 33, Shimla by Haunted India
Tunnel 33 falls on the Shimla Kalka railway stretch, next to the Barog Train Halt, and is the longest tunnel along this route. The tunnel, as well as the surrounding area, is believed to be haunted, with a fascinating story. Its central character is Captain Barog, a British engineer, who was given the task of handling the construction of the tunnel. However, he was unable to finish the task, and was soon fire from his job. He also had to bear the brunt of cruel jokes. Eventually, he was led to depression, until he went into the tunnel to shoot himself. Since then, his ghost lurks in the tunnel, and local people living in the village along the route recount their experiences with his ghost. According to them, Borag’s ghost is a friendly one, who tells people stories of the past. The eerie part of the story is the reason the tunnel could not be completed. Some believe that the workers were attacked by werewolves. People also report sightings of a lady clad in white, a beautiful lady with a child, a sinister signalman with a green signal, etc. They say that people entering the tunnel do not return.
3. Besant Avenue Road, Chennai
Besant Avenue Road by The Hindu
The Besant Avenue Road in Chennai is a wide road, made beautiful by the lining of trees that offer a beautiful shade from the sun. It is a delight for strollers, and the road remains quite busy during the day time. However, the story is completely different after dark. Once the sun is down, it becomes one of the most noted haunted roads in India. It is believed that evil spirits lurk around the Besant Avenue Road in the mysterious hours of darkness. Once the sun is out of sight, the road gets deserted fairly fast, because the people of Chennai, who are well aware of the stories, do not dare to step onto this road. It has been reported by those who have had the misfortune of travelling along this road at night that they have been slapped, and even overthrown by some uncanny force. Naturally, even the toughest of the lot, living in the city, prefer not to cross the paths of the supernatural beings and face their wrath, and recommend others not to do so, either. But, if you are one of the bravehearts and want to take up the challenge anyway, who are we to stop you?
4. Blue Cross Road, Chennai
Blue Cross Road by News Gupshup
The toughies of Chennai are lucky, because they have yet another of the most noted haunted roads in India, located within reach. The Blue Cross Road, yet another haunted street in Chennai, is believed to be infested with ghosts, mainly because of the number of suicides that have taken place here. Allegedly, the ghosts of the people are believed to have committed suicides here haunt the road. The road itself has a rather spooky feeling to it, even during the day, as the sunlight gets cut but the thick canopy of trees along the road, and there are shadows dancing everywhere, thanks to the hanging vines. One can only imagine how chilling it gets here after the dark. Ask the residents of the lane, and they will launch a series of their accounts of witnessing white, spooky, human-shaped creatures walking down this haunted lane of Chennai. Locals will tell you of several incidences and paranormal activities which confirm the presence of ghosts in this lane. For the scaredy cats, this road is on the list of must-avoid places. Now it’s up to you if you want to cross to its other side.
5. Marve & Madh Island Road, Mumbai
Marve and Madh Island Road by Fear and You
Mumbai, the city of films and masala Bollywood flicks, has a rather melodramatic ghost story of its own, along the Marve and Madh Island Road between SV Road and Marve Beach. People say that they have often seen a lady clad in bridal attire along this 9 km road. This woman is actually the lost soul of someone who had died here. Though there is no record to confirm the cause of her death, it is believed that she was a young woman, newly married, and was happy in her life, until her in-laws started demanding dowry. When their demands were not met, her husband and in-laws decided to kill her. Her husband took her on a drive along this road, and when they were near a truck, the man sped the car towards it. He jumped out of the car in time, while the woman, shocked betrayal, died in the car. But, her spirit still looms, waiting for her revenge from her culprits. She is said to appear after midnight on full moon nights, and the distraction she causes has led to many accidents. Drivers and people in hotels nearby report hearing her anklet, and her blood-curdling sobs and screams.
6. Symbiosis Road, Pune
Symbiosis Road by BuzzFeed
The main road in Viman Nagar that leads up to an outlet of Café Coffee Day from the reputed Symbiosis College is referred to as the Symbiosis Road in Pune, and believe it or not, this road is believed to be haunted, despite the large number of students and teachers who always keep the locality busy. The road has, in fact, been the centre of many spooky stories and urban legends that have been carried forward by the students here. For instance, people studying and residing here vouch that the stray dogs often line up and bark incessantly, staring at empty spaces. There are also legends that people who have passed this street at night alone allegedly blacked out and fell, with reasons still unknown. The spookiest of these tales is perhaps that of hearing the ringing of bells in a small temple on this road, and the eerie part is that the temples were reportedly empty at those times when the sounds were heard. There are many such scary stories and legends regarding this road. Those poor students have to live with it for a few years, but would you voluntarily do the same?
There are many other haunted roads in India, and they all come with ghostly tales and urban legends. They allegedly have enough paranormal activities going on to scare the wits out of you. There’s the 21-Lane East Coast Road running from Chennai to Pondicherry, the Delhi Cantonment Road, and the Ranchi-Jamshedpur National Highway 33, each famous for the sightings of the quintessential Noorie lady in white sari (perhaps, on secret roller skates). Then there’s the National Highway 209 – Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary Corridor, connecting Dindigul and Bengaluru, which is believed to be haunted by none other than the ghost of notorious Indian bandit, Koose Muniswami Veerappan. The Mumbai-Goa Highway near Kashedi Ghat seems to have seen many accidents, apparently after ignoring the signs of a mysterious person to stop, while, Mumbai-Nashik Highway passing through Kasara Ghat is ridden with ghostly entities, including an old headless woman who sits on the trees.
Delhi Cantonment Road