Table of Contents
India is a land of myriad cultures and heritage, holding many mysteries within her lap. It is said that the language in India changes every few kilometers. Every few kilometers mark a new story, a new folklore. These folklores define several mysteries, several unbelievable instances. These mysteries have been chronicled in history and ingrained within the social prism in such a manner that it is, inferentially, difficult to tell whether it’s supernatural, a scientific phenomenon, or just a mystery. Let’s take a look at some mysterious places in India.
Mysteries of Faith and Religion
Shani Shingnapur: The Village with No Doors
In a country like India where crime rates make a new record every other day, there is a place that sets an example for the world to see. Situated in the heart of Maharashtra, Shani Shingnapur is a village in India that has broken all traditional methods of security with its ‘No Door’ policy. According to the residents, their continuous faith in the Hindu deity Shani saves them from theft. So great is the belief that through all these years, the village remained free from crimes. Not only did this practice set an example across the world, but it also made the village a holy pilgrimage for people seeking divine protection.
Women were not allowed to enter the inner sanctum of the temple until 8th April 2016.
Om Banna: The Shrine of Bullet Baba
This Royal Enfield motorcycle, located in the shrine of Bullet Baba at Jodhpur, a desert city in Rajasthan, has gained legendary status. Beginning as a tragic accident, this motorbike is worshipped by locals like a god. Homage here makes for a safe journey; therefore, offerings are placed with incense, flowers, and even liquor to appease Bullet Baba’s spirit. This shrine is so unusual that it blurred the line between faith and folklore; it’s a fascinating stop on any Rajasthan journey.
Bullet Baba has a model number, i.e. 350cc Royal Enfield Bullet RNJ 7773
Karni Mata Temple: The Temple of Rats
Situated in Bikaner, Rajasthan, the Karni Mata Temple is one of the most unique spiritual experiences. It is home to more than 25,000 black rats that move around freely and are considered to be the reincarnated souls of the devotees of Karni Mata. People come from all parts of India to seek blessings. A white rat sighting is considered most auspicious. The living inhabitants of this temple and the rituals practiced around them relate back to deep-seated reverence and the extra-ordinary nature of this sacred site.
The rats at Karni Mata Temple are fed a special diet of sweets and grains, and their droppings are considered to bring good luck.
Natural Phenomena
Idukki’s Red Rain: The Sky That Bled
While Hindu mythology has termed it as the wrath of God, scientists believe that Red rain is the result of dust or the air-borne spores of the alga growing in that region. The Red Rain at Idukki, Kerala has termed the place by this phenomenon as the ‘red region’. The sky drained blood-colored rain on the region between 25 July to 23 September 2001. As a result it left a pink mark on clothes and other surfaces. Red rain was also experienced in July, 1957 by the Malabar coast before this.
The first ever case of colored rain in Kerala dates back to 1896.
Magnetic Hill of Leh: A Gravity-Defying Illusion
The Magnetic Hill is a classic high up in the rugged terrains of Leh, Ladakh, defying all natural philosophies with an optical illusion. Seemingly, vehicles are rolling up against gravity on the reading point, creating a feeling of wonderment. Even though they are fairly massive, the place continues to be mystical to travelers because of the scientific explanation that is adopted for it.
Magnetic Hill in Ladakh makes vehicles seem to roll uphill due to an optical illusion.
Loktak Lake, Manipur: The Lake with Floating Islands
Loktak Lake forms one of the most spectacular natural phenomena with regard to its extensive phumdis, the floating islands. These are large, thick mats of floating vegetation that cover a huge part of the lake, supporting a distinctive, floating, and peculiar ecosystem with the Keibul Lamjao National Park, recognized as the only floating national park in the world. The lake stands out as an ecologically and culturally interesting location in relation to the variety of its ecology and the role the phumdis play in the local way of life.
Loktak Lake is home to the world’s only floating national park.
Hauntings and Curses
Talakadu: The Cursed Desert Town
In Karnataka, the turning of Talakadu from a bustling town with 30 temples into shifting sands is steeped in legend. Stories say it is a curse by a grieving devotee who turned the town into desolation and the Kaveri River into a swirling whirlpool. The haunted legacy of the curse plays on till today, shaping the destiny of that town, which is a place of mystery and historical significance.
Talakadu’s sands are said to be the result of a powerful curse by a grieving devotee.
Dumas Beach, Gujarat: The Haunted Shoreline
One of them is the Dumas Beach, located near Surat in Gujarat, India. It is a beach with black sand and a spectral reputation. Having been a former Hindu burial ground, the spirits there are said to be restless. Many who have visited this beach speak of eerie whispers and an atmosphere that raises gooseflesh, a chilling layer added to its already intriguing character. Its haunted allure attracts those with a taste for the supernatural.
Dumas Beach’s black sand is actually due to its volcanic origin
Roopkund Lake, Uttarakhand: The Lake of Skeletons
High in the Himalayas, as snow melts, one of its dark secrets comes out: hundreds of ancient skeletons in Roopkund Lake. Considered to be remains of the 9th-century pilgrimage, those bones got caught in a hailstorm, really telling a gut-wrenching tale of times gone by. Recent DNA studies have shown that these remains belong to a diverse group, adding layers of mystery to this chilling lake.
DNA studies show the Roopkund Lake skeletons are from diverse regions, adding to the mystery.
Architectural Mysteries
Bara Imambara, Uttar Pradesh: The Labyrinth of Lucknow
The Bara Imambara of Lucknow is simply outstanding in terms of architectural brilliance with enigmatic designs. Constructed in 1784, it has one of the biggest single-arch unsupported structures in the world. What genuinely astonishes is its labyrinth, also referred to as Bhulbhulaiya, which actually aims at confusing and misleading people visiting it. This becomes a fun challenge to pass through the maze in itself and hence adds an adventurous feel to the imperialism of history.
The Bara Imambara’s central hall has no support beams, relying entirely on its arches.
Chand Baori: The Ancient Stepwell of Abhaneri
In a village called Abhaneri in Rajasthan, there is a fine example of the engineering works of the time: Chand Baori. This stepwell was constructed in the 9th century by King Chand and features 3,500 steps in perfect geometric shape, spiraling down 20 meters into the earth. Such was the aim of water supply in a dry zone, showing an architectural feat both useful and pleasing to the eye. It is the symmetry and scale that really make Chand Baori outstanding in its intricate design.
Chand Baori stays cool due to its deep, shaded structure.
Hampi’s Stone Chariot: The Enigmatic Temple Vehicle
At Hampi in the state of Karnataka lie the remains of a city that existed several centuries ago. Contained within it is a resplendent Stone Chariot, which has been mystifying historians and architects alike. This monolithic chariot, carved from a single block of granite, is actually one of the centerpieces of the Vijayanagara Empire’s Royal Enclosure. Intricately detailed stone wheels and horses, not just for decoration, but to simulate a real chariot in all its finery, one that participated in a royal procession, were created. The purpose of this structure remains ambiguous, with theories ranging from a symbolic model of the chariot of the gods to that of a ceremonial vehicle in temple rituals.
The Stone Chariot’s wheels are designed to rotate, adding to its lifelike and functional appearance.
Unveiling Mysteries
Traveling to these historic sites offers a unique chance to experience their enigmatic allure firsthand. Be it the chilling allure of Dumas Beach or the intricate charm of Chand Baori. Witnessing their mysteries in person provides a profound connection to the past and its intriguing stories.
Are you planning on taking up any of these mysteries? Write to us at [email protected] and immortalise your stories and journey with us. We look forward to hearing from you.
