HISTORY OF
AJABGARH AND BHANGARH
Ajabgarh
& Bhangarh is a ruined town in the
Alwar district of the state of Rajasthan, India, most famous for its historical
ruins. It is said to be a haunted place. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
has put up a signboard by the main gate stating (among others): "Entering
the borders of Bhangarh before sunrise and after sunset is strictly
prohibited." The reason for this may be that there can be wild animals and
it could be unsafe because there is no artificial lighting. Bhangarh is at the
edge of the Sariska Tiger Reserve.
Bhangarh
is a place between Jaipur and Delhi in Rajasthan state of India. Bhangarh is
known for its ruins, but still worth a visit; the place is beautiful and
tranquil. What remains though, is a shadow of a once beautiful kingdom.
Passing by
Bhangarh, banyans and temples dot the landscape and one chhatri can be seen up
on the hill. The most remarkable are the temples of Gopinath, Shiva
(Someshwar), Mangla Devi and Keshava Rai. Other more or less preserved
buildings are e.g. shops along the main road, several havelis, a mosque, and a
palace. The palace was protected by two inner fortifications across the valley.
The town is separated from the plain by ramparts with five gates. Bhangarh is
also a pre-historic site.
This town
was established in 1573 (VS 1631) during the rule of Raja Bhagwant Das as the
residence of his second son Madho Singh. Madho Singh was younger brother of
Emperor Akbar’s General Man Singh I of Amber. Madho Singh participated in many
campaigns with his father and brother. The next ruler of Bhangarh was his son
Chhatr Singh. Bhangarh slowly declined after Chhatr Singh's violent death in
1630. Near Ajabgarh was founded by Ajab Singh, the son of Chhatr Singh. When
Mughal Empire became weaker after the death of Aurangzeb, Jai Singh II attached
Bhangarh to his state by force in 1720. After this Bhangarh diminished in
population, and when the famine of 1783 fell on the land the town was
abandoned, and has remained a ruin ever since.
It is said
that the city of Bhangarh was cursed by the Guru Balu Nath, causing the towns
evacuation. Balu Nath sanctioned the establishment of the town but said:
"The moment the shadows of your palaces touch me, the city shall be no
more!" Ignorant of such foreboding, one ambitious descendant raised the
palace to such a height that its shadowed Balu Nath's forbidden retreat and
thus the town was devastated as prophesied. The small samādhi where Balu Nath
is said to lie buried is still there.
The other
myth is as follows: The charm of princess of Bhangarh Ratnavati was said to be
matchless in all of Rajasthan. Being eighteen years old, the princess started
getting matrimonial offers from other states. In the same region there lived a
tantrik, a magician well versed in the occult, named Singhia who was
desperately in love with the princess knowing that he would never be allowed to
even see her, let alone meet her. One day, he saw the princess' maid in the
market buying scented oil for her. Seeing this, he got an idea by which he
could meet the princess. He used his black magic and put a spell on the oil
which would hypnotize the princess by her merely touching the oil, and she
would surrender herself. The princess foiled this plan though. She had seen the
tantrik enchanting the oil, and she therefore threw it away, whereupon the
flagon rolled over a stone. As soon as the oil touched the stone, it started
rolling towards the wicked tantrik and crushed him. While dying, Singhia cursed
the palace with the death of all who dwelt in it, without any rebirth in their
destinies. The very next year there.
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