Kuldhara

Kuldhara is an abandoned village in the Jaisalmer district of

Rajasthan, India. Established around the 13th century, it was Kuldhara
once a prosperous village inhabited by Paliwal Brahmins. It Kuldhar
was abandoned by the early 19th century for unknown Village
reasons, possibly because of dwindling water supply, an
earthquake, or as a local legend claims, because of the Ghost town
atrocities by the Jaisalmer State's minister Salim Singh.

Over the years, Kuldhara has acquired a reputation as a

haunted site, and the Government of Rajasthan decided to
develop it as a tourist spot in the 2010s.

Geography
Ruins of Kuldhara houses
The former village site is located about 18 km south-west of
the Jaisalmer city. The village was located on an 861 m x 261
m rectangular site aligned in the north-south direction. The
township was centred around a temple of the mother goddess.
It had three longitudinal roads, which were cut through by a
Kuldhara
number of latitudinal narrow lanes.[1]

The remains of a city wall can be seen on the north and the
south sides of the site. The eastern side of the town faces the
dry-river bed of the small Kakni river. The western side was
protected by the back-walls of man-made structures.[1]
Location of Kuldhara in Rajasthan,
India
Establishment
The Kuldhara village was originally settled by Brahmins who
had migrated from Pali to Jaisalmer region.[2] These migrants
originating from Pali were called Paliwals. Tawarikh-i- Kuldhara
Jaisalmer, an 1899 history book written by Lakshmi Chand,
states that a Paliwal Brahmin named Kadhan was the first
person to settle in the Kuldhara village. He excavated a pond
called Udhansar in the village.[1]

The ruins of the village include 3 cremation grounds, with

several devalis (memorial stones or cenotaphs).[3] The village
was settled by the early 13th century, as indicated by two
devali inscriptions. These inscriptions are dated in the Bhattik Kuldhara (India)
Coordinates: 26°52′12″N 70°47′06″E

Country India
Samvat (a calendar era starting in 623 CE), and record the State Rajasthan
deaths of two residents in 1235 CE and 1238 CE District Jaisalmer
respectively.[4] Elevation 266 m (873 ft)
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
Demographics

Population
Ruins of 410 buildings can be seen in the former village.[1] Another
200 buildings were located in the lower township on the outskirts of
the village.[5]

Lakshmi Chand's Tawarikh-i-Jaisalmer (1899) provides statistics

about Paliwal population and households of several villages. Using
the figure of 3.97 persons per household based on these statistics,
and considering the number of ruined houses as 400, S. A. N.
Rezavi estimated the 17th-18th century population of Kuldhara as
1,588. The British officer James Tod recorded the 1815 population
of Kuldhara as 800 (in 200 households), based on information from
"the best informed natives". By this time, the Paliwals had already
started deserting the village. By 1890, the population of the village
had declined to 37 people; the number of houses was recorded as
117.[6]

Social Groups A cartwheel

There are several other devali inscriptions at the site. These

inscriptions do not mention the term "Paliwal"; they only describe the inhabitants as Brahmin ("Vrahman"
or "Vaman"). Several inscriptions mention the caste of the residents as "Kuldhar" or "Kaldhar". It appears
that Kuldhara was a caste group among Paliwal Brahmins, and the village was named after this caste.[7]

Some inscriptions also mention the jati (sub-caste) and gotra (clan) of the residents. The various jatis
mentioned in the inscriptions include Harjal, Harjalu, Harjaluni, Mudgal, Jisutiya, Loharthi, Lahthi, Lakhar,
Saharan, Jag, Kalsar, and Mahajalar. The gotras mentioned include Asamar, Sutdhana, Gargvi and Gago.
One inscription also mentions the kula (family lineage) of a Brahmin as Gonali. Apart from the Paliwal
Brahmins, the inscriptions also mention two sutradhars (architects) named Dhanmag and Sujo Gopalna.
The inscriptions indicate that the Brahmin residents married within the Brahmin community, although the
jatis or sub-castes were exogamous.[7]

Culture

Religion
The residents of the village were Vaishnavites. The main temple of
the village had sculptures of Vishnu and Mahishasura Mardini.
Most of the inscriptions start with an invocation to Ganesha, whose
miniature sculptures also appear on the gateways. The villagers also
worshiped bull and a local horse-riding deity.[8]

Fashion
If the idols on the devalis are considered as representatives of the
contemporary fashion, it appears that the men of Kuldhara wore
Mughal-style turbans and jamas (tunic-like garment) with
kamarband (a type of waist belt). They generally sported a beard,
wore a necklace and carried a khanjar (dagger). The women wore
tunics or lehengas, and some of them wore necklaces.[8]

Economy
The villagers were mostly agricultural traders, bankers and farmers.
They used ornamented pottery made of fine clay.[5]
Inscription on a pillar inside the
For agricultural purposes, the villagers used the water from the temple of Kuldhara
Kakni river and several wells. They also tapped the water using
khareen, an artificial depression dammed on three sides. When the
water in the khareen evaporated, it left soil conducive for growing jowar, wheat and gram. A 2.5 km2 .
khareen was situated to the south of Kuldhara.[9]

The Kakni river branches into two streams near Kuldhara. The first branch is called "Masurdi nadi"; the
second branch is now a drain. The Kakni river is a seasonal river. When it went dry, the villagers tapped
groundwater using wells and a step-wells. A pillar inscription states that Tejpal, a Kuldhara Brahmin,
commissioned the step-well in 1815 VS (1757 CE).[10]

Decline
By the 19th century, the village had been deserted for unknown
reasons. Possible causes proposed in the 20th century include lack
of water and the atrocities of a Diwan (official) named Salim Singh
(or Zalim Singh).[11]

By 1815, most of the wells in the village had dried up.[12] By 1850,
only the step-well and two other deep wells were functional.[9]
When S. A. N. Rezavi surveyed the village in the 1990s, the only
water remaining at the site was the stagnant water at some portions
Ruins of Kuldhara
of the dried-up river bed. The dwindling water supply would have
greatly reduced agricultural productivity, without a corresponding
reduction in tax demands from the Jaisalmer State. This could have forced the Paliwals to abandon
Kuldhara.[12] A local legend claims that Salim Singh, the cruel minister of Jaisalmer, levied excessive taxes
on the village, leading to its decline.[13]
As stated earlier, the historical records suggest that the population of the village declined gradually: its
estimated population was around 1,588 during 17th-18th century; around 800 in 1815; and 37 in 1890.[6]
However, a variation of the legend claims that the village was abandoned overnight. According to this
version, the lecherous minister Salim Singh was attracted to a beautiful girl from the village. He sent his
guards to force the villagers to hand over the girl. The villagers asked the guards to return next morning,
and abandoned the village overnight.[14] Another version claims that 83 other villages in the area were also
abandoned overnight.[15]

A 2017 study by A. B. Roy et al., published in Current Science, suggests that Kuldhara and other
neighbouring Paliwal villages (such as Khabha) were destroyed because of an earthquake. According to the
authors, the ruined houses in these villages show evidence of earthquake-related destruction, such as
"collapsed roofs, fallen joists, lintels and pillars".[16] Such extensive destruction cannot be attributed to "the
normal processes of weathering and erosion".[17] The authors further state that their theory is supported by
"the evidence of recent tectonic activities and the observed ground movements along several major faults in
the region".[18]

Tourism
The local legend claims that while deserting the village, the
Paliwals imposed a curse that no one would be able to re-occupy
the village. Those who tried to re-populate the village experienced
paranormal activities, and therefore, the village remains
uninhabited.[19]

Gradually, the village acquired reputation as a haunted place, and

started attracting tourists.[20][21] The local residents around the area
do not believe in the ghost stories, but propagate them in order to
Kuldhara Heritage Resort signboard
attract tourists.[22] In the early 2010s, Gaurav Tiwari of Indian
Paranormal Society claimed to have observed paranormal activities
at the site. The 18-member team of the Society along with 12 other people spent a night at the village. They
claimed to have encountered moving shadows, haunting voices, talking spirits, and other paranormal
activities.[23]

In 2006, the government set up a "Jurassic Cactus Park" at the site for botanical studies.[22] In 2011, some
scenes of the movie Agent Vinod & In 2017 climax scenes of the Tamil Movie Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru
were shot at the site. The film's crew raised new structures for their set. They painted the ruined walls with
Taliban insignia and Urdu words for their shooting requirements. They also covered some of the walls with
cow dung to get the rustic look. Many tourists accused them of defacing heritage property, and
subsequently, the Rajasthan government stalled the shooting. The police booked cases against three of the
crew members. The producers defended themselves blaming the episode on a misunderstanding, and stated
that they believed they had the necessary permissions. The Archaeological department imposed a fine of ₹
100,000 on the producers, and also asked them to deposit ₹ 300,000 for restoring the defaced structures.
After three days of restoration, the Taliban pictures, the Urdu phrases and the cow dung was removed from
the walls.[24][25]

In 2015, the Rajasthan government decided to actively develop the village as a tourist spot.[19] The project
is being undertaken as a public-private partnership with Jindal Steel Works. The plan includes establishment
of visitor facilities such as a cafe, a lounge, a folk-dance performance area, night-stay cottages and
shops.[26]

In popular culture
In 2010, a Hindi language feature film was released titled Kaalo - The Desert Witch.[27][28] The film was
based on folktales of the village.

The 2023 Bengali language detective film The Eken: Ruddhaswas Rajasthan was shot in this village.

See also
List of reportedly haunted locations in India
Akal Wood Fossil Park
Desert National Park
Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls School at Kanoi
Sam sand dune safaris and resorts

References
1. S. Ali Nadeem Rezavi 1995, p. 312.
2. S. Ali Nadeem Rezavi 1995, p. 313.
3. S. Ali Nadeem Rezavi 1995, p. 315.
4. S. Ali Nadeem Rezavi 1995, pp. 313–314.
5. S. Ali Nadeem Rezavi 1995, p. 320.
6. S. Ali Nadeem Rezavi 1995, p. 321.
7. S. Ali Nadeem Rezavi 1995, p. 314.
8. S. Ali Nadeem Rezavi 1995, p. 319.
9. S. Ali Nadeem Rezavi 1995, p. 322.
10. S. Ali Nadeem Rezavi 1995, pp. 321–322.
11. S. Ali Nadeem Rezavi 1995, p. 323-324.
12. S. Ali Nadeem Rezavi 1995, p. 324.
13. Bindu Manchanda (2001). Jaisalmer: The City of Golden Sands and Strange Spirits (https://b
ooks.google.com/books?id=vzxuAAAAMAAJ). HarperCollins. p. 136.
ISBN 9788172234348.
14. Kayita Rani (2007). Royal Rajasthan (https://books.google.com/books?id=lELRo9xARHEC
&pg=PA42). New Holland Publishers. p. 42. ISBN 9781847730916.
15. Ami Bhat (7 December 2015). "The Eerie Town of Kuldhara, Rajasthan" (http://www.moneyc
ontrol.com/news/travel/the-eerie-townkuldhara-rajasthan_4494601.html). Moneycontrol.
16. A. B. Roy 2017, p. 402.
17. A. B. Roy 2017, p. 403.
18. A. B. Roy 2017, p. 404.
19. Samonway Duttagupta (18 December 2015). "Jaisalmer's 'haunted' village to be developed
and opened for tourists" (http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/jaisalmers-haunted-village-to-be-d
eveloped-and-opened-for-tourists-kuldhara/1/550178.html). India Today.
20. "Agent Vinod's shoot stalled" (http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/agent-vinod-s-shoo
t-stalled/story-uwCwNZ2FGhfH12CVl2zGPI.html). Hindustan Times. 29 October 2011.
21. "Kuldhara, India is a cursed 'village of death' " (http://www.news.com.au/travel/world-travel/as
ia/kuldhara-india-is-a-cursed-village-of-death/news-story/1cf85ddb23d9fc6774c9f7dd2905e
458). news.com.au. 22 September 2014.
22. Deepika Mahendra (19 May 2014). "The 'haunted' ruins of Kuldhara, where ghost stories
mean big bucks" (http://english.pradesh18.com/news/bihar/the-ruins-of-kuldhara-ghostly-or-g
odly-481733.html). News 18.
23. "Revealed: Mystery behind the haunted village of Kuldhara" (http://daily.bhaskar.com/news/B
ZR-revealed-mystery-behind-the-haunted-village-of-kuldhara-4256276-NOR.html). Dainik
Bhaskar. 7 May 2013.
24. PB Chandra and Kunal M Shah (29 October 2011). "Agent Vinod flouts the law" (http://times
ofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Agent-Vinod-flouts-the-law/articl
eshow/10527710.cms). Mumbai Mirror.
25. Vimal Bhatia (1 November 2011). "Ancient glory returns to Kuldhara" (https://timesofindia.ind
iatimes.com/city/jaipur/Ancient-glory-returns-to-Kuldhara/articleshow/10561380.cms). The
Times of India.
26. Rachna Singh (8 February 2016). "Game for night out at 'haunted' Kuldhara?" (https://timesof
india.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Game-for-night-out-at-haunted-Kuldhara/articleshow/508967
61.cms). The Times of India.
27. "Kulbhata" (https://www.filmfestivals.com/city/kulbhata). www.filmfestivals.com. Retrieved
14 July 2023.
28. "FIRST LOOK: INDIA'S FIRST CREATURE FILM: KAALO, THE DESERT WITCH" (https://
www.filmfestivals.com/blog/ronita_torcato/first_look_indias_first_creature_film_kaalo_the_de
sert_witch). www.filmfestivals.com. Retrieved 14 July 2023.

Bibliography
India portal

A. B. Roy; Harsh Bhu; Pankaj Sharma; Kishan Vaishnav (2017). "Deserted nineteenth
century Paliwal villages around Jaisalmer, western Rajasthan, India: historical evidence of
palaeoseismicity" (http://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/112/02/0402.pdf) (PDF). Current
Science. 112 (2).
S. Ali Nadeem Rezavi (1995). "Kuldhara in Jaisalmer State — Social and Economic
Implications of the remains of Medieval Settlement" (https://archive.org/stream/TheMedieval
SiteOfKuldharaInJaisalmer/KuldharaSocEconImplications#page/n0/mode/2up).
Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, 56th Session: 312–338.

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