Did anyone tried to go Bhangarh after sunset?
Dispelling the myth of Bhangarh
I went twice to Bhangarh. Once with a torch after sunset and once in the morning. The roofless structures at Bhangarh at made with walls which are at least two and a half feet thick. They are mostly six feet by seven feet. They don't have any windows. These look more like:
a) cow pens or goat pens
b) place to store food grain
c) soldier's barracks (this possibility is the least likely for the lack of windows)
If they had been houses for poor people they would have been temporary structures made of wood or mud with tree trunks. Ordinary citizens houses will not stand the ravages of time.
The way these small roofless structures have been built is typical of the way kings or noblemen built their structures -- strong stone and mortar. On the other hand, houses of noblemen and royalty were much bigger than six feet by seven feet. These are, therefore, not houses at all.
Therefore, the story that these houses were abandoned owing to roofs falling over the occupants head is flawed.
The so-called castle has turrets. That means this structure is not a castle at all but a military construction. Whether it was a permanent or a temporary fortification is not clear.
The stairs and the ramparts are built in such a way that no one can suddenly approach the innards of this structure and provide the occupants with the element of surprize.
This kind of structure is ideal for a highly sensitive political prisoner or the quarters of a colonel or general.
If you notice there are places where guards with boiling oil (a la Shivaji) or arrows (a la Akbar and Humayun) can be strategically placed.
The temple is that of a different time period as evident from the tops of the pillars and the castle or fort is from another time period. This could have been the scene of bloody battle between two chieftains who were from different faiths although both being residents of Rajasthan.
This place is also within a valley. It could have been flooded with excessive rainfall and people may have left all of a sudden. This could have brought about the story / theory of a curse.Mugal invasion is also doubted as one of the prime reason of depopulation of bhangarh which is strongly supported in mugal history.
The theory about Rani Ratnawati and the tantrik haunting the place could only be cooked up by the local population to encourage tourism.
Debasish Roy
