Lonely India: villages, forts, cities left abandoned and unmanned

An integral part of India’s collective treasure of folklores, Kuldhara in Rajasthan, is the first name that strikes us when we talk about mysterious exoduses and escapes. Once what happened to be a prosperous village is now a barren land of vast maze like cluster of roofless homes, bare walls, and a carpet of disjointed bricks. An air of eerie envelopes the ruins of Kuldhara and but obviously comes the tales of its abandonment. Many stories surround the sudden and mysterious escape of the people of this village but one that stands common in every discussion is the story of the village headman’s daughter. The then prime minister of the Jaisalmer court, Salem Singh wanted to marry her against her will and the villagers fled their homes overnight to uphold their honour.

Must Read- Kuldhara—the ghost village

Also known as Danushkodi, this is a ghost town that sits in silence at the south eastern tip of Pamban Island located in Tamil Nadu. This lonely and now in ruins town is also home to the only land border between India and Sri Lanka. The destruction of this town is not attributed to any folklores or legends though. The catastrophic cyclone that hit Tamil Nadu in 1964 is the reason behind the abandonment of this place.

A long forgotten and deserted island with ruins of buildings that once were the pride of the British rulers in India, Ross Island is a shadow of its past glory. A small island at the frontline of capital Port Blair, this place was the entry point to this idyllic cluster of islands. It even served as the capital of the British government in this part of India. Once a township bathed in luxury and lavish life ways, now it is home to silence and isolation.

Now a fortified ghost town, Lakhpat in Gujarat was once said to be a prosperous trade centre where business worth millions took place every day! Abuzz with traders and businessmen selling and purchasing, Lakhpat met its fatal end like every other tale of lost civilization when rivers change their courses. Its location at the mouth of the Kori Creek from where the Sindhu River once met the Arabian Sea was its prime selling point but this turned out to be a curse when the river changed its course. For two centuries, this walled city was the epitome of prosperity and richness and now all lays there is silence.

If the ruins look this amazing then imagine how it would have looked in its heydays! Located just 22 kms away from the village of Shettihalli, the origin of this church goes back to 1860s when French missionaries in India laid the foundation stones. A marvelous work of Gothic architecture, the church saw its desertion after the construction of the Hemavati dam and reservoir in 1960. A secluded entity, Shettihalli Church however has started seeing visitors of late.

Air of mystery, amazement and wonder–all will hit you together once you set foot in the rocky world of Unakoti in Tripura. The stone carving of numerous Hindu gods and goddesses on hills and uncut rocks will leave you mesmerized. Legend has it that the number of statues here counts up to one less than a crore, hence the name Unakoti (koti is the Sanskrit for crore). More interesting is the fact that no one actually knows who, how and when these statues were made! Considering the scale of the work, it is more than obvious that people relate them to some divine intervention.

Located on an island off the Konkan coast of Maharashtra and around 165 kms from Mumbai, one can find this once impregnable and unassailable fort by the name of Janjira. Built at the end of the 17th century, this mega fort is the brain child of Malik Ambar, a minister in the service of the Sultan of Ahmednagar. Considered to be one of the strongest marine forts of India, Janjira holds the reputation of being unconquered. Even the great Shivaji could not tame her despite numerous ventures! Once what was a formidable structure with 572 cannons now lies deserted burying stories of valour and glory behind its high walls.

Perhaps the most dreaded colonial prison during the British rule in India, Cellular Jail is also known as Kala Pani. This infamous prison has kept in captivity many of India’s freedom fighters and rebels who raised their voices against the atrocities of the English rulers. The inhuman treatment meted out to the inmates here became a part of legends and to some extent it is a relief that this ominous place now lies abandoned. Visitors are allowed inside the premises and this is a way to pay homage to freedom fighters like Batukeshwar Dutt and Veer Savarkar who underwent indescribable tortures for the freedom of India.

Left abandoned for years, Martand Surya temple came to limelight when Indian filmmaker Vishal Bharadwaj filmed a song from his adaptation of Hamlet, Haider in its premises. Now in ruins, this happened to be a glorious temple dedicated to the Sun God, built by Lalitaditya Mukhtapid of the Karkota dynasty of Kashmir. With the decay of the dynasty and decades of invasion and natural disasters left the temple in its current condition.

About 150 kms north west of Kolkata lies a remnant of a city that once was the capital of a kingdom that held its head for 800 years! But today all that remains of those glorious days are a few terracotta temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu built by the Malla rulers during the 17th and 18th century.