Jaisalmer may be the center of attraction for travelers looking to experience the richness, culture and vast Thar Desert of Rajasthan, but 18 kilometers from the city lies an abandoned village. Kuldhara200 years ago, thousands of villagers abandoned this bustling village in the middle of the night, leaving behind empty structures and mystery that still amazes and intrigues travelers today.

History of Kuldhara

Kuldhara was founded in the 13th century by the Paliwal Brahmins, a prosperous community known for their agricultural expertise. The village flourished for centuries, but its fortunes took a dark turn in the early 19th century when villagers mysteriously abandoned their homes overnight. Ask some locals and they will tell you about a local ruler, Salim Singh, the Diwan of Jaisalmer, who was believed to be an evil and dishonest man. He fell in love with the village chief’s beautiful daughter and was determined to keep her with him. He warned the villagers that if anyone came between them and their wishes they would have to face dire consequences.

The villagers, refusing to let their daughter suffer such a misfortune, decided to abandon the village, and escaped in the middle of the night, apparently through an underground tunnel. Even today no one knows where these villagers will settle next. But legends say that the inhabitants, before leaving, cursed the land to remain uninhabitable.

Things to see in Kuldhara

Once you leave the city limits and head towards Sam Sand Dunes, a turn in the highway takes you to Kuldhara village. It takes about 35 minutes to reach by car. The landscape is an eerie expanse of sand and stone, much like a village, shrouded in a heavy silence, punctuated only by the sound of the wind rustling between crumbling walls.

Wandering through the narrow, dusty streets, you will feel a chill down your spine. The houses, many of which are roofless, are in almost the same condition in which they were left. This heritage site is now maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.

While local legends have provided an interesting atmosphere to the site, some years ago, some studies refute these claims. According to a TOI report, a study conducted by geologists from Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur concluded that the abandoned Paliwal villages of Jaisalmer, including Kuldhara and Khaba, were located on active faults in the Jaisalmer region and were seriously affected due to the earthquake. Had happened. It is due to a natural disaster, which could have affected most of the local population, that the place has now been abandoned.

Regardless of why it was abandoned, Kuldhara feels overwhelmed by the presence of those who once called this place home. This ‘ghost’ of its past still haunts travelers today.

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