Haunted Places of Kolkata

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Mention of the most haunted places in Kolkata brings alive it’s fascinating past as well. A city that was much loved by the Mughals, French, British and Dutch, almost every lane has a tale to tell, some with a twist of horror. If you have some ghost-chasing on your mind, there is the supposed ghost of Warren Hastings who comes riding a horse to Hastings House and the spirit of Lady Metcalfe that you might find sashaying down the corridors of the National Library of India. A more creepy experience, going by the legends, awaits at the Putulbari (the House of Dolls), the South Park Cemetery, Writer’s Building and more.

1. National Library of India

The largest library in India is much more than a haunt for just book lovers. This treasure trove for bibliophiles attracts the lover of ghost stories in equal numbers. The story of Lady Metcalfeâ€™s ghost haunting its corridors has been there for quite some time; a lot of testimonies support the story with people reporting the presence of someone simply watching them. Add to is the mystery of the hidden chamber that was discovered by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in 2010, a chamber that is rumoured to have served as a torture chamber during the British rule in India. As per witness accounts, such paranormal experiences increased all the more after 12 labourers lost their lives in an accident during some renovation work at the site. Sounds like some grist for some rumour mill.

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2. Putulbari or the House of Dolls

With a name like that, there is little doubt about the spooky quotient of this one. An old, dilapidated building with just a few residents on the lower floors and terrace that is adorned with dolls made in archaic Roman style, it has a good number of horror stories about it. Nobody is allowed to visit the upper floors during the daytime since the place is supposedly haunted by the spirits of courtesans, who were abused by wealthy landlords during and before the British rule in India. People confess to hearing both womenâ€™s wails and hysterical laughter from upper floor of Putulbari at night. While the story might or might not be true, the very sight of the building is enough to send chills down the spine.

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3. South Park Street Cemetery

Well, haunted or not, visiting a cemetery is an unusual experience. Kolkataâ€™s South Park Cemetery too has its claim to fame when it comes to a spooky tale or two. Opened in 1767, it houses more than 1600 graves, most of those covered in creepers and moss now. The cemetery, its dilapidated appearance notwithstanding, has been labelled as haunted ever since a group of tourists caught vague white figures on their cameras. The tourist from the group who saw the apparition suffered an asthma attack, right there though he had no history of asthma. Going by the stories, the rest of the group members too fell ill soon after visiting the cemetery. While the graves look creepy enough in daytime, shadows sure make the place look out of this world once the Sun goes down.