5 best places in India to visit for dark tourism

Representational image. Dumas Beach in Surat is believed to be haunted by ghosts. (Photo: Twitter)

As festivals are fast approaching in the country, it is believed that it is the peak time when negative energies make their presence felt. Hence, people indulge in pooja and try to keep their houses filled with positivity. The Hindus had Pitru Paksha puja on Saturday, in which homage is paid and worship offered to one's dead ancestors. Halloween, too, is round the corner. While it is one part of the story, there are people who might be curious, around this time, to explore places which have dark backstories, past and history, and possibly, some dark energies as well. Here are a handful of the best dark tourism places in the country.

Dark tourism, also known as thanatourism or grief tourism, refers to the act of visiting places and attractions that are associated with death, suffering, tragedy, or the macabre. This type of tourism involves visiting sites that have a connection to historical or contemporary events, such as war, genocide, natural disasters, accidents, crime, and other instances of human suffering and tragedy. There are many such places globally. For example, Jasmeet Kochhar, executive director, Avalon Resorts Pvt. Ltd, recalls rising on the popularity chart of dark tourism, South Africa's Robben Island is where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years. There are many such places across India for one to explore, here are five:

Bhangarh Fort, Rajasthan. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Situated in the Alwar district of Rajasthan, Bhangarh Fort tops the list of dark tourist spots in India. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) prohibits people from visiting or staying within the premises after sunset. As per the stories narrated by the locals, people who stayed at the place never returned, and spirits roam around the premises at night time. While tourists appreciate the architecture of this site, many of them have reported feeling anxiety, restlessness, and paranoia, and even sensed paranormal activities.

EaseMyTrip’s spokesperson narrates a popular legend story associated with this place for dark tourism. “The popular legend story states a wizard adept in black magic fell in love with Princess Ratnavati. He replaced the letter she was buying while out shopping with a love potion. The princess got to know about this evil plan and threw the potion onto a boulder nearby. It rolled towards the wizard and crushed him to death. But before his last breath, the wizard cursed the place that it would be destroyed and no one would ever be able to live there. Soon, the entire population was killed by the invading Mughal forces, and the place has remained barren ever since.”

Well, a group of friends I spoke to narrated a story where as soon as they turned the car to reach Bhangarh fort, the clutch plate of a newly serviced car used to crash. But as soon as they decided to go back home, the clutch plate used to work as normal as possible. The incident kept on happening for a long time and finally, they decided to head back home. Ankit Choudhary, who was there with his friends, said, “I believe there were some good energies that came to save us may be the blessings of our ancestors otherwise survival would have been difficult, especially after the last accident we encountered with a truck. I would suggest visiting this place at your own risk.”

The Jomblang Cave has a dark history, Goa. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

We know Goa is not typically associated with dark tourism, as it is primarily known for its beaches, vibrant culture, and recreational activities. However, like many places with a rich history, some locations in Goa have historical and cultural significance, which might be of interest to tourists looking to explore the region's past. There are old churches, forts and temples where people have felt some energy.

“My husband had faced paranormal activities in his apartment at Goa, Siolim. Goa is a hub of such activities I believe, being a Goan I have come across a lot of them,” said Mithila Anaokar, a PR professional. Further narrating the incident, she said, “Back in 2018, my husband went on a business trip in Goa where he was staying at a fully furnished apartment. While the whole house was pretty chilled, there was a master bedroom which was comparatively warmer so he used to sleep over there. He used to feel that someone was sleeping right next to him. Whenever he used to breathe, he used to feel someone was breathing around him. The person didn’t cause him any harm but its presence around him was scary in itself,” she narrated.

Dumas beach, Surat. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Dumas Beach is one of the picturesque places during the day. However, at dusk, the beach turns silent, with no sight of tourists. It is one of the popular dark tourism destinations in the country, known for its black sand and spooky surroundings. The beach was once a Hindu burial ground; hence, is believed to have the presence of souls who never left the place. As per the local folklore, the sand turning black is because of the ash produced by the cremation of the deceased, which when combined with the beach’s white sand, turned darker in shade.

Rikant Pittie, Co-founder, of EaseMyTrip, said, “And if stories are to be believed, those who have attempted to stay post-sunset have either never returned or have horrific, paranormal stories to share. The beach’s strange atmosphere and haunting past certainly add up to its mystery and terror. Hence, tourists avoid visiting the place after sunset. Travellers should certainly visit the place for its magnificent views, serene surroundings and delectable local snacks served by the street vendors at the beach.”

Roopkund Lake, Uttarakhand. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

When discussing dark tourism destinations, Roopkund Lake in Uttarakhand unquestionably earns its place on the list. Initially, this glacier lake presents itself as a serene and enigmatic frozen body of water nestled amidst the grandeur of the mountains. However, when the snow and ice thaw away, it undergoes a chilling transformation, revealing human skeletons scattered across the lake's surface, easily visible to the naked eye. Hence, it has earned the nickname "Skeleton Lake."

According to local lore, these skeletal remains belong to a tribe that perished during a snowstorm in the 19th century. For those with an adventurous spirit, a visit to this location offers the opportunity to embark on treks through stunning landscapes and delve into its sombre historical past. The story was narrated by EaseMyTrip’s spokesperson.

Cellular Jail (Kala Pani), Andaman & Nicobar Islands. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

The paradise of India, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands are known for their pristine white-sand beaches, mangroves and tropical rainforest. But there’s a dark side to this place! It is not just a popular beachy tourist place but a grief tourism destination as well. The place is home to the Cellular Jail, known for isolated jail cells and ill-treatment of the inmates during India’s freedom struggle.

At the time, the cellmates were physically tortured and mentally harassed by restraining them in metal bondage and isolating them from the world and each other. They suffered atrocities, including working forcibly as workers in construction sites and oil mills, regular beating as punishment, and even being subjects of medical experiments. The place stands strong as a reminder of the country’s battle against the cruel British colonial rule and the price we had to pay for our freedom. Travellers should visit this place to pay homage to the heroes who sacrificed their lives for India.