Everyone knows that Kolkata is one of the most important commercial centre’s of India, a historically significant place and a destination with extremely rich culture. If you are coming to Kolkata for business, then you must head out to visit the city’s attractions as a little sightseeing on a work trip hasn’t hurt anyone. Now, if you are a regular traveler, you would most probably visit its colonial monuments, temples and museums or indulge in retail therapy. Read ahead for the most famous ones.
1. Howrah Bridge – The Lady in White
One of the most iconic sights of Kolkata, the Howrah Bridge is also said to be a haunt of ghosts. Talk to the wrestlers who train under it, and some of these might tell you that they regularly see arms merging from the Hooghly River, unsure whether they belong to a human or a spirit. Some people might also recall seeing a sobbing woman in white robes, calling out to them in a nasal voice. Those who have heard it or tried to approach the figure have claimed to be traumatised. These spirits are said to be of those, who died of drowning in the river either accidentally or willingly. In this place while ghosts are sai roam around most places at night, it is the morning which is said to be the most horrifying time here.
2.National Library – Ghost with an OCD
The National Library in Alipore is another ghostly place in the city, if you believe such stories (personally, I find libraries to be the most depressing places on earth). Several people will tell you that they felt as if someone was breathing down their neck when they were reading alone. This feeling is said to be amplified if you don’t keep a book in its rightful place. Now, this is what I call a ghost with an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder so strong, which won’t die even after the person is dead. There have also been reports of people hearing footsteps near them, but seeing nobody. It’s not only readers, but even librarians have complained of seeing chairs being drawn away; chairs on which they were sitting along with hearing sounds of ruffling pages and books being dropped. The presence being felt is said to be of the wife of Charles Metcalfe, a former Governor-General of India. This is one of the scariest place
3. Bhoot Bangla or Hastings’ College
Hastings’ College is now an underground women’s college under the Calcutta University but formerly, it was known as the Belvedere Estate, the residence of the former Governor General William Hastings. It is said that staff and well as the girls in the hostel were often see an Englishman entering the premises and galloping in the huge grounds of the college and that it is none other than Hastings Saheb himself! On the other hand, a few years ago a young boy had died an unnatural death while playing football on the same grounds and it is said that at times this boy can be seen running around. There are many other incidents revolving this huge building and the open, silent ground around it and it happens to be one of the most haunted places of Calcutta. This place everyone should visit.
4.South Park Street Cemetery
Not only in the city, but this happens to be one of the oldest graveyards in the entire country. Built in 1767, the Park Street Cemetery is the oldest in the city and it houses generations of British families who lived during the British era. The tombs here are like works of art themselves and the place has an eerie beauty to it, with tall vegetation and graves and tombstones which are centuries old. It is said that it is one of the spookiest places in the cities, with shadows often drifting in and out from between the tombs. Eerie sounds can be heard and it is said that photographers who come here to capture the photo of the tombs and for nature photography had also caught strange shadows in their photographs. Some even feel breathless and dizzy. It is really a place to avoid after dark. It is one of the most haunted places in Kolkata.
5. Rabindra Sarobar Metro Station
One of the busiest metro stations in the North- South metro route of Kolkata, Rabindra Sarovar has the highest number of suicide cases. It is said that the souls of those who had committed suicide here still roam the platform at late hours. Peculiar shadows are seen on the pillars and the walls from time to time and when the platform is deserted, shadows can be seen jumping on to the track. It can be quite scary to see such a sight when you are calmly thinking of returning home.
6. Kolkata Dock
The Kolkata dock or the Kidderpur Dock was built was the Nawab Wajid Ali Shah of Awadh. He had come here from Awadh, relinquishing his throne and kingdom in the hopes that the British would give him refuge to London where he would have a comfortable life for the rest of his days. He waited here, commission the ships, but the call never came. Instead, he was dumped by the Government and he spent the rest of his days in Calcutta and built the dock, which is now an important port in the east coast of the country. It is said that the soul of Nawab Saheb still roams the dock area and that his soul would not rest in peace unless he had had his revenge from the British for their betrayal. Many soldiers and sailors, who died here, waiting with him, can also be seen here and sailor and officials at the dock working at night often find themselves paralyzed in fear.
7.Writer’s Building at BBD Bag
The building is the present secretariat of the West Bengal State Government and it was the office of clerks and junior staff during the British era. It is said that people came from far and wide in those days to lodge their complaints and grievances but often returned empty- handed due to the hard- heartedness of the British officials. There are many vacant and unutilized rooms in the building still and strange and eerie noises come from here. Night guards and vendors outside the building have often heard cries coming from inside as well. It is surely a place to be avoided after dark.
8. House of Dolls
House of Dolls, or Putul Bari, is a century old haunted house in North Calcutta, which is almost in ruins. In a region where every inch is precious and a place to stay is highly in demand, the vast upper floors of this huge mansion like residence is empty. The most horrid screams can be heard from the house after dark and no one has had the guts to go upstairs after sunset. The interesting thing is that the lower floor of the houses is still inhabited by tenants who have been residing here for centuries and they have simply gotten used to the screams, although even they do not climb up the stairs. As to the shrieks that can be heard, it is said that a zamindar used this house as his haunt where he brought women from wherever he wanted for his pleasure. The house is so named because of the figures of dolls etched into the arches of the building. Any outsider who has gone into the house once has not ventured a second time.
Location: Hari Ghosh Street, Hedua, Maniktala, Kolkata, West Bengal 700006
9. Wipro Office
This is one of the most haunted places in Kolkata. Wipro Kolkata is perhaps the only office in India that warns its employees to stay away from certain parts of the office… specifically, the third floor of tower three. According to locals, the plot where the office stands was previously a graveyard that had witnessed several rapes and murders. The employees of the company have often reported strange actives in the washrooms and doorways of the building.
Location: Plot no 1, 7, 8 & 9, Block DM, Sector V, Salt Lake City, Kolkata, West Bengal 700091
10. Nimtala Crematorium
Situated in central Kolkata, the Nimtala Crematorium is perhaps the oldest cremation ground in the city. On the nights of Kali Puja, the Aghoris visit this place and feed on the remains of those who have been cremated and are said to stimulate paranormal forces. The thought of this itself is super creepy!
Location: Nimtala Ghat St, Kolkata, West Bengal 700006
(Disclaimer : All informations are based on Data available on the Internet)
