Can You Spot the Ghost? Whispers of Hauntings in Kolkata’s Heritage Buildings
Kolkata, the City of Joy, holds more than just bustling markets and vibrant festivals. Its labyrinthine lanes, whispering echoes of Mughal grandeur, French flourishes, British decrees, and Dutch whispers, harbor tales of a different kind – chilling encounters with the past. So, fasten your ghost-hunting belts, for we’re about to delve into the city’s most spine-tingling haunts.
The National Library
India’s largest library, the National Library, houses not just forgotten poems and lost manuscripts but tales of a restless spirit. Lady Metcalfe, they say, glides through the corridors, searching for something lost. Witnesses speak of an unsettling feeling of being watched, sending shivers down their spines. Adding to the intrigue is a recently discovered hidden chamber, rumored to have served as a torture chamber during the British Raj. Tragic accidents during renovations only fuel the chilling whispers echoing in the hallowed halls.
Putulbari or House of Dolls
With its name, “House of Dolls,” chills are almost guaranteed. This dilapidated mansion holds a dark secret. The upper floors, forbidden to visitors even in daylight, are supposedly haunted by the vengeful spirits of courtesans mistreated by wealthy landlords. Eerie wails and hysterical laughter, echoing from unseen corners, fuel the legends. Whether truth or mere rumors, the sight of the building alone is enough to set imaginations racing.
The Royal Calcutta Turf Club
Legend says, “Willam Saheb ka Sada Ghora,” a white stallion named Pride, beloved by Englishman George Williams. Driven by obsession, the owner pushed Pride beyond his limits. A lost derby and a broken spirit led to the horse’s demise on the very track. On moonlit Saturdays, onlookers swear they see Pride’s spectral form racing across the deserted course, an eerie reminder of the past.
Writer’s Building
Housing administrative offices, the Writer’s Building holds a mysterious reputation. After sunset, the place becomes eerily silent, with many rooms sealed for decades. The whispers claim these unused rooms are haunted, echoing with disembodied laughter, screams, and whispers. Investigations offer no explanation, leaving the place shrouded in an unsettling quiet, broken only by the chilling tales of the unseen.
Hastings House
Now, the Institute of Education for Women, Hastings House carries the legacy of Warren Hastings, a former British Governor General. Students claim to see a white man on horseback, believed to be Hastings’ ghost. Others speak of a boy’s spirit haunting the football field. Whether figments of imagination or remnants of the past, these spooky stories add to the building’s enigmatic aura.
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