Kuldhara – A Village abandoned by Paliwals

“Kuldhara”, is an abandoned and cursed village which later became a part of the Unsolved mysteries of Indian history. Kuldhara is a village in the state of Rajasthan approximately 17 km, away from the Golden City Jaisalmer. Similarly beautiful as other villages in Rajasthan, but different from them. 

What would have been the reason? What happened there? Who cursed it?

So many similar questions occur in our minds when we see old and beautiful places that were abandoned by their residents.

There are so many places in Rajasthan, India, that are hiding their stories inside them and eagerly trying to tell someone. “Kuldhara” is one of them, which has gone through a great and sudden disaster or misfortune.

Story Behind?

Around 2 or 3 hundred years ago, Kuldhara had been home to Paliwal Brahmins of Rajasthan, for centuries. Paliwal Bramins presently do not celebrates the festival of Raksha Bandhan due to grief and remembering of their thousands of ancestors who were killed by the Mugal ruler around 700 years ago on Purnima (fool moon). Raksha Bandhan is celebrated by Indians on the same day in August month.

However, abruptly descendants of a community including residents of 85 villages nearby, fled away overnight. Nobody knows the exact reason for this sudden mass departure.

Folklore

According to folklore, the people of Kuldhara. There was a powerful minister named Salim Singh, who had fallen for a girl of their head and wished to marry her by force as they were not ready to do so. In order to protect their dignity Paliwals held a council with other 85 villages and left Kuldhara overnight without leaving a trace.

They didn’t just leave the village as it is, but they left it with a curse, that no one will ever be able to live or settle in their beloved village thereafter.

Some say Salim Singh raised the taxes to such an extent that it became unviable for the local community to survive in the village.

Whatever it was a truth of a tale. This village has nothing left today besides some tumbledown buildings and a mystery that will remain for centuries.

Also read: Gyanganj - A Place, an Illusion or just a mystery