Many people are familiar with the fact that the city of Kolkata is the cultural hub of India. However, when you get to know this city more intimately, you will know about the city’s haunted secrets. The city houses several old buildings and people believe that some of these houses have spirits and ghosts in them. Kolkata is also regarded as the center of black magic and tantra. All these definitely sound interesting and at the same time a bit eerie. Some of you must be great admirers of horror films and get turned on when you get to see one. If you are one of the horror movie buffs who love the feel of spookiness, you should certainly visit these haunted places in Kolkata, India.
1. South Park Street Cemetery
Built-in the year 1767, South Park Street Cemetery is one of Kolkata’s oldest graveyards. The cemetery has a unique beauty of its own featuring tall vegetation, ancient graves, and a feeling of serenity. These ancient graves mostly belong to the British soldiers. The cemetery is considered to be one of the city’s most haunted places. There have been several spooky incidents reported such appearances of hazy shadows on its walls, as well as, strange sounds. All these occurrences have accentuated the feeling of the presence of spirits around.
South Park Street Cemetery
Address: 52, Park Street, Opp Assembly Of God Church, Kolkata, West Bengal 700017
Website: South Park Street Cemetery
Opening hours: 10am - 5pm (daily)
2. Writer's Building
Writer’s Building used to be the office of junior staff and clerks when the British ruled over India. It has also been the State Government secretariat. The building has several vacant and big rooms that are not utilized and are extremely eerie. Night shifts are refused by the workers for the fear of ghosts. Also, food vendors and night guards on the nearby pavement have heard screams from the building at late nights quite often.
Writer's Building
Address: Binoy Badal Dinesh Bag N, Lal Dighi, B.B.D. Bagh, Kolkata, West Bengal 700001
Website: Writer’s Building
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am - 6pm (closed on Sun)
3. National Library of India
National Library used to be the official home of the Governor-General of India under the British rule. Today it is one of the most famous attractions in the city and houses an impressive collection of important and scarce publications and books. However, there have been many ghostly stories that have been knitted around this iconic building. It is believed that Lady Metcalfe, the wife of the Governor was a cleanliness freak and loved books. Many students who study in the library till late in the night and night guards have heard unnatural footsteps of the spirit of Lady Metcalfe, as well as, hazy shadows on the library’s walls.
National Library of India
Address:Belvedere Road, Block A, Alipore, Kolkata, West Bengal 700027
Website: National Library of India
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9.30am - 8pm; Sat - Sun: 9.30am - 6pm
Tip from Trip101 local expert
Was very intrigued by all the horror stories about the National Library in my growing-up years. I remember visiting with my cousin, who is also a fan of horror. We didn't hear footsteps as the security guard had claimed, but the air about the place definitely felt heavy.
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4. Hastings House
Hastings House is considered to be another major haunting place in the city. If you are not faint-hearted, a visit to this building should be definitely on your cards. According to rumors. uncanny footsteps of someone can be heard, which people believe belongs to the ghost of Warren Hastings who visits the place to look for his folder. The folder is supposed to have had some important documents, which could have rescued him from his impeachment procedure in London. Some have even reported that they saw a horse rider visiting the place.
Hastings House
Address: 20, B, J.C. Road, Alipore, Kolkata, West Bengal 700027
Website: Hastings House
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am - 5pm (closed on Sun)
Kolkata Tour Guide
Nibedita Sen
A hearty WELCOME to our page Happiness Activist. We are here to solve the problems of foreigners who come to explore India. Firstly, we suggest them to stop visiting the wonders and mundanes of social media advertisements about overrated traveling. We provide them the basic needs and guidelines that the audience requires when they first step into an unknown land which we have already explored. Secondly, we are not like any other travel guides. If you are here to explore the museum, zoo, or places that you can easily google about Kolkata then Sorry, we are not the right one to help you. Our USP is to guide those travellers who are offbeat and craze for the undiscovered and less travelled places in India, Egypt and Israel. Through our eyes, 'WE WILL MAKE YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH YOURSELF'
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5. Rabindra Sarobar Metro Station
One of the city’s bustling metro stations, Rabindra Sarobar Metro Station also happens to be the spot where many people have committed suicides. It is said that the souls of all those people can be seen on the platform of this metro station at late hours. Many passengers have seen strange shadows on the pillars of the platform or strange people crossing the tracks. The station is considered to be scary and is among the city’s most haunted sites.
Rabindra Sarobar Metro Station
Address: Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Rd, Charu Market, Kalighat, Kolkata, West Bengal 700033
Website: Rabindra Sarobar Metro Station
Tip from Trip101 local expert
I have waited at this metro station by myself for trains at night many times. It's true that I haven't seen anything, but knowing the legends definitely sent a chill down my spine every time I was there. I have also heard that the train drivers see apparitions on the track while they approach the platform.
6. Under the Howrah Bridge
The banks of River Ganges are major haunted places in the city. These places are witness to innumerable deaths due to drowning accidents or suicides. It is believed that the unsatisfied and sad souls of all the victims of these suicides and accidental cases haunt the locality. They can be seen walking around in grey shadows. Many people who visit Zanana Ghat and Millick Ghat in the morning have seen unnatural cases of hands coming out of the river water seeking help.
Howrah Bridge
Address: Howrah, West Bengal 700001
Website: Howrah Bridge
7. Putulbari
House of dolls or Putulbari is a hundred-year-old haunted house in the City of Joy, which is almost in ruins. Located in proximity to the Sovabazar jetty, this ancient house is also close to the haunted Nimtala Shamshaan Ghat. The house still has some inhabitants but no one visits the building’s upper stories. In case you are in pursuit of some eerie adventure in this city, you should try to visit Putulbari. The affluent owners or Babus who resided in this house previously brought young women here and exploited them sexually and even took their lives to hide their crime. It is believed that the undeparted spirits of those victims haunt the house seeking justice.
Putulbari
Address: SL Chatterjee St, NDDM Ward No - 26, Sarada Palli, Nimta, Kolkata, West Bengal 700049
Tip from Trip101 local expert
Putul Bari translates to the House of Dolls. This is located in Sovabazar and is near my college. I have always had a knack for horror stories, and our group in college decided to visit this apparently haunted house one day after a lecture. No doubt that this place has an eerie feeling and can spook somebody with a weak heart. There are many urban legends associated with Putul Bari. My mother used to tell me that some of the freedom fighters took shelter inside the house when the British army fired at them. Later, when they couldn't escape, they met a cruel death. Their souls are still believed to be roaming inside the haunted house!
8. Kolkata Dockyard
The late Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, who was the ruler of Awadh used to own the Kolkata Dockyard. He was thrown out of power by the British so that they could rule the then princely state. The Nawab was furious but reportedly passed away after suffering a heart attack. There are many eyewitnesses who claim to have seen the ghost of the Nawab moving around in the dockyard’s bylanes. It is believed by many that his ghost can be seen haunting the Kolkata Dockyard. It is believed that he still seeks vengeance and wants to avenge his unfair dethronement.
Kolkata Dockyard
Address: Road, 50, Kabitirtha Sarani, Andaman Dock, Khidirpur, Kolkata, West Bengal 700023
Website: Kolkata Dockyard
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
9. Royal Calcutta Turf Club
George William was passionate about race and he was obsessed with winning a bet on a snow-white horse named Pride. Pride was a champion horse but became weak and old with the passing years. One day, out of the blue, Pride was found dead after losing a derby the previous day. People suspected that the horse was killed brutally. Spooky events began thereafter with many passers-by claiming to have seen a snow-white horse running on the race tracks on a Saturday night.
Royal Calcutta Turf Club
Address: Hospital Rd, Maidan, Race Course, Hastings, Kolkata, West Bengal 700027
Website: Royal Calcutta Turf Club
10. Nimtala Shamshaan Ghat
One of Kolkata’s most ancient burning ghats, Nimtala Shamshaaan Ghat also features on the list of the city’s most haunted places. People believe that the “aghoris” or sadhus visit the ghat for carrying our different rituals during Kali Puja to invoke the goddess known as the Shamshaan Kali. The locals say that the names of these “aghoris” should not be pronounced loudly. Apparently, these people feed on the burnt bodies’ leftover flesh and use this rite to gain supernatural powers.
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Nimtala Shamshaan Ghat
Address: Nimtala Ghat St, Ahiritola, Beniatola, Kolkata, West Bengal 700005
Website: Nimtala Shamshaan Ghat
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Must-visit haunted houses in Kolkata
Kolkata is known for countless mysteries and dark secrets on its various streets and walls. While there is a string of haunted places in this city, we have compiled a list of the top haunted corners in Kolkata, India, for your convenience.
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