Tucked into the Himalayan foothills is the community of Shimla. As Himachal Pradesh's capital, Shimla is a hill station with a long history stretching across the centuries. Because of Shimla's age, many legendary stories have arisen. Indeed, strange events and ghostly sightings have been recorded in Shimla. If you're a curious explorer, discover the top haunted places in Shimla right now.
1. Charleville Mansion
Located near the Ridge in Shimla, the Charleville Mansion is a Victorian home dating back to the British regime. Reportedly, it's haunted by the spirits of Captain Charles Pratt and a former owner named Lady Charlotte. Both spirits are believed to have mysteriously died at the property years ago.
By 1913, the mansion was a rental property for curious paranormal fans. Famously, Officer Victor Bayley performed a test during his stay at the mansion. After locking a deserted and tidy room overnight, he opened it in the morning to find it ransacked. From strange sounds indoors to ghostly sightings outside, the Charleville Mansion is a truly fascinating place to visit from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily.
2. Chudail Baudi
Within Shimla are plenty of wooded areas. If you take a drive between Navbahar and Chota Shimla, you might encounter the Chudail Baudi along the forested Shimla Highway. Translating to Witch's Well, the Chudail Baudi is a spirit who haunts this lonely stretch of road.
First, you might notice your car slowing down for no reason at all. Next, a woman in white flags you down for a ride. Although you might say no, the witch ends up in your vehicle's passenger seat. Indeed, there have been reports of her riding in cars for several miles in this area. Reportedly, many car accidents occur because of her hitchhiking habits.
3. Tunnel 33
The Kalka-Shimla Railway serves this region with reliable and safe transportation. Its origins, however, have a few ghost tales attached to them. During its initial construction, Captain Barog was the main engineer in charge. Sadly, this British man couldn't complete the railway as designed. As a result, he was ridiculed and committed suicide at Tunnel 33. Now, he appears to haunt this location.
Walking near the tunnel, you might hear footsteps or catch a glimpse of his apparition. Reportedly, visitors who speak to the apparition are surprised by his friendliness. In addition, a female apparition seems to haunt this tunnel. As she runs and screams through the tunnel, her spirit slowly disappears from sight.
4. Indira Gandhi Medical College
As the largest medical facility in Himachal Pradesh, the Indira Gandhi Medical College also has paranormal activity throughout the property. Reportedly, you might feel a push from behind as you take the staircase. Strange noises, ghostly apparitions and other phenomena have been reported in patient rooms, too.
It's believed that this haunting is due to the many deaths occurring in the facility each year. Remarkably, the road leading to the property has its own legend. An orange vendor passed away along the forest road, and he haunts the area to this day. With several paranormal sightings across this vast property, exploring it will take at least a few hours.
5. Convent of Jesus and Mary
Typically, haunted properties tend to be abandoned or run off-site by an owner for business purposes. At the Convent of Jesus and Mary, this religious institution is a reputable school for learning and worshiping today. However, it also has its haunting stories.
Recently, there were two student suicides at the school. Staff and family believe their souls haunt the hallways now. According to reports, the Friday the 13th conjures up a headless horseman, too. He offers roses to the girls and saves only those souls. In addition, tales of orphans dying in a fire at the school are part of the folklore. According to these stories, they're buried in the current play area outside. As a unique location for a haunting, this school continues to educate the locals while the stories gain popularity.
6. Kingal Road
Within the Shimla District is the small village of Kingal. Naturally, this small community doesn't have a sprawling road system. Indeed, there's only one major road in and out of the village. During the day, this switchback roadway is a pleasant drive through the Himalayan foothills. By night, unusual occurrences happen under cover of darkness.
Reportedly, strange lights flicker on and off along the road where there are no fixtures. Also, shadowy figures dance along the shoulder. Some visitors report the sounds of whispers in the wind if you roll down the windows. As a haunted place stretching for a few miles in isolated conditions, Kingal Road is a favorite among paranormal fans.
7. House of Dukhani
Overlooking Shimla on a hillside, the House of Dukhani dates back to the British regime. According to legend, an old man wearing a nightgown shot himself inside the home. Years later, ghostly sightings are commonplace at the property. Most notably, Sir John Smith stayed at the property and encountered the old man's spirit in the same room where he passed. With imposing architecture and strange noises plaguing the property, this haunted place is worth a visit on your next Shimla vacation.
It's possible to create an entire vacation itinerary with these haunted locations alone. Simply book a lodging reservation in Shimla to start your adventure. These haunted places reflect Northern India's history and fascinating culture over the centuries.
