We all love a good scare, but that is mostly limited to novels, movies and video games. When it comes to venturing into the darker sites of real life, the attitude changes. Some might feel the adrenaline rush to enter forbidden places at the darkest hour. But some may feel the eerie feeling of something otherworldly looking over them. Well, if you want to feel both, our city does have plenty to offer. So, mapunseen today is bringing the top 10 haunted places in Kolkata that will test your limits.
1. South Park Street Cemetery – Beholder of Horrors
Kolkata, fondly known as the “City of Joy,” also hides a darker, more mysterious side within its centuries-old buildings and winding lanes. From colonial-era cemeteries to majestic libraries, the city brims with tales of restless spirits and chilling encounters. And what way is better than entering one of the most haunting places in Kolkata, South Park Street Cemetery?
South Park Street Cemetery is one of Kolkata’s most famous haunted sites, with towering Gothic cenotaphs and moss-covered tombs from the late 1700s. Many visitors and photographers describe a heavy, stifling atmosphere and eerie shadows slipping between the graves.
According to local legend, a group of friends once visited, snapped a group photo, and soon after fell ill under strange circumstances, with a few sadly passing away not long after. Though the validity of such stories is hard to determine, they are what give this cemetery so much mystique.
| Location | Park Street, Kolkata. |
| Best Time to Visit | Late afternoon (before it closes at 5:00 PM) for the best eerie lighting. |
2. The National Library – The Ghost of the Wife
It might be hard to believe that such a great library could hold dark forces within. Well, if you look at the establishment date, it all makes sense. The National Library was opened in March 1836, that is, way before the gruesome struggle ofthe 1857 revolt took place.
The National Library, located in the former residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Bengal, is the largest in India. By day, its halls bustle with scholars, but at night, guards and late visitors tell chilling tales of eerie, unexplained happenings. The walls of this age-old building hold dark secrets that are yet to see the light of day.
One of these secrets that is known to us is that the ghost of Lady Metcalfe, the wife of a former Governor-General, still roams the corridors. Readers have reported hearing the sound of footsteps and feeling the breath of someone looking over their shoulder as they study. Especially, the creeps start to set in when there is barely any soul left in the library at the time of such incidents. Many students and researchers study late at night when no one should be around, and yet, there is.
| Location | Belvedere Road, Alipore, Kolkata. |
| Best Time to Visit | During library hours (8:00 AM to 8:00 PM), experience the grand, silent halls. |
3. Writers’ Building – The Scream of Unholy
Former headquarters of our West Bengal Government, and of course, the base of administration of the British Empire on Indian soil. May ministers in the past have shared their accounts of encountering ghostly apparitions. After all, this building has served as the seat of the West Bengal government for decades. This massive red-brick colonial structure is said to be haunted by the spirits of those who worked and died there during the British Raj.
One of the famous stories is the encounter of former British officials still roaming the halls. Many employees will not even stay after dark, saying they hear eerie, high-pitched screams and the clatter of typewriters in empty, locked rooms. Writers’ Building, according to many, might be one of the most haunted places in Kolkata by far.
| Location | Binoy Badal Dinesh Bag (B.B.D. Bagh), Kolkata. |
| Best Time to Visit | Visit is not allowed at late hours, as it is a high-security government area, but the facade is best viewed at dusk. |
4. Hastings House – The Lost Soul of Governor-General
As you can already tell, there is a common pattern of haunted sights appearing in colonial-era buildings. Hastings House is no different, which now serves as an educational institute. The building was once the palatial home of Warren Hastings, the first Governor-General of India. It is considered one of the most haunted residences in the city.
Many students and staff have claimed to see a horse-drawn carriage entering the grounds at night. Legend has it that the ghost of Warren Hastings returns to the house, searching for some lost documents that played a key role in his impeachment trial.
| Location | Judges Court Road, Alipore, Kolkata. |
| Best Time to Visit | During the day, it functions as a college. |
5. Putul Bari – The House of Dolls and Horrors
Putul Bari is a decaying old mansion adorned with creepy doll-like statues on its facade. Once the home of wealthy landlords, its dark past has given it a notorious reputation for being cursed. Stories around this building have made it one of the most haunted places in Kolkata. While its Romanesque architecture and statues are artistically significant, its reputation is built on layers of dark folklore and tragic history.
According to legend, the building’s former owners exploited and mistreated women. Locals say they can still hear the jingling of anklets and the sound of feminine laughter drifting from the now mostly abandoned upper floors. The wealthy owners, popularly known as Zamindars or Babus in Bengal, used the upper floors as a place for indulgence and excess.
Rumour has it that these wealthy men would lure or kidnap young women, often dancers or local girls, to the mansion, where they were subjected to assault and torment. To cover up their crimes, the Babus allegedly ended these women’s lives and concealed their bodies within the walls or buried them on the estate grounds.
| Location | Sovabazar St, North Kolkata. |
| Best Time to Visit | Early morning or evening for a view of the architecture from the outside. |
6. Nimtala Crematorium – Den of Human Sacrifices in the Past
Hindu burning ghats are a topic of both horror and tranquillity, depending on the individual’s perception of such places. The Nimtala Crematorium is no different. The crematorium is one of Kolkata’s oldest and busiest burning ghats and is steeped in history. Its role naturally ties it to the passage between life and death, along with a host of supernatural beliefs.
Rumour has it that Aghori sadhus conduct nighttime rituals here to call upon spirits or tap into dark energies. During “Kali Puja” nights, locals steer clear of the area because of the intense spiritual activity. Not only that, in centuries past, whispers told of human sacrifices occasionally carried out under the cover of night to appease the goddess.
Locals believe that some pyres at Nimtala are “never-ending.” They say if a pyre is put out too soon by anything other than the ritual water, the spirit of the dead becomes trapped, doomed to roam the banks of the Hooghly forever as a Preta, a restless ghost. True or not, you have to visit the place to experience it yourself.
| Location | Strand Road, Ahiritola, Kolkata. |
| Best Time to Visit | It is open 24 hours, but visiting during the late evening can be particularly intense. |
7. Lower Circular Road Cemetery – Tale of Untold Horrors
Though South Park Street is more well-known, Lower Circular Road Cemetery is just as haunted, with the graves of numerous British officers and their families. The most well-known ghost around here is Sir William MacNaghten, whose body was savagely mutilated during the Afghan War. Legend has it that if you recount his tale near his grave, the tall tree above it will begin to tremble, even when the air is perfectly still.
| Location | Acharya Jagdish Chandra Bose Road, Kolkata. |
| Best Time to Visit | Daytime (10:00 AM to 5:00 PM). |
8. Royal Calcutta Turf Club (RCTC) – The Horse Apparition
The Royal Calcutta Turf Club, or the Racecourse, is well-known for the legend of “William Saheb’s Ghost,” a tale that harks back to the British era when horse racing was at its height. The club was established in 1847 and garnered popularity for horse races. The story also revolves around this horse racing era, about a white horse named Pride and her owner, George Williams.
He was a passionate racing fan, and once owned a champion white horse named Pride, also known as the “Queen of the Tracks”. After Pride lost a big race and later died, Williams was found dead on the tracks the next morning. People working in the tracks have reported seeing a misty white horse galloping across the racecourse on moonlit Saturday nights (the traditional day for races).
| Location | Maidan, Race Course, Kolkata. |
| Best Time to Visit | Race days or weekend mornings when the grounds are active. |
9. Rabindra Sarobar Metro Station – Pit of Untimely Demise
You do not expect anything haunting from a mundane metro station. Yet, Rabindra Sarobar metro station might be one of the most haunted places in Kolkata. The station has a tragic history of having been the scene of many suicides over the years, which has fueled countless stories of paranormal activity along the tracks. Even writing as of right now, somebody might have committed or is contemplating doing so at the station.
Remember, it is estimated that over 70% of all suicides that occur in the Kolkata Metro system happen at this specific station. Commuters and metro drivers often claim to spot hazy figures or shadows leaping onto the tracks just before a train pulls in, only for them to disappear without a trace when checked.
Not only that, there are several similar reports of being approached by a well-dressed, good-looking man who politely asks them to take his photograph with his camera or phone. However, just as the person prepares to take the shot, the man vanishes into thin air. Legend has it that he was a young model hopeful who took his own life at the station after his parents pushed him to give up his dreams and pursue medicine instead.
| Location | Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Road, Kolkata. |
| Best Time to Visit | During operational hours, ideally, the last train of the night is at around 10:00 PM. |
10. Wipro Office – The Haunted 3rd Floor
Now you might be wondering, what kind of horrors can take place in a modern corporate office? Well, if you look closely, the Wipro Limited office in Salt Lake Sector V stands on land that was once a wetland and illegal burials following “encounter” killings and local gang wars in the 1970s and 80s. It’s now considered one of the city’s few “modern” haunted places in Kolkata.
For years, rumours have swirled that the third floor is often left empty or off-limits after hours. Word is, the company had trouble keeping teams there due to the frequent stream of “complaints.”In particular, night shift employees in Tower 3 have reported spotting a mysterious woman in white roaming the halls and hearing toilets flush in empty restrooms. Some workers have also claimed to notice strange reflections in the glass windows during late hours.
Furthermore, employees using the washrooms alone around 2 or 3 AM have reported hearing someone softly sobbing in the next stall. But when they look, every stall is empty, and the main door is locked from the inside. One of the more unusual and eerie tales involves strange sounds like “crunching” or “chewing”. Some employees say they’ve heard such noises coming from under-desk wiring or the shadowy corners of the cafeteria late at night. The moment a flashlight shines on the spot, the noise stops, only to start up again as soon as the light is switched off.
| Location | Salt Lake Sector V, Kolkata. |
| Best Time to Visit | It is a private office, so it is best viewed from the outside or if you have official business. |
Conclusion
Kolkata is the city of lights, yet under its belly lies deep, dark secrets. It is not about the haunting apparitions or the horrifying legends. But the history behind those stories gives birth to the myths. At mapunseen, we cannot say for sure that visiting these haunted places in Kolkata will guarantee an encounter with the otherworldly entities. Yet, witnessing the rich history embedded in those places will at least let you come in contact with the past. It is eerie enough to realise that the stories of the long-dead past still linger in the darker corners of a decaying building.
FAQs
- Is it safe to visit these haunted locations?
- Generally, yes, most of these are public landmarks or historical sites. However, use common sense—some spots like Putulbari are in a state of decay and may be structurally unsafe, while the Nimtala Crematorium requires respectful behaviour as it is a place of mourning. Always stick to public areas and avoid trespassing on private property.
- Are there organised ghost tours in Kolkata?
- Absolutely. Groups like Heritage Walk Calcutta and Walking Tours of Calcutta occasionally organise evening walks that focus on the city’s dark history and legends. These are much safer (and more informative) than wandering around alone at night.
- Can I enter the cemeteries after dark?
- No. Most cemeteries, including South Park Street Cemetery, strictly close their gates to the public around 5:00 PM. Security guards are quite vigilant, and attempting to enter after hours is considered trespassing. The “best” time to visit is usually the final hour before sunset to catch that eerie, golden-hour atmosphere.
- Which is the most “active” haunted spot?
- While subjective, the National Library and South Park Street Cemetery are considered the most haunted places in Kolkata. The Library is famous for the “invisible librarian” who breathes down readers’ necks, while the Cemetery is known for a general heavy energy that often makes visitors feel physically unwell.
