Shahid Judge digs up the scariest stories he can find in an attempt to list out the creepiest urban legends known to our country
Remember the stories of ladies dressed in white waiting by the side of the road for an unsuspecting motorist? What are these stories and is there any truth to them? These are the creepy urban legends that start from one point and turn into scary tales passed on from one generation to one, usually by word of mouth. Their base may be set on an unexplained haunting or a belief in supernatural. They are not necessarily rational but people tend to believe them in one form or another. Here are our picks of the urban legends in the country with a source from where they have stemmed.
LEGEND OF THE TOPI GHOST
Location: Landour, Mussoorie
There is a certain curve near the Landour Community Hospital which is infamous for its legend of the Topi Ghost. The story states that there was a resident of Mussoorie who was particularly attached to his topi or baseball cap. One day, while returning from work on a moonless night, he forgot to carry his torch and walked blindly along the hillside. At the time, the curve had no railing, and the unlucky pedestrian walked over the edge. But as he tumbled down to his death, legend has it that his prized topi was left behind on the road he was walking on. Railings were put up on cliff edges after this incident.
It is said that on a moonless night, a man appears near the same curve, and asks passersby if they have seen his topi.
HONEYMOON BLUES
Location: Road to Marve and Madh
Island, Mumbai It is said that on a calm moonless night, a woman dressed in full bridal attire will attempt to distract vehicles on this road, often leading to fatal accidents. Locals and staff from beachfront hotels on the night shift claim to have seen this woman.
Legend has it that the sighted woman was brutally murdered on her wedding night, about 30 years ago, and her body was dumped in this area. Her spirit now attempts to find her assailants.
Villagers have also advised drivers to not look into her ‘mesmerising’ eyes and simply ignore her if encountered.
I LIVED NEXT DOOR TO A GHOST!
“It happened in the summer of 2002. There were strange ‘thumping’ sounds at odd intervals, from the other side of my sister’s bedroom wall. We thought it was the neighbours fooling around. We thumped back with our fists at first. This continued for a few days and would happen mostly throughout the night, at odd intervals. It grew louder, more violent. The furniture in the room would shake a little. One evening, as I was studying, there were repeated thumps on the wall. The furniture shifted violently around the room. I ran and told my parents. We were told of an electrician who had died just beside my sister’s wall, on the neighbour’s side. A small prayer was offered for peace.
There are times, still, when I can feel a presence in that room. But I bear it no ill and trust in it not to bear me any.” – Abhishek Sah, student
THE OLD LADY HITCHHIKER
Location: Withered tree on the highway between Pune and Satara
Legend has it that when a motorcyclist passes a certain tree on the way from Pune to Satara at night, he may find an old lady with untied hair at the foot of this tree, asking for a lift. If complied, the lady will direct you to her house which is landmarked by a similar looking tree. If however, one refuses to offer the lady a lift, the driver will see her sitting on the back of the motorcycle through the rear-view mirror. Locals don’t know the story behind this mysterious lady, but are certain that the two trees (the one where she stands, and the one near her house) withered the day she died.
CHURCH ON THE HAUNTED HILL
Location: Cuelim Hill, Cansulim, Goa
The Three Kings Church, on top of Cuelim Hill is said to be haunted by the spirit of King Holger Avungar, one of the three Portuguese kings who ruled the area. Legend has it that the three kings would often fight for power over the area, but were forced to call a truce as they were still rooted to Portuguese diplomacy. On one occasion, King Avungar invited the other two over for a feast and had them poisoned. Being the sole remaining ruler, Avungar fell out with the public and ultimately committed suicide.
Since that day, locals have often reported strange people walking in the area at times when the church compound is empty. Villagers refuse to visit the place after dusk. The area is also infamous for being the site of several suicides.
THE ABANDONED TOWN
Location: Bhangarh, Rajasthan
This abandoned town is considered as one of the most haunted places in the world. Even the Archaeological Survey of India has put up notices making it clear that nobody is allowed there before sunrise or after sunset.
There are several legends that claim credit behind the town being haunted. The most prominent however, is that of the Tantric and the Princess of Bhangarh. A tantric had fallen in love with the princess and attempted to woo her by using black magic on oil that would cause the princess to surrender herself to him when she touched it. But the princess was aware of the tantric’s actions and poured the oil into the sand. Upon touching the ground, the oil turned into a boulder which crushed the tantric, who shortly before dying, cursed the Royal Palace with the death of all who lived in it. The following year, the prophecy came true when Ajabgarh won a battle against Bhangarh.
MORBID NURSERY RHYMES
RING-A-RING O’ ROSES
This nursery rhyme refers to the bubonic plague that hit London in the 17th century. The original song starts with ‘Ring around the rosy,’ which refers to a ring-shaped rosy red rash, a common symptom. ‘A-tishoo A-tishoo’ refers to constant sneezing, another symptom, and finally, ‘they all fell down’.
JAKE AND JILL
This song is said to represent the beheading of King Louis XVI of France and his wife Queen Mary Antoinette during the French Revolution. King Louis was beheaded (lost his crown) first by the guillotine, followed by his wife (Jill came tumbling after).
MARY MARY QUITE CONTRARY
This four-lined nursery rhyme refers to Queen Mary I, or Bloody Mary of England. The Queen was a staunch Catholic and had overseen the mass slaughter of Protestants. The ‘garden’ in the song refers to a graveyard, and the ‘silver bells, cockleshells, and pretty maids’ refer to instruments of torture.
LONDON BRIDGE IS FALLING DOWN
This song brings light to the fact that London Bridge (a famous landmark in London) was indeed plagued with several disasters which saw the bridge being built with different material on each occasion. The disasters date back to the time of the Roman occupation of England.
Volume 3 Issue 1
