Soumi Goswami
The capital of British India Kolkata is not only the city of joy but vintage charm. Being one of the ancient cities in the world Kolkata holds the pride of having many ancient buildings. Rumors have it that many of these past stories of these buildings haunt these places to this day and people think twice before mocking them. If you are curious to know the stories that turned into mysteries and unheard wailings, dive right in.
The National Library of Kolkata tops the list of haunted places. Imagine reading a book while being watched by an unknown figure. Or a legless figure dusting out the bookshelves. That’s the ghost of Lady Metcalf whose spirit roams the place. History says that The National Library was once the residence of Governor-General Charles Metcalf and his cleanliness freak wife Lady Metcalf. To this day, students or clerks working late can hear or see her ghost roaming the National Library corridors. Lately, a secret doorless chamber discovered in the Library is being speculated as to the torture chamber of the British. Downright spooky!
Hastings House or the Institute of Education for Women in the present day has a spine-chilling past. This building was once Governor-General Warren Hastings’ house. Hastings Saahab left away many of his valuables when he moved to England. So his ghost comes in search of those valuables even today. Apart from Hastings’ spirit, people have also reported seeing the ghost of a boy in the middle of the ground. This is the spirit of the boy who died mysteriously while playing football on the ground. Will you dare to loiter on this open silent ground or around the Hastings’ house in the dark?
Putul Bari the sprawling dilapidated house located close to Shobhabazar jetty got its name from the classical statues erected on the top of the building. Today’s haunted Putul Baari was once one of the warehouses where trade goods were kept. While the top floor served as the residence of the owners, the rest of the building was used as a warehouse. But what made this place haunted? It is said that Babus in those times would abduct, rape, and kill women in this massive house. The vastness of the place kept the crimes of these Babus under wraps. This is why the tormented ghosts of these women torment the place.
Writer’s Building is so-called because it served as the office for writers of the East India Company. The ghost of Colonel Simpsons haunts the place. According to history, three young revolutionary Benoy, Badal, and Dinesh assassinated Colonel Simpsons in his office, which is a room present in the writer’s building. Ever since Simpson’s ghost roams the corridors of the building.
What would you expect of a place built on a graveyard? That’s the reason why the third floor of tower three of the Wipro office is shut off. Apart from that people have heard noises, seen eerie figures and felt like falling off while in life in the office premises.
There are many such places in Kolkata quiet and cold amidst the hustles of the city. How many do you know?
