5 Unsolved Mysteries of India
India is at least 5,000 years old. In a country that old, there are several mythologies and legends that have made their presence through time. Along with them, there are also several mysteries that have come down through time. While some of these mysteries may be explained, some just refuse to be decoded. Here are 5 unsolved mysteries in India that have become famous.
Bhangarh Fort – Village of ghosts
The Bhangarh fort in India has gained notoriety as the most haunted place in India. A small village in India is known to be a ghost village i.e., the village filled with just… ghosts. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, this is one place that may give you chills down your bones. While some people who have visited this ghost town have not reported anything peculiar, several people have reported eerie feelings after visiting this village. Some paranormal researchers and ghost hunters too have claimed to have witnessed paranormal activities within the fort premises. There are accounts of people vanishing without trace in the place if they visit the place after sunset.
There are several theories related to the presence of ghosts in this fort: from curse of a black magician (tantric) to prophecies and battles annihilating the entire village. But the belief of ghosts haunting the area is so strongly rooted that even the Archaeological Survey of India has put up huge sign boards and strictly prohibited people from entering the premise after sunset.
Emperor Ashoka’s Unknown Nine Men
There are several occasions in history when legends and myths are created. In time, they become accepted facts. No one knows how much truth the legend or mythology consists. But they become unsolved mysteries. The Emperor Ashoka’s ‘nine unknown men’ is such a legend that has become famous through ages.
What Alexander was to Macedonia and Greece, Emperor Ashoka was to India. But after conquering the length and breadth of India and the battle of Kalinga (262-261 BC), he broke down seeing the massacre and genocide he had created. Ashoka gave up everything and adopted Buddhism. And with a goal of spreading peace, he sent out Buddhist emissaries across the world. At the same time, he is also said to have created a group of 9 men who would always hide their identity, and safeguard books containing ancient knowledge and secrets. Each member of the group would carry a book pertaining to a different subject such as science, astrology, occult, psychological warfare and so on. Why create this secret group? Apparently, the knowledge was so explosive and dangerous that if fallen into the wrong hands, would completely annihilate the world.
The Sonic Boom
Mysteries need not come from a distant past. Some incidents in recent years too are shrouded in mystery. The sonic boom in Jodhpur of Rajasthan in December 2012 is one such example. What is a sonic boom? It is caused when an airplane flies breaking past the speed of sound. Now you know why this incident is a mystery. A sonic boom is an extremely rare phenomenon, as planes do not fly at such high speeds, especially in residential areas. But a deafening sonic boom rattled the city of Jodhpur on December 18, 2012. When enquired, the Indian Air Force refused of any such drills. Then what created this sonic boom? It is an unsolved mystery till date. By the way, it is known to be similar to the several sonic booms heard in Britain and Texas.
Gyangunj – The place of immortals
No, we are not talking about the city of vampires or zombies here… We are talking about a city where there are ‘people’ alive for thousands of years. Interestingly, this city is also invisible to naked eye or any known modern technology. As much as this sounds like a figment of imagination or an excerpt from a fiction novel, there are several claims that this city exists. It ‘exists’ on the disputed border of China and India, exactly in the region where there are several supposed UFO sightings. Several theories surround this city. Some say that this is the legendary land of Shambhala or Shangrila. Some say that this is where aliens are residing and have cleverly camouflaged their existence. Others claim that this is where the ascended masters such as rishis and mages who taught civilisation to humans have resided for thousands of years. But one claim is common. This place may be seen only by people who have achieved a certain level of spiritual ascension.
The mysterious iron pillar
There exists an iron pillar in Mehrauli in Delhi. The pillar is said to have built by Chandragupta II of the Gupta dynasty and is about 23 ft tall. No mystery in this. But the mystery lies in the fact that this pillar was made out of wrought iron about more than 1,600 years ago, and has seen almost no corrosion (rust formation). The pillar stands as a mute testament of the ingenuity of blacksmiths that existed about 2,000 years ago who could create monuments of iron that are resistant to corrosion. The pillar has attracted scientists and archaeologists from all across the globe. But none have been successful in identifying the actual chemical composition that has rendered the pillar corrosion-free even after 1,600 years. Only one conclusion has been drawn so far. A thin layer of iron hydrogen phosphate protects the pillar from rust. How did the ancient blacksmiths know of this? No one knows.
What other unsolved mysteries have you seen or heard in India? Do post your comments.
