Kuldhara is an abandoned village located at a distance of around 18 km from Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. It is a popular tourist destination due to the traditional folklore and tales about this place, both Indian and foreign tourists flock to Kuldhara in the middle of the Thar desert out of curiosity.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has declared Kuldhara a heritage site. In the 13th century, the Palwai Brahmins founded the village and flourished it into a proper settlement using farming and trading.
Let us find out what made the people living in Kuldhara, abandon it overnight through historical observations and scientific estimations.
When Was Kuldhara Abandoned?
Kuldhara was abandoned around 200 years ago in 1825 CE. There is also a belief that it was not just Kuldhara but around 83 neighboring villages also created by Paliwal Brahmins that were abandoned around the same time.
Why Was Kuldhara Abandoned?
Here we will discuss some of the major possible reasons behind the abandonment of Kuldhara, backed by historians and researchers.
Oppressive Taxation
The most commonly believed suggestion is that the Paliwal Brahmins had to pay heavy taxes to the powerful minister Salim Singh. Over time, the villagers had no other choice but to flee from the village in order to escape such harsh taxations which affected their economic conditions.
Environmental Challenge
Researchers are of the opinion that the geographic location of Kuldhara in the middle of the Thar desert created little to no access to water of any kind. Severe drought like situations along with difficulty in farming, no agricultural production or even drinking water led to the migration of Kuldhara villagers to some other places overnight.
Popular Folklore
Based on a famous folklore, the minister Salim Singh wanted to marry the daughter of a village head. Upon refusal, Salim Singh threatened the village with severe punishment, to avoid this and save the daughter’s honour the entire village decided to leave the minister and Kuldhara alone overnight. Though, there is no historic proof of this event and should only be taken as a fictional folklore.
Present Day Kuldhara Village
In the present time, Kuldhara remains abandoned with no signs of settlement by people nearby. Only tourists come to visit Kuldhara because of its well-planned architecture which has stood the test of time. Locals believe that Kuldhara should be left as it is, “the abandoned village” and do not want to create any accommodation for present day life in it.