Why is bhangarh fort closed at night?

Ah, the infamous Bhangarh Fort in Rajasthan! It's India's most legendary haunted site, and it's famous because of the strict rule: entry is banned between sunset and sunrise. The simple, official answer is that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which manages the fort, has posted a clear warning sign prohibiting entry before sunrise and after sunset. ### The Main Reasons (Official vs. Folk) 1. Official/Safety Reason: The remote location, the dilapidated state of the ruins, and the presence of wild animals (especially leopards and snakes, as it's near the Sariska Tiger Reserve) make the fort extremely dangerous at night. This is the practical, legal reason. 2. Folklore/Supernatural Reason (The Real Attraction): The fort is shrouded in two main curses: * The Guru's Curse: A saint named Baba Balanath allegedly cursed the area when the fort's builder raised the height of the fort, casting a shadow over the saint's meditation spot. * The Tantric's Curse: The most popular story involves a wicked magician (Tantric) who cursed the entire town after his attempts to enchant Princess Ratnavati failed, leading to the sudden destruction and abandonment of the settlement. Locals firmly believe that spirits roam the ruins at night, and anyone who stays after dark will never return. The ASI, while never confirming the supernatural, enforces the ban to respect local beliefs and, more practically, avoid liability for any incident that might occur in the dark, whether due to a ghostly encounter or a wild animal!