Kuldhara Village Jaisalmer is a deserted village in the district of Jaisalmer of Rajasthan state. It was once owned by the Paliwal Brahmins which was flourishing back then. But in the early 19th century Kuldhara village was isolated possibly due to decrease in water supply or as the locals claim because of the enormous amount of taxes levied by Salim Singh on the villagers. According to a recent study it was proposed that Kuldhara and the other neighbouring villages were abandoned because of an earthquake.
Kuldhara village is now maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). It is considered to be haunted and cursed village of Rajasthan. According to the local legends, Salim Singh, the powerful and corrupt prime minister of state, his evil eyes fell on the chief’s daughter and desired to marry her. He threatened the villagers that there would be heavy consequences if they did not obey his wish. He gave them a deadline. The villagers and the neighbouring 84 villages’ chiefs met and decided to leave their homes and they vanished in the dark of the night. Nobody knows where they went. The village is set be cursed too because before leaving the villagers put the curse that no one will ever settle in their village from that day after.
Another story says that, Salim Singh imposed heavy taxes on the villagers which was not possible for them to pay, hence they abandoned the place.
