In this week's episode Braydon discusses the Bhangarh Fort in Rajasthan, India that backed onto a tiger sanctuary. Braydon talks about the legends and reported hauntings surrounding the fort. Was it all caused by a black magicians curse because of his obsessive love for Princess Ratnavati? Belinda continues the episode with the ghost of Liberace. There have been reported sightings of his spirit in his mansion/museum and the restaurant he use to own, now named Carluccio's in Las Vegas.
EPISODE NOTES:
Braydon covers the Bhangarh Fort in Rajasthan, India. While this place is in the top 35 most haunted places in India, an interesting fact is that it backs onto a tiger sanctuary. The fort was constructed in 1573 by the ruler of Amber from Kachwaha, Raja Bhagwant Das. He had built the fort for his son, Madho Singh who he fought alongside in many wars. After his demise, his son Chatr Singh became the next ruler but the kingdom declined following after the violent death of Chatr Singh. The famine of 1783 caused the town to become deserted and fell to ruins. The fort was passed down the Singh line until it came into the hands of another Madho Singh who then passed the ownership to the government. The government has restricted visiting the fort at night, is this due to the reported hauntings or is this due to the tigers just next door? We can't know for sure but the legends surrounding the area definitely raise some questions.
According to a legend, a sadhu named Baba Balak Nath lived within the fort area, and it was his command that any houses built inside of the fort couldn't be taller than his house, and if the shadow of any such house fell on his house, it would result in destruction of the fort town. The other legend being, a wizard who practiced black magic fell in love with Ratnavati, a beautiful Bhangarh princess. One day, the wizard followed her to the marketplace and offered her a love potion, however she refused it, throwing it onto a large boulder that consequently rolled onto the wizard and crushed him to death.
Visitors and locals claim to have heard women screaming and crying, bangles breaking and strange music coming from the fort. There have been instances of a special perfume also emanating from the Bhangarh Fort along with ghostly shadows and unexplained lights. People have also been slapped and walked alongside apparitions without even noticing.
Even the famous stick around after they pass away. Liberace is one of them! At the peak of his career, Liberace was the highest paid entertainer in the world. He even had residencies in Las Vegas as well as an International touring schedule. His life was full of events including the time when an employee of his mansion museum was held hostage when closing for the day. After his death at age 67 due to AIDs in 1987, his presence continued on living.
His spirit seems to be attached the his mansion museum and the restaurant he once owned called Liberace's Tivoli Gardens, now named Carlucci's. The restaurant was once located right across from the Liberace Museum but has since been relocated. Many claims have come out of the restaurant of patrons and staff seeing his spirit peering in the banquet room windows. As well as claims of knocking at the back service door, bottles falling down around the bar and even a large tree in a planter falling down after someone said something offensive about Liberace. There was also an instance on Liberace's birthday where the power went out and didn't come back on until the staff sang happy birthday. The following day an electrician came around and checked out everything and found nothing wrong. No one else on the street lost power that night either. The restaurant was soon relocated in 2011.
When the Liberace Museum was undergoing some renovations there was a shadowy figure that appeared to watch over all the changes. Many crew members would see it and it was as if the ghost was making sure nothing was damaged or stolen. Others say they saw a man lounging by the pool with big hair and a thin moustache, as well as accounts of music coming from a piano that no one had played in many years. Employees claimed to have seen his sister-in-law's spirit around the museum as well. The museum was closed in 2010 but as of April 7, 2016 Liberace's cars, a piano and several costumes are on display at Liberace's Garage in Las Vegas.
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