This popular haunted heritage village is situated about 18 km from Jaisalmer on the way to Sam Sand Dunes.
In Kuldhara 84 villages were inhabited around Kuldhara since the 13th century and all of them were Paliwal Brahmins. According to folklore, in the early 19th century, all of them left their homes overnight and went somewhere else. There is no concrete reason in history for their departure like this. Historians are also trying to solve this mystery but have not been successful yet.
A popular folk tale about the residents of this place is that Jaisalmer’s minister Salim Singh was a promiscuous and cruel person. This village was also his estate and he used to collect taxes as per his wish or else he used to oppress the people. He liked the daughter of the village headman of this village and threatened the villagers that if he did not marry the headman’s daughter then everyone should be ready to face the consequences. So all the 84 villagers including the headman migrated from here overnight and while leaving cursed this settlement that it should never be inhabited again.
In about 200 years everything has turned into ruins including huts of villagers, Devi’s temple etc. It is also said that some natural calamity might have occurred due to which all the villagers migrated from here. This village has gained fame as a haunted village. Kuldhara ranks first among all the haunted places.
The Archaeological Department is working on developing this village for tourism. Tourists are not allowed to stay here after 6 pm. A very nominal ticket is charged. All the work done by the Archaeological Department so far to save this heritage village is highly commendable as they have restored some of the ancient houses to their glory.