Horror hits harder when it’s closer to home. The house of horror that I am about to describe to you today is in my beloved city of Kolkata, a few mere kilometers away from my house. Now before I proceed to tell you more about the haunting of Putul Bari (Putul means ‘doll’ and bari means ‘house’, in Bengali), I feel that it is my duty as a resident of this beautiful city to remind you that Kolkata houses some of the best architectural and cultural heritage sites, the world’s best culinary establishments and a hundred other reasons to fall in love with this city. However, Putul Bari does not fall under that category — it is a tangible reminder of the diabolical babu culture prevalent in the city during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Now, let us take a deep dive into the history of this infamous place, shrouded in eerie tales and whispered legends.
Putulbari, the House of Dolls is a sprawling mansion, located at 22 Hara Chandra Mullick Lane, adjacent to the Circular Railway track and in close proximity to the ghats. The history of Putulbari intertwines with the colonial era, a time when the Hooghly River was a vital conduit for trade and commerce. As ships laden with exotic goods docked at the Ahiritola and Shobhabazar jetty, the warehouses along the Strand Road bustled with activity. Among them stood Putulbari, renowned for its classical statues and imposing structure.
However, behind the masquerade of grandeur lay a dark and harrowing past. Local narratives speak of affluent land owners, or babus, who wielded their power with impunity, perpetrating heinous acts within the confines of Putulbari. It is said that innocent young women fell victim to their sexual atrocities, their lives cut short to conceal the abhorrent crimes committed within the mansion's walls. The tormented souls of these women are believed to haunt the premises, their anguished whispers and the sound of their jewels echoing through the corridors.
One particularly haunting tale revolves around the owner's daughter, whose infatuation with dolls bordered on obsession. The mansion became a repository for her extensive collection, each doll a proof of her fervent fascination. Her obsession reached a crescendo when almost the entire mansion was filled with dolls of various shapes and sizes. Soon, tragedy struck, claiming her life and casting a pall of sorrow over Putulbari. On moonless nights, the rooftop, adorned with those unique doll-like objects, exuded an aura of chilling unease, a silent testament to the lingering presence of the departed.
Despite attempts to dispel the rumors of haunting, the phantom whispers persist. Today the babus of the past are long gone but the ugly spectral consequences of their heinous crimes linger on. Tenants, residing within the mansion's walls, have attested to inexplicable occurrences, with worn and tattered dolls purportedly coming to life under the cover of darkness. The ethereal specters of young women believed to be dancers who met a tragic end, are said to still grace the lone rooftop, their phantom footsteps echoing through the night. Also, rumors abound of freedom fighters seeking refuge within Putulbari, only to meet a grim fate at the hands of British officers. These tales, interwoven into the fabric of Kolkata's history, have enshrouded Putulbari in an enigmatic aura, drawing the curious and the intrepid to its cursed grounds.
As the sun sets over the Hooghly River, casting long shadows upon the timeworn facade of Putulbari, the whispers of the past intertwine with the present, beckoning the daring to unravel the mysteries that lie within. The House of Dolls stands as a haunting reminder of the city's dark past. Are you brave enough to visit in-person or has my writing deterred you?
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