Do you believe in devils? The wandering souls that are up to no good? If the paranormal gets you laughing, we suggest you take these trips to test your mettle. For these roads in the country are anything but normal. They will make sure you get the thrills, and not the ones you like. Tread carefully.
1. The Barog Tunnels/ Tunnel No.33
Not exactly a 'road trip', but worth talking about nonetheless. The legend goes like this. Many moons back, Colonel Barog was given the duty of getting a tunnel made on the Kalka-Shimla railway line. What would later on become a terrifyingly long tunnel, had a 'miscalculation' of sorts. Colonel asked the workers to bore from both sides of the mountain, making the whole procedure a lot faster than usual. But due to a miscalculation he realised that the ends of the tunnel wouldn't meet. After being fined the magnanimous amount of Rupee 1, the Colonel was let off. Because of this, all his crew members started hating him. Not being able to deal with his mistake, Colonel Barog shot himself to death. He was eventually buried in front of the incomplete tunnel. After scaring the workers boring the tunnel to the point that they ran for their lives, it is said that the spirit of Col. Barog still lives on inside the tunnel. Even today, some feel his eerie presence, almost as if he never left the tunnel. Maybe he didn't.
2. Two-lane East Coast Road
Those who have driven on these roads would validate that it is an absolute delight to drive on. But things get a bit cliched, and spooky by sundown. Many driving down the road at night have witnessed a woman in a white saree walking along the road, making drivers and riders lose focus on the road and crash. What's even odder is that the badly lit stretch of road also experiences a sudden inexplicable drop in temperature, making it a very, very weird ride.
3. Delhi Cantonment Road
Another stretch filled with stories of the mysterious woman in the white saree. While some have just spotted her looking lost on the road in the middle of the night, there are others who say you should jam the accelerator as hard as possible because she starts chasing you, at superhuman speed.
4. National Highway No.33, Ranchi-Jamshedpur
If you're well-versed with the highways of the country, it is quite likely that you've heard of the infamous NH33. It is known as the only highway in the country where fatal accidents outnumber non-fatal ones. People say this stretch of road is so scary, it gives you goosebumps as soon as you enter. It's a place where both prayers and safe driving tips fail to save lives. A total of 243 people have lost their lives on this 40 km stretch in the last three years, making it the deadliest 40 kms of the country. Such is the terror in this Naxal hit area that people have made temples on both ends of the road. Many of the drivers have lost control of the vehicle while trying to save the lady who crosses the NH at night, and have met with an accident. Taking advantage of this story, the Naxals have made this stretch their den at night. The police, however, credit these accidents to the narrow roads and the sharp blind turns. No matter what you believe in, we suggest you lay off this road.
5. Marve & Madh Island Road
This road might not be fatal, but it's scary nonetheless. The 9-km long stretch of road between V. Road and Marve beach is said to have been full of paranormal happenings, the most talked about being of a woman in bridal wear wearing anklets. People say they have spotted the lady howling. Now if you're going down a road at night, and if you begin hearing someone howling, things can get quite unsettling.
6. Kasara Ghat, Mumbai-Nashik Highway
This place is 'infested with ghosts', if that's a saying. The Mumbai-Nashik highway will take you through a place called Kasara Ghat. It is here where people have either sighted or felt a spirit around them. Creepy trees and bushes apparently start looming up on you on either side of the road. Some have also spotted an old headless lady sitting on the trees. Now these are the kind of things that make you lose control of your bowel movements.
7. National Highway 209, Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary Corridor
Those who had been following his movements closely would know that the Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary corridor used to be the home to small time pick-pocket Koose Muniswamy Veerapan. People believe that the ghost apparitions they have seen, the lights and the screams are all none other than Veerappan wreaking havoc after death. Now that's one man whose spirit you wouldn't want to encounter on the road.
8. Kashedi Ghat, Mumbai-Goa Highway
Similar to Kasara Ghat, the stretch near the Mumbai-Goa highway, on Kashedi Ghat, seems to be another hot spot for mischief. A number of deaths have been reported in the past after cars and buses have overturned. It is said that a mysterious person randomly appears right in front of the vehicle and signals people to stop. Scared, if you do not comply, she tries her best to make sure the vehicle gets in a freak accident.
9. Besant Avenue Road
The Besant Avenue road in Chennai is hustling and bustling throughout the daytime. But as soon as the sun sets, things start going awry. Paranormal sightings and weird sounds are very common experiences here. Some people have also accounted for an unknown 'force' slapping and over throwing them.
10. Mumbai-Pune Old Expressway
Signing off with a ghost confession that was experienced on this highway.
"This happened with a family friend. I don't really know the exact location, but it's somewhere near Pune highway. Uncle was returning late that night back from work on his scooter. A few kilometers down the highway, he saw a lady dressed asking for lift. Being a good Samaritan, he thought of helping her, so asked her to sit behind. After chatting with her for sometime he dropped her where she asked him to drop her. A few kilometers down, he saw the same lady asking for a lift. He didn't recognize her, so he gave her lift. This happened a few times. Something struck him later, and when he turned back he couldn't find anyone sitting there. As he turned his scooter around he saw the same lady standing in front asking for lift, again. This time, he decide not to stop, and started speeding the scooter (80 kmph). To his surprise, when he looked on his left, he saw the unthinkable. The lady was running parallel to the scooter and was looking at him. She would laugh, then suddenly start crying. She gave an evil smile said 'Now your time is over'. Next day uncle woke up near a dhaba. He had some bruises on his leg apart from having a fractured hands. When he heard about last night's incident, he was told that this happens quite often, and only a few survived. He was lucky as he had crossed the highway before she could harm him any further."
Travel safe XX