Kuldhara Abandoned Village

In the desert near Jaisalmer lies an eerie sight: the ruins of Kuldhara, a village said to have been abandoned overnight around two centuries ago by its Paliwal Brahmin community, who vanished en masse rather than submit to a tyrannical minister — leaving behind, so the legend goes, a curse that the village would never be resettled.

Today its roofless stone houses, empty lanes and a restored temple stand silent against the desert, an atmospheric and slightly haunting place to explore. Whatever the truth behind the legend, the ghost village is a compelling, offbeat detour.

• ›Wandering the deserted stone streets and houses.
• ›The restored village temple.
• ›The stark desert setting, especially near sunset.

It's often combined with a trip out to the Sam dunes. There's little shade — bring water and a hat. The atmosphere is best in the golden late-afternoon light.