It is located in the heart of North Kolkata, Putulbari, also known as the ‘House of Dolls,’ holds a dark and enigmatic history. In bygone times, Putulbari stood as a grand estate in Sovabazar. During that era, trade in the region thrived, greatly benefiting the affluent. However, this prosperity often led to local underprivileged residents being perpetually beholden to these wealthy families. Since most of these opulent residences also functioned as storage facilities, many locals found employment under their affluent proprietors.
According to the narrative, the estate owners frequently exploited young women from the vicinity, including those employed within the mansion. Regrettably, these women endured sexual assaults and torment, with some tragic cases resulting in their silence through murder and subsequent burial on the property itself. Such harrowing incidents occurred with alarming frequency.
The legend of Putulbari also revolves around the tragic fate of the owner’s young daughter. It is said that she was an ardent collector of dolls. Tragically, she died under mysterious circumstances, and her spirit is believed to haunt the mansion to this day. Locals claim to have heard eerie laughter and seen dolls moving on their own within the dark and decrepit rooms.
Numerous accounts recount the eerie experiences of tenants unfortunate enough to reside there. They reported hearing agonising cries in the dead of night, witnessing ghostly apparitions of girls dancing on the mansion's terrace, and enduring an overall sense of disquiet within the structure. Strangely, a few of the dolls remain within the mansion, though they now gather dust and have deteriorated significantly. There are claims that, on occasion, these dolls may spring to life. Whether this holds any truth remains uncertain, but one thing is certain: we have no intention of investigating this phenomenon in the near future.
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