Are you aware of the mysteries associated with Kati Ghati Chanderi? Do ghost stories hold a morbid fascination for you? Then you must visit the Kati Ghati Chanderi, a monument that will surely satiate your curiosity for everything strange and mysterious. Kati Ghati Chanderi has everything that would make for an intriguing script for a Bollywood movie; a massive passage cut into the rock dating back to the 15th century, a missing gate, a desolate road winding through the hills, the grave of a person who committed suicide, and stories of a spectre moving around. All this makes Chanderi Kali Ghati one of the most interesting places to visit in Chanderi.

Kati Ghati Chanderi – The Story Of Chanderi

Chanderi is a town that has always stood at the crossroads of history. Chanderi is located in the Ashoknagar district of Madhya Pradesh, India. The town is strewn with numerous monuments and sites of tremendous archaeological and historical importance.

What makes Chanderi a really intriguing place to visit is the presence of many places that are enveloped in an aura of mystery and have many myths and legends associated. There is the tomb of an unsung musical great Baiju Bawra, there is Johar Smarak from where thousands of women leaped to their death, then again there is the Khooni Darwaza in the desolate Chanderi Fort, and above all, there is the forlorn-looking Kati Ghati, a place made famous by the Bollywood movie Stree.

Has your interest been piqued by hearing about the Chanderi village horror story? Does the Chanderi ghost story haunt you? So are you ready for the real Chanderi story? Read on to know more about Chanderi Kati Darwaza also known as Kati Ghati and the myths and stories associated with it.

Visiting Kati Ghati Chanderi 

We left the town of Chanderi behind as we drove across a forlorn stretch of road that slowly wound upwards towards the hills. As we turned a corner we were suddenly right in front of a massive arched gateway that seemed to have materialized literally out of the blue. The gateway stood mockingly in front of us, a stone bench was visible on the other side of the gateway. The road was deserted, there was an eerie silence, the cold wind blowing across the hill sent a chill up our spines as we spotted a young girl, her face covered, sitting on the bench.

As we walked with trepidation towards the massive gate, our eyes glued to the apparition of the girl, a voice behind us said, “this is the place where the climax of the Hindi film, Stree, has been shot.” It was our guide Muzaffar Ansari, who looked at us with the hint of an enigmatic smile. We looked again towards the bench, the mysterious girl had vanished, leaving many unanswered questions. Who was she? A figment of our imagination fueled by the movie Stree? A real ghost giving credence to the Chanderi haunted story? Was the Chanderi horror story, the creation of a fertile imagination combined with creativity?

We followed our guide into the massive gateway and beyond as he explained in great depth the history of Kathi Ghati Chanderi and its origins.

Kati Ghati History, Myths, And Legend

“The main person involved in the construction of Kati Ghati,” died by suicide, informed our guide, Muzaffar Ansari, as we stood beneath the massive gateway that had been cut into sheer rock. He pointed towards a tomb by the side of the gateway, and said, “this is the place where the chief architect of Kati Ghati, lies buried.”

The origin of Kati Ghati dates back to the 15th century when Chanderi was a province under the  Malwa Sultanate which was being ruled by the Khilji dynasty. The Sultan of Malwa at that time was Ghiyas-ud-Din Khilji and Chanderi was being administered by a governor by the name of Jiman Khan. It so happened that the Sultan planned to visit Chanderi to review the administration. Jiman Khan wanted to impress the Sultan somehow and hit upon the idea of affording him a grand welcome.

His grandiose idea of a welcome was to cut through the solid rock that stood right in the middle of the path between Malwa and Bundelkhand. He wanted a massive gate to be cut in the monolithic rock to welcome the Sultan and impress him. The time was less and the task formidable, sheer rock that rose to a height of about 85 feet and was spread over a width of 240 feet had to be cut. Remember it was the 15th century, and there was no machinery available for such a herculean task.

There were no takers for what looked like an impossible task, and just when Jiman Khan was about to lose hope, there arrived a man who was ready to take up the task. However he put forth three conditions, the first was that he needed a drawing of the planned gateway to be prepared and given to him, the second was that he would give the cost of the entire work only after the completion of the task, and the third condition was that he did not want anyone else to sit and supervise the work, as he wanted to surprise Jiman Khan with the completed gateway.

The conditions were agreed to and the mammoth task of cutting rock and making a massive gateway started. One fine day the task was completed and Jiman Khan was called to inspect the work. The joy of Jiman Khan on seeing the massive gateway through which the Chanderi fort could be seen knew no bounds. However, his joy was short-lived as he realized that there was no door in the gateway and even worse there was even no provision for one as no hinges had been made. It was as if a carpet had been swept away from right under his feet.

The gateway now exposed Chanderi to enemies and in fact, had created an easy pathway for them to enter the kingdom. The natural defense that the hill had offered had now been breached and a welcome path created!

The man who had achieved the almost impossible task of cutting through sheer rock to create the Kati Ghati was stunned when he realized his folly. Legend has it that he immediately left the place, and later it was discovered that he had killed himself. His mortal remains were interred right next to his labour of love.

Local legend has it that for many years after the incident, the spirit of the man continued to haunt the place and used to stand at the gateway blocking the entrance like a door.

Amazing Facts About Kati Ghati Chanderi

• The Kati Ghati is a gateway that was excavated from a monolithic rock in the year 1490
• A massive rock is measuring 80 feet in height, 39 feet wide, and 192 feet inlength was excavated to make a passage measuring 5.18 X 3.51 meters
• The marking of attendance of the workers on the Kati  Ghati was maintained in the form of lines carved on the face of the rock and can be seen even today
• An inscription at Kati Ghati gives details of the monolithic monument in four languages, namely, Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, and Bundeli
• An intriguing fact about the Kati Ghati is the reference to the Hindu God Ganesha in the inscription
• As the Kati Ghat had no door, Chanderi now became vulnerable to enemy attack, to counter this threat, a room was built above the rock which was manned by security forces

Myths About Chanderi Fueled By The Movie Stree

The 2018 Hindi film Stree that starred Rajkumar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor in lead roles stirred up a lot of interest in Chanderi. The film is a ghost story set in a fictional town which is also named Chanderi. The plot is about a witch who abducts the men from the town who disappear without a trace, bar the clothes that they were wearing. To keep the witch at bay, and keep the menfolk safe, the townspeople paint, “Stree Kal Aana”, on the walls of their houses.

Parts of the film have been shot in Chanderi and also Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, however, it is just a work of fiction. In fact, the Stree movie real story behind hauntings in Chanderi is based on the real horror story of “Nale Ba,” which in Kannada means, “Kal Aana”, or, ‘Come tomorrow”. The story of Stree is based on a folk legend in Karnataka about a ghost who knocks on doors in the dead of night. Even today, in many villages and small towns across Karnataka, one can find the words, Nale Ba Or Naale Baa, written on doors and walls, as a measure to keep the ghost at bay.

Here are some myths about Chanderi created by the film Stree.

• The climax of the film shows Shraddha Kapoor sitting on a bench beside the Kati Ghati on a bench, a board in Hindi nearby reads, “Chanderi Bus Stand,” and below that is written, “MPSRTC Tourism Board,” an excellent example of in-film advertising, in reality, there is no such board near Kati Ghati, however, the bench shown in the film exists
• Towards the end of the film a statue of Stree is shown outside an imposing gate, if you are searching for a Chanderi Stree statue in real, you will never find it
• The only, “ghostly” connection of Kati Ghati are stories of it being haunted by the spirit of its builder who allegedly committed suicide and is buried there

How To Reach Kati Ghati in Chanderi

Kati Ghati is located in the town of Chanderi of the Ashoknagar District of Madhya Pradesh, India.

• Chanderi is about 214 kilometers from Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh
• Chanderi is about 107 kilometers from the historic city of Jhansi
• The distance of Chanderi from the city of Gwalior is about 210 kilometers

Reaching Chanderi By Air

• Chanderi is almost equidistant from both Bhopal and Gwalior which have major airports
• To reach Chanderi one can fly to either Bhopal or Gwalior and drive to Chanderi

Reaching Chanderi by Rail

• The nearest railway station to Chanderi is Lalitpur at a distance of about 40 kilometers
• Lalitpur lies on the New Delhi-Mumbai mainline
• Lalitpur is connected by rail to places including Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, and many other places
• For more details of train schedules and booking check out the official IRCTC website.

Reaching Chanderi By Road

• Chanderi is well connected by road to other parts of Madhya Pradesh and India
• One can visit Chanderi as part of a road trip for exploring the heritage of Madhya Pradesh

If you are planning a trip to Chanderi in Madhya Pradesh, India you can book a cheap flight through TripAdvisor or Agoda or CheapAir or Cleartrip or Makemytrip or Priceline right here. If you are planning to travel by road to Chanderi from Bhopal or Gwalior, some of the options to reach Chanderi are by self-drive car or cab, or bus.

Where To Stay When Visiting Kati Ghati Chanderi

Some of the places to stay in Chanderi include, the hotel run by Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department, known as MPT Kila Kothi. Another budget hotel is the Tana Bana Hotel.

If you are planning a trip to Chanderi, and thinking of accommodation, then you can book your stay in Chanderi hotels through TripAdvisor or Cleartrip or Agoda or Makemytrip, or Priceline and save a lot by getting the best savings on booking your stay.

Places To Visit Other Than Kati Ghati Chanderi

Chanderi is a treasure trove of heritage and has many heritage sites and monuments strewn across the town and its vicinity. Here are some of the other important places to visit in Chanderi.

• Badal Mahal
• Chanderi Museum
• Tomb of Baiju Bawra
• Johar Smarak
• Chanderi Fort
• Jama Masjid
• Chanderi Fort
• Budhi Chanderi

Madhya Pradesh Tourism

Kati Ghati Chanderi and the other attractions of Chanderi are just a minuscule part of the rich heritage of the heart of India. Madhya Pradesh is a treasure house of heritage and natural attractions. Its heritage sites include the likes of the Jain and other Khajuraho temples, the Bhimbetka caves, the massive temple of Bhojpur, world-renowned Sanchi Stupa, Bhopal’s Taj-ul-Masajid, and others.

Nature comes alive in places like Kanha, Pench, Pachmarhi, etc. In short, Madhya Pradesh is a travelers’ paradise. If you are trying to decide on what to see in MP or what to do in Madhya Pradesh, then book online right here places to see in Madhya Pradesh and cover attractions in Bhopal and MP.

Kati Ghati Chanderi – FAQ

Is Chanderi Haunted?
It is a matter of belief though there have been stories of haunting long ago that were related to the suicide of the builder of the Kati Ghati Chanderi.

What is the Chanderi Real Horror Story?
There is no Chanderi horror story, it is all a matter of rumours and myths fueled by a fictional movie.

Who Is The Ghost In Stree Movie?
You would need to watch the movie carefully to find that out!

Is Nale Ba True Story?
Truth is stranger than fiction, the story is part of folklore in Karnataka and not a proven fact. This legend of Karnataka was brought alive on the silver screen as, “O Stree Kal Aana,” in the Hindi movie, Stee.

 Is there a Chanderi Stree Statue?
There is no such statue in Chanderi, it is there only in the movie.

We leave you with haunting images of Kati Ghati Chanderi to spook your nights. Hope you enjoyed reading our Kati Ghati post, and “Kal Aana,” ( Come again tomorrow) to read another exciting and interesting post on our blog. And of course, do not forget to subscribe to our blog and follow us on our social media handles.

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