In the Bay of Bengal lies an island where no outsider has ever returned alive after setting foot on its forbidden shores...

North Sentinel Island may be only the size of Manhattan, but it holds one of the world's most enduring mysteries. For thousands of years, the Sentinelese tribe has lived in complete isolation, untouched by modern civilization, hostile to any contact, and protected by Indian law that makes approaching the island a criminal offense. Their language remains unknown. Their customs are a mystery. And their response to outsiders? Deadly.

The island's dark history includes the 1800s kidnapping of tribal members by British colonizers—an act that may have sparked generations of hostility. In 2006, two fishermen who accidentally drifted too close were killed and buried on the beach. And in November 2018, American missionary John Allen Chau made three attempts to reach the tribe he believed occupied "Satan's last stronghold on Earth." His first approach was met with drawn bows. His second visit saw an arrow pierce his waterproof Bible. On his third and final visit, he was killed—his body dragged across the sand and buried where it remains to this day.

What We Explore:

• The haunting 1800s encounter that may have triggered the tribe's violent isolation
• Why the Sentinelese use metal arrowheads despite living a Stone Age existence
• The 2018 missionary incident and the diary entries Chau left behind
• India's "hands off, eyes on" policy and why the island remains forbidden
• The ethical debate: Should uncontacted peoples be left alone forever?
• Shane and Josh's believer/skeptic takes on respecting indigenous isolation

Sources & Further Reading:

• Wikipedia: North Sentinel Island — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Sentinel_Island
• Wikipedia: John Allen Chau — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Allen_Chau
• National Geographic Documentary: "The Mission" (2023) — https://films.nationalgeographic.com/the-mission
• Outside Magazine: "The Last Days of John Allen Chau" — https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/exploration-survival/john-allen-chau-life-death-north-sentinel/

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The Bunker, PO Box 690, Wabash, IN 46992

In the hills of Rajasthan stands a city so cursed that the Indian government forbids anyone from entering after dark.

Bhangarh Fort rises from the dusty landscape of India's Alwar district like a warning carved in stone. Built in 1573 by Raja Bhagwant Das for his son Madho Singh, this sprawling complex of temples, palaces, and crumbling havelis was once home to over 10,000 people. Today, its roofless ruins stand silent beneath the Aravalli hills—abandoned, allegedly cursed, and officially restricted by the Archaeological Survey of India, which has posted signs forbidding entry between sunset and sunrise.

What happened here? Two competing legends fight for credit. The first tells of a holy man named Balu Nath who permitted construction of the fort on one condition: no building's shadow could ever fall upon his meditation spot. When an ambitious successor violated this agreement, the sage cursed the entire city to destruction. The second, more dramatic tale involves Princess Ratnavati, whose legendary beauty caught the obsession of a dark sorcerer named Singhia. When she discovered his attempt to bewitch her with enchanted perfume oil, she flung the potion onto a boulder—which then rolled forward and crushed the sorcerer to death. With his dying breath, he cursed Bhangarh to ruin, declaring that no roof would ever stand and no soul would ever find peace within its walls.

The timing of Bhangarh's abandonment adds another layer of mystery. In 1783, the Chalisa famine swept across North India, killing an estimated 11 million people across the region. Bhangarh was completely abandoned by this period and never resettled. Whether the curses caused the exodus or merely explained it, the result remains the same: an entire city left to decay, its grandeur consumed by time and legend.

Modern visitors report unexplained phenomena that keep the paranormal reputation alive. Locals speak of disembodied screams echoing through empty corridors, the sound of bangles jingling in rooms where no one walks, and an oppressive heaviness in the air that defies the open architecture. Some claim to have seen shadowy figures moving among the ruins. Others describe equipment malfunctions and sudden temperature drops. The Archaeological Survey of India's official restriction on nighttime visits—while standard for protected monuments—has only fueled speculation that authorities know something they aren't saying.

In this episode, Shane and Josh descend into the bunker to investigate one of Asia's most notorious haunted locations. They examine the historical evidence behind the curses, explore the natural explanations for the paranormal reports, and debate whether Bhangarh represents genuine supernatural activity or the power of collective belief amplified by centuries of storytelling.

What we explore:

• The two competing curse legends and their historical origins

• The Chalisa famine connection to Bhangarh's abandonment

• Modern paranormal reports and eyewitness accounts

• Skeptical explanations for the phenomena

• Why the Indian government restricts nighttime access

Sources & Further Reading:

• Bhangarh Fort - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhangarh_Fort

• Chalisa Famine - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chalisa_famine

• Archaeological Survey of India: asi.nic.in

• Rajasthan Tourism - Bhangarh Fort: www.tourism.rajasthan.gov.in/bhangarh-fort.html

Ruh-roh! The Mystery Inc gang is hitting the road for a two-week adventure, but before we go, we've got some news you're NOT going to want to miss.

Shane, Josh, and Kim are taking a little vacation to scout out some brand new mysteries - and trust us, we've got something REALLY exciting cooking for when we get back. Let's just say things might look a little different around here... in the best way possible.

We'll be back with a fresh mystery on December 2nd for everyone, and if you're hanging with us on Patreon, you'll get the first episode back on November 28th!

In the meantime, catch up on any episodes you might have missed, join us over on Patreon for exclusive content (link in the show notes), and whatever you do - keep your eyes on the Mystery Inc feed. You're going to want to see what we've got planned.

Thanks for being the best mystery-solving community out there. We love you guys!

See you in two weeks, gang! 🔍

Find us on Patreon at Patreon.com/itsmysteryinc