Location - Pandey Khola, Almora, Uttranchal, India

Date - October, 1999

I have read many stories at this website and often wondered why some people have many unique experiences of coming across ghosts or spirit and often others are non-believers in such things.

I reflected at my own memory lane and recalled some of these experiences when something happened and I do not have scientific explanation behind it. This is first of my experience which I can still clearly recall what happened during those three days spent in very old ancestral house of my friend at Pande Khola, Almora.

This happened during my 2nd year of college time when I was of 19 years in age. Anirban, I and Rahul were very close friends during college time. Often, we used to assemble at Anirban's house whenever we three used to bunk college. Both of Anirban's parents were working, hence his house used to be ideal place for us to hang out together. Anirban was a Bengali, however his nature at some time was unpredictable. Rahul on other hand was originally from Almora which was a small town situated at high altitude in Uttar Pradesh province of India at time when this incident happened. However today that town is in Uttaranchal province.

As stated above Rahul was originally from Almora; however, all his family including his parents and sibling at that time was staying in Noida. Noida is Satellite Township located very next to Delhi which is capital city of India. Rahul had old ancestral house located in this Pande Khola part of Almora which is actually almost 5 km away from main Almora city. For those who have been to these places will understand that these kind of hilly towns are very sparsely located and areas outside city are full of wild animals and one should not wander after evening.

One day Rahul described us about his ancestral house. House was basically two storey wooden house which was constructed somewhere around early 1920. Upper storey was totally empty, however ground floor had caretaker who used to live there along with his family. Part which got us excited was that upper storey also has a section which was actually locked through holy mantras by priest back in 1960 was never opened. Belief was that section being haunted.

We planned a holiday trip to Almora which has lot of old temples to see and is very good holiday destination to relax and rejuvenate. As explained we were students and hence we required a place to stay vs staying in hotels which will cost us lot of money which we never had. We requested Rahul's father to allow us to stay in upper storey of that ancestral house for a week. His father warned us not to be very curious and never open that locked section in any situation however we can stay in the house. He gave us letter for caretaker who will then take care of our food and other basic necessities during our stay.

We three took late night bus from ISBT Delhi during one of day during October month in 1999. By almost 5am bus reached Haldwani. This place is last place in plains before climb actually starts to mountain area and required to shift to smaller kind of bus which can turn in steep narrow mountain roads. Any way we reached Almora by late morning. We had good breakfast in main Almora city in one restaurant which is famous for its dosas (south Indian delicacy). Rahul's house was almost 5 km away from main city in outskirts and almost 2 hr walk; however, weather was nice around 8-9 degrees Celsius and we decided to walk instead of looking for jeep which can drop us on way to other cities in Kumaon area.

We reached his house around late afternoon and rested as we were dead tired due to long travel. We had good dinner arranged by caretaker's family and slept well through the night. Next morning we went to Almora city for site-seeing and saw few temples and came back by early evening. One thing to note that during winter month's places like Almora are very dark by almost 5 pm so any travel from Pande Khola to Almora or vice versa have to be done thinking that in mind. We had no television in the house and pretty much nothing to do except chit chat for evening in that house.

We clearly remembered what Rahul's father has told us about old section; however, by third day morning curiosity got better of us and we opened sealed section which was locked using very old rusted lock and around lock had pictures of Hindu deities. We went inside section and found one kitchen constructed in very old style and a door to open another sealed room which we also opened and found one very old trunk and found some clothes which were in very condition due to time. We spent almost close to 1.5 hours inside that sealed section and nothing happened at all. We had new locks so we locked inside room and main section again and then added back pictures of deities over locks again.

By this time it was almost late afternoon and Rahul was combing my hairs looking at mirror. Just to remind that during that time all three of us had very long hairs, not usual for guys however we were victim of latest fashion during those college days. Since we had long hairs, combing activity was not that easy. During this time Anirban and I was both sitting in ground floor lawn. Rahul saw someone waving in mirror and he thought either I or Anirban were playing pranks and hence he scolded us reminding that we also have long hairs like him, so what's big deal. After his shouting I commented from downstairs about Rahul talking with himself since both Anirban and I were downstairs and there was no one else to talk to.

Anyway Rahul could not understand reason behind what he saw in mirror and decided to ignore, thinking that he must be imagining things. However, almost around 5 pm I saw one hand which was cut up to elbow flying near door of that sealed section and it was almost like hand flying in air without any body at all. I screamed in fear and other two looked at my face which was pale in fear and I was shivering like I was in trance. Anirban and Rahul both shook me which took me out of my trance. By this time we decided to vacate the house and go to main Almora city. It was very dark outside and not safe to travel due to fear of wild animals; however, what happened during that single day was too much for us to bear. We walked in dark without any light to main Almora city and reached city about 8 pm and decided to stay in Rahul's relatives' place for another 4 days.

Another thing happened during that trip due to which I still remember this incident very clearly. During 4th evening Anirban started beating me without any explainable reason. We all were very surprised and thought it has to do with Anirban's unpredictable behavior; however, we were very close friends and there was not a proper reason to explain his erratic behavior. As I mentioned that Almora had many temples to see, so we decided to complete our site seeing before to depart for Ranikhet for last day of the trip. However, Anirban skipped all temple trips and told Rahul that he has no mood to go anywhere. Anirban and I never talked again in life up to today. However, Rahul and I still are much closed friends and we talk frequently.

Not sure what exactly happened to Anirban which turned him atheist instantly which he never was in past.