Bodie State Historic Park, Mono County, California, USA

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Ghosts of the gold rush. Bodie State Historic Park, California, United States

In the ghostly silence of Bodie in California, United States, it feels like time stands still. This once-booming gold rush town was established in 1860. Bodie was named after W.S. Bodey, a prospector who discovered gold but tragically died in a blizzard before seeing the town's rise. When large deposits of gold were found there, it grew to nearly 10,000 residents, with saloons, dance halls and breweries lining its streets. But as the gold ran dry, so did the town's fortunes. The mines closed, the population dwindled and by 1915, the place was abandoned. Bodie's streets are now empty, its wooden buildings frozen in decay.

Much like Bodie, India has its own share of once-thriving places that have fallen into eerie silence, transforming into ghost towns. These were once vibrant, bustling communities full of life, but over time, they were consumed by darkness and loss, leaving only traces of their former glory. Now, these places—like Hampi, Kuldhara, Lakhpat, Mandu and Dhanushkodi—are deserted, cold and haunting, much like Bodie's empty streets and decaying buildings. Stepping into these forgotten towns is like walking into the past, where the echoes of what once was linger in the air.