Most people will experience disembodied footsteps but it is the long time staff and caretakers who have seen the mysterious apparitions.
A Secret Chamber
The chamber itself was thought to be 1000sq feet and was located on the ground floor. No obvious openings could be located, except for a archway that had been bricked in. Trapdoors leading to the chamber from the first floor were sought out but none were found.
The building, standing on the historic Belvedere Estate in Alipore, had been the residence of many prominent figures including Warren Hastings (the first Governor General of Bengal), and the Viceroy of India.
Why was there a large and completely closed off room located in the middle of a former governors residence?
Maybe it was filled with ill gotten treasure?
The punishment room idea seemed to get the most publicity, not just because we humans seem to have an interest for the darker side of history but also because the National Library of India is said to be very, very haunted. What better reason for their being ghosts in the building than cruel pain and death!
Some History and Haunts
Caretakers over the years have told of disembodied footsteps and students who have walked the aisles searching for books, have felt they are closely shadowed by unseen presences. The footsteps are attributed to the restless spirit of an ex governors wife.
As with most old buildings with 'dead residents' it is during times of great change that activity ramps up and this is very true of the library. When the National Library was relocated into the building there was much work carried out in order to suit its new purpose. This was a time when the ghostly woman was seen quite frequently and as such it was not long before the libraries reputation of being one of India's most haunted buildings took hold.
The Chamber Revealed!
As for the hidden chamber. It was decided that rather than break down a wall and potentially damage something priceless on the other side, it would be best to drill a hole and take a look through it.
What the archaeologists found was something a lot more surprising than either skeletons or treasure – they found mud. It is believed that it was a empty cavity filled with mud in order to strengthen the buildings foundations. Still, many ask why there was an arch that was bricked in if it was never meant to be entered.
And of course, could there be something buried, hidden, in the mud?