Brijraj Bhavan Palace was the British Residency and the home of Major Charles Burton, 40th Bengal Native Infantry posted to Kota. He and his family had lived there for 13 years. In May 1857, at the outbreak of the mutiny, Major Burton was summoned by the British General commanding the nearby Neemuch cantonment for the protection of Neemuch, a town in Madhya Pradesh. Burton was accompanied to Neemuch by his family. He returned back with his two sons on the request of Kota’s Maharaja (King). Nobody knew then, that this would turn into a haunted palace in India. The Burtons arrived at Kota on December 13, 1857, meeting every mark of kindness. This didn’t last long! Two days later, Major Burton saw a large party approaching the Residency. He assumed that these troops of the Maharaja had come to pay a friendly visit. But soon, the building was surrounded and entered by the soldiers, who had mutinied. Abandoned by all their servants, Major Burton and his two sons took refuge in an upper room with few arms that they had been able to snatch and waited for help to arrive from the Maharaja, while the house was looted below them. After five hours of firing, Major Burton and his sons surrendered. Kneeling down they said their prayers. In March, 1858, Kota was retaken by the British and the bodies of the Burtons were disinterred and buried in the Kota cemetery with full military honours.
This 178 year old Brijraj Bhavan Place has turned to
be a Haunted Place of Kota. According to the tale, an elderly man
with a cane in his hand, the ghost of Major Burton does not harm anybody. But
during his night visit, if any of the guards are sleeping or dozing, Major
Burton gives them a slap.
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