The location, long regarded as one of Maharashtra's most popular heritage destinations for history enthusiasts, photographers, and trekkers, has unexpectedly become the focus of public curiosity. According to reports, visitors are now travelling specifically to photograph the exact location linked to the alleged crime. The influx became so significant that police temporarily restricted access to the site while the investigation was underway.
The development reflects a striking shift in public behaviour. Places once avoided because of tragic events are increasingly becoming destinations that attract large crowds. This growing fascination with locations associated with death, crime, and suffering has become part of a global phenomenon widely recognised as "Dark Tourism."
The term "Dark Tourism" was introduced by researchers John Lennon and Malcolm Foley to describe travel to places connected with death, tragedy, or human suffering. Although the phrase is relatively modern, the behaviour itself has existed for centuries. During the American Civil War in the 1860s, civilians reportedly gathered with picnic baskets on nearby hillsides to observe battles from a safe distance.
Today, dark tourism has evolved into a multi-billion-dollar global industry. Dedicated travel platforms now help visitors identify destinations associated with historic tragedies and major crimes. The global dark tourism market is estimated to reach approximately USD 32.8 billion, or nearly Rs 3.16 lakh crore, in 2025 and is projected to approach USD 40 billion, or around Rs 4 lakh crore, by the early 2030s.
Some of the world's most visited destinations are deeply connected to historical tragedies. Italy's Pompeii Archaeological Park attracted more than four million visitors in 2024, prompting authorities to introduce a daily visitor cap of 20,000 after overwhelming crowds. The 9/11 Memorial and Museum in the United States welcomed more than 14 million visitors to the site of the 2001 terrorist attacks. Japan's Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum recorded approximately two million visitors paying tribute at the location of the first atomic bombing. Poland's Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial received around 1.83 million visitors, while the Pearl Harbor National Memorial in the United States attracted nearly 1.6 million visitors during the same period.
Psychologists argue that visitors to such locations are not necessarily motivated by a fascination with death. Instead, they identify several psychological factors that explain the attraction.
One explanation comes from a 2025 study conducted by the University of Tennessee, which examined "Terror Management Theory." The theory suggests that human beings possess an acute awareness of their own mortality. Visiting places associated with death in a controlled environment helps individuals confront and understand their temporary existence. Researchers suggest that such experiences often increase appreciation for life rather than encourage obsession with death.
Another study published in 2016 found that genuine fascination with death ranks among the least common reasons for visiting these sites. Most visitors seek historical understanding, wish to pay tribute to victims, or simply want to confirm for themselves that such devastating events actually occurred.
Researchers also describe what is commonly referred to as the "rubbernecking" instinct. Similar to motorists slowing down to observe the aftermath of a road accident, people are naturally driven to examine dangerous situations involving others as a subconscious survival mechanism, hoping to better understand potential risks and avoid similar outcomes.
Mental health experts, however, warn that an important ethical boundary exists between respectful remembrance and treating tragedy as entertainment. Dr. Makhan Shakya, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Government Medical College, Sheopur, described the sudden influx of visitors to Lohagad Fort following Ketan Agarwal's death as a concerning social trend.
According to Dr. Shakya, ordinary people do not usually visit crime scenes because they admire violence but because human curiosity naturally draws them toward extraordinary events. However, he cautioned that transforming places associated with genuine family grief into weekend attractions or locations for social media photographs gradually weakens society's sense of empathy and compassion.
The same psychological factors are also driving the extraordinary popularity of true crime entertainment. Watching documentaries, crime series, and murder investigations allows audiences to experience fear within a completely safe environment while satisfying curiosity about criminal behaviour.
Researchers explain that true crime content combines adrenaline, mystery, and problem-solving with the reassurance that justice is ultimately delivered. More than half of the population in the United States reports enjoying true crime content. Women account for approximately 73 per cent of true crime podcast listeners, with researchers suggesting that many consume such material as a form of subconscious safety education by recognising warning signs and learning from real-life cases.
Experts describe this experience as a "double-dipping" psychological effect. Viewers first experience the emotional intensity generated by the crime itself and later receive psychological satisfaction when the accused is identified, prosecuted, or punished.
India has experienced a similar surge in interest. According to industry data released by Ormax Media, the Action, Crime, and Thriller category accounts for between 43 per cent and 47 per cent of all new content launched across major subscription-based and advertisement-supported streaming platforms.
Driven by consistently high audience engagement, major streaming platforms including Netflix, Amazon Prime, and JioHotstar continue investing heavily in documentaries and dramas based on real criminal investigations. Productions such as House of Secrets: The Burari Deaths and The Hunt for Veerappan have achieved strong international viewership while generating significant subscriber engagement in India. Crime dramas including Dahaad, Delhi Crime, and Criminal Justice have also received international recognition and remain among the strongest attractions for streaming audiences.
The trend extends beyond fictional entertainment. The recently released series Raakh, inspired by the notorious 1978 Ranga-Billa murder case in Delhi, has generated considerable public interest despite widespread awareness of the historical crime. The series allows viewers to confront a disturbing chapter of history within the safety of their own homes while experiencing the emotional intensity associated with real criminal events.
Whether visitors walk through the silent grounds of Jallianwala Bagh, explore the reputedly haunted Bhangarh Fort, or watch a true crime documentary on a streaming platform, psychologists argue that the underlying motivation remains remarkably similar. People seek controlled exposure to fear and tragedy as a means of understanding danger, processing mortality, and strengthening psychological resilience.
The transformation of Lohagad Fort into a destination associated with crime rather than solely with heritage highlights the expanding influence of dark tourism in modern society. As philosopher George Santayana observed, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." When approached with dignity and respect, places marked by tragedy can serve not merely as attractions but as enduring reminders of history, human loss, and the importance of collective memory.
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