Siya Point: Ketan Agarwal Murder Case Fuels Dark Tourism, Drives 50% Tourist Surge At Lohagad Fort

Lohagad Fort , one of Maharashtra's most historic hill forts near Lonavala , has witnessed a sharp and troubling surge in visitors following the murder of Pune realtor Ketan Agarwal , with local guides and vendors reporting footfall rising between 25 percent and 50 percent in recent days, even as the monsoon season typically slows tourism.

Agarwal, a 26 year old real estate executive, died on June 18 after falling from a 350 foot cliff during a trek at the fort. What was initially treated as an accidental fall has since turned into a full blown murder investigation, with police alleging his fiancee Siya Goyal and her boyfriend Chetan Chaudhary conspired to push him to his death to avoid their arranged marriage.

Rather than drawing history enthusiasts and trekkers, many recent visitors are arriving specifically to see the cliff linked to the case, which tourists have informally begun calling Siya Point , a name with no official recognition. Fort workers say guides are routinely asked for directions to the exact spot, with visitors from Mumbai , Pune and Nashik admitting the case shaped their decision to trek there.

Sachin Tekawade , president of the Lohagad Visapur Development Forum , said tourist numbers have risen noticeably over the past five days despite a delayed monsoon, expressing disappointment that the fort's Maratha era legacy is being overshadowed by its link to the crime. Lohagad, rising nearly 3,389 feet in the Sahyadri range, traces its origins to the Satavahana period and later served as a key stronghold under Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj , forming part of the UNESCO recognised Maratha Military Landscapes .

The investigation has intensified alongside the tourist rush. Lonavala Rural Police briefly shut the fort this week to conduct a forensic gait analysis and recreate the crime scene, evacuating tourists already present. Police custody for Goyal and Chaudhary has been extended till July 3 , with investigators probing claims that Goyal allegedly siphoned Rs 1 crore meant for wedding shopping to support Chaudhary.

The episode has sparked wider debate over dark tourism , the practice of visiting sites linked to death and tragedy, with historians and local officials warning that turning a protected heritage monument into a crime scene attraction risks trivialising both the victim's death and the fort's centuries old significance.