Kuldhara is an abandoned village in the Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan. It was established around 13th century, it was once a prosperous village inhabitedby Paliwal Brahmins. It was abandoned by the early 19th century for unknown reasons, possibly because of dwindling water supply, or as a local legend claims,because of persecution by the Jaisalmer State's minister Salim Singh. A 2017 study suggests that Kuldhara and other neighbouring villages were abandonedbecause of an earthquake.