There are some roads in Delhi you don’t drive down alone at night. Not because of crime, but because of something far older, far more unsettling. We’re talking about the lush, disciplined, and surprisingly eerie roads of Delhi Cantonment. By day, it’s one of the greenest parts of the city. By night, it’s home to one of Delhi’s most terrifying urban legends.

The story always begins the same way.

You’re driving late, the road is deserted, and the only sound is the hum of your engine. Suddenly, your headlights catch a solitary figure standing by the roadside—a woman dressed in a stark white saree.

She doesn’t wave frantically. She doesn’t shout. She just stands there, a ghostly silhouette against the dark trees. As you get closer, she makes her simple, chilling request:

“Lift lena hai kya?” (Want a lift?)

Every Delhiite who has heard the tale knows what you’re supposed to do: Keep driving. Don’t look back. And whatever you do, don’t stop.

The Legend of the Woman in White

According to local lore, the spirit is that of a woman who was tragically killed years ago. Some say she was a hitchhiker who was brutally murdered by the very people who offered her a ride. Now, her restless soul wanders this stretch of road, forever replaying her final moments.

But this isn’t a passive haunting. This spirit interacts with those who dare to cross her path.

• If you stop: The stories vary. Some say she simply vanishes from your rearview mirror the moment you turn to speak to her. Others claim she gets in, and the car either breaks down or crashes. The most horrifying versions say you are never seen again.

• If you don’t stop: This is where the legend gets truly terrifying. Ignoring her is not an escape. As you speed away, you might glance in your rearview mirror to see her… running. Not just running, but keeping pace with your car, her white saree flowing behind her, her face contorted in an inhuman expression. She will match your speed, whether you’re going 60, 80, or even 100 km/h, a silent, spectral marathoner chasing you through the night until you cross the border of the cantonment area.

Truth, Tale, or A Warning?

Is this story real? Countless people—from taxi drivers to army personnel—have claimed to have had this blood-curdling experience. They speak of a sudden drop in temperature, a feeling of being watched, and the unforgettable image of the woman in white.

Skeptics argue it’s a cautionary tale, a story spun to keep people from stopping for strangers on a lonely road at night. Perhaps it’s just the play of headlights on trees, or the overactive imagination of a lone driver.

But what if it isn’t? What if there’s something truly paranormal lurking in the shadows of Delhi Cantt?

Dive Deeper in Our Latest Podcast Episode!

This legend is more than just a ghost story; it’s a piece of Delhi’s folklore, whispered from one generation to the next. In our new podcast episode, “Delhi Cantt ka Bhoot – Lift Lena Hai Kya?”, we’re taking a deep dive into this haunting tale.

Join us as we explore:

• First-hand “eyewitness” accounts from people who claim they’ve seen her.

• The history behind the legend and its possible origins.

• The psychology of urban legends and why this story has terrified Delhi for decades.

Are you brave enough to listen?

Tune in Now 

So, we’ll ask you one more time. It’s late, you’re driving through Delhi Cantt, and you see her. What do you do?

Let us know in the comments if you’ve ever had a spooky experience in Delhi!