We think of death and beauty as incompatible. Many major burial sites are often historical landmarks meant to honour the dead by giving them beautiful places to lie in repose. Several Indian cities have haunted graveyards with a bundle of myths tagging along at everyone of them. But there are some hauntingly gorgeous cemeteries in Indian cities which deserve to be visited and marvelled at. Here are some of them:

Read | Myths Surrounding Haunted Sites in India

Calcutta Bhowanipore Cemetery

A popular tourist spot, the Bhowanipore Cemetery is famous for two things — it has been in use since 1864, and it houses the graves of civilians and soldiers from both the World Wars. Strangely enough, the gravestones from the cemetery keep disappearing and appearing in odd and unexpected places. Turns out the civilian portion of the graveyard keeps getting desecrated by visitors, and sometimes by the caretakers themselves.

Tiger Hill Cemetery, Coonoor

The ravages of time have not been entirely unkind to this cemetery set amidst the lush greenery of the Nilgiris. This 19th century graveyard has burials dating back to the early 1900s. The memorials are simple, some with ornate designs, sculptures and beautifully written epitaphs.

Dutch and Armenian Cemetery, Surat

Two hundred graves of the Dutch and Armenian people lie in this over 250-year-old structure. Though it's in ruins now, vestiges of the haunting beauty of the old Dutch architecture are still visible in its walls and arches. 

Portuguese Cemetery, Kollam

Kollam used to be the hub of old Portuguese, Dutch and English settlements since the Dutch invaded in 1661. The remains of St. Thomas Fort, where the cemetery lies, still exist to this day at Tangasseri in Kollam.

Roman Catholic Cemetery, Agra

The oldest Christian burial ground in Northern India, this cemetery bears a striking resemblance to Mughal-era tombs due to its sandstone walls and Persian inscriptions. If it weren’t for the crosses at the top, it would be hard to figure out that this as a Christian burial ground.

Read | Spooky Destinations in India’s Hills