It is there, amongst the hustle and bustle of the busy Alwarpet, one of the most happening places in Chennai you can’t resist looking at the road sign that says De Monte Colony, a stone’s throw from the Park Sheraton hotel. The street leads you to a dilapidated settlement filled with uniform one-storey buildings.

   De Monte colony is a small settlement with little houses, neat gardens, overgrown trees and strange creepers - a few hidden behind the walls of the Chennai Corporation. But when you walk further in, you can see the other side of the colony-old and bizarre. The colony gets its name from Portuguese land-owner and businessman Sir John De Monte, who lived in the area during the 19th century. Since the property is abandoned, it has become the epicentre for illegal activities. Media reports even suggest that ghosts dwell here.

   People who live in the area also tell many ghost stories and believe that the....