In the Parvati Valley, India’s ‘Bermuda Triangle’ for backpackers, the disappearance of Dhruv Agarwal may shed new light on an enduring mystery

The businessman is among dozens of travellers, including American Justin Alexander, to have vanished while trekking in an area known for spirituality, drugs and dark characters

Solo male travellers have reported being ‘lured’ and drugged by a ‘group of girls’, then waking up days later with no recollection beyond their last meal

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The Parvati river, seen near the village of Malana, best-known for its export - the Malana Cream strand of hashish. Photo: Kunal Purohit

Published: 10:00am, 28 Mar 2022Updated: 5:39pm, 29 Mar 2022

When 32-year-old Dhruv Agarwal called his family on November 9 last year, he looked exultant and excited.

He had finally reached the enchanting Parvati Valley in northern India after an overnight bus ride from New Delhi and wanted his family to see what he was witnessing – the emerald Parvati running through the valley surrounded by the snow-capped mountains of the Himalayas.

“He was just panning the phone from one side to another,” recalled Agarwal’s sister, Manica, “excited to show us the scenery.”

But the network was patchy and his video kept freezing, even though the family could hear him. At one point, Manica said, there was a sudden jerk “as if he had bent over to pick something up”, and the call got disconnected.

That is the last time the family heard from Agarwal.

Since that phone call and the abrupt disconnection, Agarwal has been missing – disappeared, without a trace.

Agarwal’s case is far from unique.

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