Who here is intrigued by whether the supernatural is real, even just a tiny bit? Many people love to watch horror movies and listen to ghost stories. Moreover, now the earth has been around for years and years. Who even knows the exact time? It brings up some pretty creepy places and spooky stories that have been told. So, are you brave enough to explore the world’s scariest ghost towns? Get ready for goosebumps.
Dare to enter the world’s most haunted places?
- Hashima Island, Japan
- St. Elmo, Colorado
- Bhangarh Fort, India
- Jazirat Al Hamra, United Arab Emirates
- Xunantunich, Belize
- Pripyat, Ukraine
- Machu Picchu, Peru
Hashima Island, Japan
Was once a thriving coal mine, Hashima Island, Japan has now been left abandoned and become a ghost town. The island has also been given the nickname “Battleship island” due to its resemblance to a large battleship which isn’t hard to realize. It’s weird to think that this place used to be one of the most densely populated places in the world, even more than Tokyo! What happened? Since on the island were only living mostly coal miners and their families. Once the coal slowly started to run out, so did the jobs.
Naturally, people migrated to other places seeking opportunities to continue supporting their families. You can visit the island but only with a special guide. The guide will show you around the island, telling you about its rich history. However, you cannot wander the island on your own.
St. Elmo, Colorado, USA
Like many ghost towns, St. Elmo was a busy mining center, and by the year 1930, from a population of 2 000 people became 7. The seven people included the family, who ran the general store and hotel in the city, which is now said to be haunted. If you were to visit the small city of St. Elmo, you might encounter some paranormal activity, or so people have said. The city is supposedly the most haunted place in the state of Colorado, making it one of the world’s scariest ghost towns.
For those daring enough, a ghost called Annabelle, who was a local of St. Elmo roams the streets. She was known to walk with a rifle in her hand to protect her property. She was then sent to a mental institution, where she was later released and passed away two years later. Since then, legend has said that the ghost of Annabelle continues living with the residents of St. Elmo as she continues to protect her property from trespassers.
Bhangarh Fort, India
A couple of kilometers southwest of Delhi, India, you will come across a beautiful abandoned fort in the middle of a lush green forest called Bhangarh Fort. However, don’t let its beauty fool you! The fort is said to be cursed by a sorcerer after the local princess left him rejected, which is why it has been abandoned to this very day.
Now, there’s nothing more than a good revenge love story. If you want to have a truly unforgettable experience, you can have a spiritual moment doing yoga during the sunset at the site.
Jazirat Al Hamra, United Arab Emirates
A short drive southwest of Ras Al Khaimah, you will find the ghost town of Jazirat al Hamra. The town was abandoned in 1968 when it used to be a successful pearl fishing village. Now it’s filled with mud houses, dirt roads, and mosques. Are you ready for the scariest part of this, though?
It has been claimed that whoever visits the ghost town will experience chills and strange noises. It has been said that the spirits of the people who used to reside there still wander the town.
Xunantunich, Belize
Somewhere in the jungles of Belize lies an ancient Mayan ruin that has been abandoned. An earthquake caused the ancient city to fall, and the city was found again in the 1890s by those who dared to explore the world. The view that surrounds the Mayan ruins of Xunantunich is breathtaking. The lush green trees that overwhelm you while literally being in the middle of the jungle is a moments not to be forgotten.
However, many horrible things have also happened here, such as the performance of death rituals on the top of the El Castillo pyramid. Anyone who visits the ancient ruins is said to have seen a black-haired lady with red eyes haunting the place. Rumour says she was one of the many human sacrifices.
Pripyat, Ukraine
At first, Pripyat might not be the most beautiful sight you will ever see. The village of Pripyat was one of the many villages nearby that had to be evacuated the day after the explosion of Chernobyl, which no one ever returned to. Nothing in the village has been moved, and everything was left where they were when the evacuation occurred.
It has been reported that a nuclear physicist could hear someone screaming to be rescued from inside a power station. Random things would turn on, and the lights would, out of nowhere, turn off. I already got the chills just from writing this.
Machu Picchu, Peru
You must ever heard of Machu Picchu in Peru but have you heard the spooky side of it? The lost city has been visited by thousands of travelers daily to admire the beautiful site that lies in front of them. However, many tour guides have reported that they felt like they were being pulled out of their tents by the spirits of Machu Picchu.
Ever since, many sleep with shiny metal objects such as mirrors to keep their spirits away. Now, you know what travel essentials will be when you travel to the lost city of Machu Picchu. No spirits will be pulling you out of your tent!
Those were quite some scary ghost towns, hopefully not scary enough for you and your travel buddies to experience, though! If you want to start traveling with like-minded travelers, head to JoinMyTrip to either find the best trips!