tales of travel

As much color and beauty as there is in Asia, there’s also a side of Asia that will make the hair on your arms stand up. A darker side that that only the brave dare to explore.

We’re talking about the most haunted places in Asia. Do you have what it takes to see if these myths and legends are true? Are you brave enough to add these spooky places to your itinerary? Check out some of Travel + Leisure’s favorites.

Bhangarh Fort, India

Once home to royalty, this impressive 17th century fort, located in Rajasthan, is one of the most haunted places in India. Built in 1631, Bhangarh Fort was home to temples and a palace before it was mysteriously abandoned out of nowhere. Why people left this once-great fort is unknown, but one legend says a curse was placed on it for casting a shadow over someone’s home. Another legend claims a love potion gone wrong is to blame. Even though visitors are no longer allowed after dark, those who are brave enough can still visit it during the day.

Lawang Sewu, Indonesia

Built in the early 1900s as an outpost for the Dutch East Indies Railway Company, this building has quite the storied past. During World War II, it was taken over by Japanese soldiers and used as a prison, while later it was the site of a bloody altercation between Dutch and Indonesian forces. There’s no doubt this building has all the ingredients haunted visions, but it’s one ghost in particular that gets people’s attention: a young Dutch woman who died by suicide is said to roam the property.

The Forbidden City, China

Home of Chinese emperors for five centuries, The Forbidden City is one of the most popular places for tourists to visit in Beijing. One of the most popular legends is that of a woman in white who can be heard crying inside the palace. Reports of this specific ghost date back to the 1940s. Perhaps this explains why the palace is typically closed off to the public at night?