From haunted houses in Australia to paranormal prisons in the usa as well as creepy South African lands, the world may be a frightening location. A trip to those eerie destinations will make a believer out of even the most sceptic travellers. So if you are a paranormal enthusiast or simply after something exciting to grow your itinerary, we’ve got you covered. Here are the most haunted areas in the world to see for daring travellers. Just don’t forget your flashlight.
2. Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, United States
This gloomy 142-year old prison has a gruesome history of suicide, insanity, disease, murder and torture. Reported as a hub of supernatural activity by the dozens of paranormal researchers who see each year, it’s considered one of the most haunted places in the usa. Since closure in 1971, there have been ghostly accounts by people, staff, offenders and guards. Echoing voices and cackling could be observed in mobile block 12; dark figures are said to dart across the walls in cell block six and mobile block four is famous for ghostly faces. Many report a silhouette of a protector in one of the towers. Also as many accounts of footsteps, wails and whispers. Have a tour, if you dare.
3. Banff Springs Hotel, Alberta, Canada
Many apparitions wait if you opted to stay at the Banff Springs Hotel in Alberta Canada. Once among Canada’s great railway hotels, it’s currently thought to be among the most haunted places in the country. Some ghosts could be friendlier than others with guests reporting visions of prior bellman Sam Macauley. Macauley worked in the resort in the ’60s and ’70s and still helps guests up to their rooms now. But he will evaporate if you attempt to trick him or make dialogue. Other spirits include a bride dance in the ballroom with flames burning from the back of the dress. She broke her neck falling down the stairs after her gown caught fire causing her to fear. But maybe the most frightful is that a household often seen in the hallway outside room 873. This chamber was bricked up following the household’s murder.
4. Bhangarh Fort, Rajasthan, India
Known as the ‘House of ‘ Ghosts’, Bhangarh Fort has become an archaeological site. But it closes between sunrise and sunset as locals think that anybody who visits this grisly location during the night will disappear forever. A magician called Singhia along with the object of his love, Princess Ratnavati haunt the ruins of this 17th-century castle. The magical murder tale claims that Singhia chased an oil that he hoped would produce the princess love him. Instead, the potion turned into a boulder, which the princess threw away. The boulder defeated the magician, but not until he condemned the palace’s residents to death without hope of rebirth with a curse. You may have a tour of the ruins, just make sure it’s through the day.
5. Poveglia Island, Venice, Italy
This island has an especially horrific history. Not only was that the gorgeous island of Poveglia a quarantine zone for most individuals with the plague, but it was also an insane asylum. A doctor in the 1922 asylum allegedly performed crude lobotomies to experiment on patients. Hoping to be driven mad by ghosts, he threw himself off the hospital tower. Screams and elephants can still be heard throughout the island and within the buildings. Vistors frequently report visions of fleeting, dark shadows. Some say they feel an evil oppressive presence as soon as they step on the island. Locals won’t see Poveglia Island because they’re scared they’ll be cursed, and fisherman even refuse to fish the area for fear they’ll drag up human remains.
6. St. Augustine Lighthouse, Florida, United States
The oldest brick construction in the city, St. Augustine Lighthouse is the origin of several chilling tales and amusing events. Nevertheless a working lighthouse and maritime museum; visitors, workers and those that live close by have reported spooky sights, noises and inexplicable things. Staff and guests often smell cigars, which were a favorite of the lighthouse’s first keeper, Peter Rasmussen. Another keeper, that fell to his death painting the tower, is said to be seen looking out from the cover of the construction while the laughter of two women who drowned in the 1800’s is also heard. Furthermore, staff often report doors unlocking chains, themselves moving inexplicable, and audio boxes turning on and off independently. Daily day and moonlight excursions are available.
7. Monte Cristo Homestead, New South Wales, Australia
Australia’s most hunted house, Monte Cristo Homestead in New South Wales revels in its extremely traumatic ago. It functions as B&B but, we would not recommend it for your own faint-hearted with of the ghosts haunting the homestead. These include a young child who fell down the staircase, the maid who dropped off the balcony and a stable boy who burnt to death. However, none are as terrifying as the ghost of the caretaker’s son. He was discovered 40 decades later curled up alongside his mommy, who was chained up. Ghost tours begin from 6 pm each Saturday, but you could also go for an overnight stay.
8. Raynham Hall, Norfolk, England
Among the most famous hauntings in all of Great Britain, the mysterious “Brown Lady” has been seen by many. Her existence in Raynham Hall, which is also known as the haunted hall, was reportedly known with a 1936 photograph. This image, as well as countless eye-witnesses, have cemented Raynham Hall’s spooky standing for more than 100 years. Although nobody knows exactly who the Brown Lady is, the most popular theory is that she is the soul of Lady Dorothy Walpole, sister to the very first Prime Minister of Great Britain, Robert Walpole. Her husband, Charles Townshend was known as a cruel and horrible man and locked Lady Dorothy inside her room after accusing her of adultery. After Lady Dorothy’s funeral at 1725, many still thought she was being held against her will, dying years later in a darkened room inside Raychem Hall.
9. Ancient Ram Inn, Wotton-under-Edge, England
The 12th-century Ancient Ram Inn is among the most haunted places in not only England, but the entire world. With over 20 spirits living, it is one of the oldest inns still standing. The current owner/occupant of Ancient Ram Inn claims a demonic force grabbed him and dragged him out of his room. He’s also found children’s remains underneath the stairs with daggers inside their skeletons. Many believe that the ghost of a witch burned at the stake in the 1500s still resides in one of those rooms. Called ‘The Witches Room’, it’s popular with guests, ‘ instead of ‘The Bishop’s Inn, ” a location many guests refuse to stay. People who spend the night in the room often leave screaming at the middle of evening.
10. Castle of Good Hope, Cape Town, South Africa
Soldiers posted in the gates of Cape Town Castle consult with this late night shift as the “ghost change.” In reality, they even walk all the way round the castle’s grounds instead of venture inside at night or in the early hours of the morning. The castle grounds saw gruesome punishments, torture and executions for more than 150 decades. Ghosts include a soldier who hung himself at the tower within 300 decades back. People have reported hearing unexplainable footsteps accompanied with a floating human silhouette with no legs. Other stories tell of a woman wearing a long grey cloak, and another woman often spotted joining parties in the ballroom. Guards also have reported hearing cries for help coming out of the dungeons and torture chambers.
