4 places with legends so spooky, locals won't enter after dark

Fall's first chill is here, and Halloween is just around the corner. It's the perfect time to trade spooky daydreams for a real getaway. Imagine destinations steeped in eerie legends, centuries-old tales, and chilling charm, places where local folklore still lingers, casting a curious spell even in our modern age of technology.

Bhangarh Fort, Rajasthan, India

Local lore: Once, a lovesick sorcerer tried to bewitch Princess Ratnavati with a cursed potion. She outwitted him, but with his dying breath, he cursed Bhangarh. Today, its ruins stand deserted and eerily silent.

Paranormal activities: Locals tell chilling stories of ghostly apparitions, eerie whispers, sudden chills, and strange sounds echoing through the ruins. They say individuals who spent a night within the fort's walls were never seen again.

The stories run so deep that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has officially banned entry into the fort after sunset and before sunrise.

• Location: Rajgarh Tehsil, Bhangarh, Rajasthan 301410.
• Timings: 6am to 6pm.
• When to brave the ruins: Fall to Spring, between October and March. 

Lawang Sewu, Semarang, Indonesia

Local lore: Sometimes, hauntings grow not from horror, but from history left to fade. Such might be the case with Lawang Sewu, meaning "Thousand Doors." The former Dutch East Indies Railway headquarters is now a museum and heritage gallery.

During World War II, Lawang Sewu became a prison and torture chamber.

Today, visitors speak of restless spirits drifting through its shadowed halls, nestled quietly between Tugu Muda and the Diponegoro museum.

Paranormal activities: Strange apparitions, bone-chilling whispers, and sightings of the kuntilanak, the long-haired spirit in white, said to haunt deserted places.

• Location: Jl. Pemuda No.160, Sekayu, Kec. Semarang Tengah, Kota Semarang, Jawa Tengah 50132, Indonesia [Google Maps].
• Timings: 8am to 8pm, except for Saturdays (8am to 10pm) and Mondays (8am to 5pm).
• Best season to visit: The dry season, which typically runs from April to October.

Al Madam 'Ghost Village', Sharjah, UAE

We've all heard of towns engulfed by Mother Nature, but Al Madam, nicknamed the UAE's "Ghost Town," wears its abandonment in plain sight. Just an hour from Dubai's glitz and glamour, this dune-draped village beckons thrill-seekers to wander its silent, sand-filled homes. 

Local lore claims evil spirits drove the villagers away. Experts, however, suggest a more practical tale: people left for larger cities, seeking safety and better amenities.

Paranormal activities: Only eerie remnants of life remain here, half-buried beneath dunes you're free to explore.

• Location: Refada, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
• Timings: 9am to 5pm.
• Window for witnessing: The colder months, between November and February.

Bahla Fort, Oman

This Unesco World Heritage Site is not just a historical marvel; it's also the "city of jinn." Local legend says jinn haunt Bahla Fort, and tales grow stranger still of camel-eating hyenas and spirits mischievous enough to turn men into donkeys.

Paranormal activities: Locals warn against visiting after sunset. They tell of spontaneous fires and crumbling walls, ruins no one dares rebuild.

• Location: X872+Q35, 21, Bahlat, Oman
• Timings: 8am to 7pm
• When to be near the portal to the shadows: During Autumn and Winter, from October to March.

Hell's Museum, Singapore

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Our bonus stop isn't haunted. It's a centre that honors the dead and demystifies death.

Through curated displays, visitors explore how global faiths and cultures, including those in Singapore, find meaning in mortality and gain fresh insight into Haw Par Villa's infamous 10 Courts of Hell.

• Location: 262 Pasir Panjang Rd, Singapore 118628
• Timings: 10am to 6pm.
• Fee: Adults: US$20 (S$25.79), children: US$10. You have to purchase the tickets online before visiting.

Tips

• Respect your fellow travellers and the places you visit.
• Wear comfortable clothing and footwear to keep up with the group, and always follow local rules and guidelines.
• Remember, behind every site are real stories and memories. Tread thoughtfully.

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This article was first published in Wego.