In the vast and rugged terrains of Central Asia, the practice of bride kidnapping—an age-old tradition involving the abduction of women to force them into marriage—continues to challenge and intrigue. Known as…
In the 90’s era, when people heard that there was a place that was haunted, no one dare to go there. However, it is different now as in more people are daring to challenge their fear. Even the horror place can become a tourist place.
People are nowadays interested in visiting this terrible place even though there have been warnings of ghosts inhabiting the place. If you like to challenge your fear, try to visit these scariest places in the world for your ghost hunting adventure!
1. Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum – USA
When we talk about a haunted place, it can’t be separated from an abandoned mental hospital. Mental hospitals are places to treat those who have mental problems and in need of intense care. In America, there are many mental hospitals that were built and many are no longer used and converted into tourist attractions.
Like the one in West Virginia, the Trans-Allegheny lunatic asylum was opened in 1864 and closed in 1994. The hospital has been used as a tourist spot since 1994. There are paranormal tours that can be done at the Trans-Allegheny lunatic asylum, visitors can see the room used to treat the mental patient. The visitors claimed that they saw ghost sightings of patients who died there.
2. Aokigahara Forest – Japan
Aokigahara is known throughout the country because it is used as a place to commit suicide.
As it was used as a place to commit suicide, Aokigahara became one of the scariest forest places in the world to visit. Although considered a sacred and spooky place, Aokigahara is open to the public as a tourist spot. Aokigahara is near Mount Fuji so you can also enjoy the beauty of the highest mountain in Japan.
3. Circulo Cubano de Tampa – Florida
Old buildings are usually the perfect place for the spirits. Circulo Cubano de Tampa is one of the horror places in Florida. This building was used as a gathering place for immigrants from Cuba. The building in 1972 was made a protected building by the US National Register of Historic Place.
This place is believed to be a haunted place by many people. A channel on Syfy has a show called Ghost Hunters. It is said that the place is indeed haunted and there is a ghost of a boy named Jimmy and communicating with them. Since then, many people have come to the place to find ghost apparitions.
4. Villisca Ax Murder House – USA
A building can be spooky when tragedy strikes. Villisca Ax Murder House, a house located in Villisca, is a silent witness to the sadistic murder of a family. The victim in the house were Josiah B. Moore, his wife, 4 children, and 2 young women. They were killed by someone who even until now is unknown.
For several years, local residents claim to have seen sightings of men carrying axes, the sound of crying children, and other paranormal activities. In 1994, the house was restored to its original state. The house is now open for visitors. If you are curious about any paranormal activity, go ahead and visit the house!
5. Moundsville Penitentiary – USA
Prison is a place for criminals to be punished for their crimes. Not only tortured, there are also criminals sentenced to death in prison. And there is one famous prison in America called Moundsville Penitentiary, located in West Virginia. This prison once housed nearly 1000 criminals. There are also those who were sentenced to death in the prison.
Moundsville Penitentiary closed in 1995. Its original function as a place to imprison criminals has turned into a tourist spot. There is a tour guide provided for visitors who want to see what a place of torture for criminals looks like. Knocking on walls and cries of prisoners are said to have been heard while visiting Moundsville Penitentiery.
6. Highgate Cemetery – England
The name of the cemetery is certainly scary. In England, there is a very famous grave called Highgate Cemetery. It is located in North London.
This cemetery is famous as there are 170,000 bodies buried there. Several famous figures are also buried at Highgate Cemetery such as Karl Marx, Lucien Freud, and Christina Rossetti. This cemetery is not only a final resting place but also used for tourism. This cemetery can be entered after buying an entrance ticket.
7. Island of Dolls – Mexico
If just one doll can give off a scary aura, what if the dolls are in large numbers and neglected? It will certainly add to the horror of those who see it.
In Mexico, there is one place that contains many abandoned dolls, which is Island of Dolls. There you can see lots of dolls hanging from trees or on the roofs of houses. It is believed by Mexicans that the dolls there have spirits in them. Terrible indeed, but this island is one of the world scariest places that you can visit.
8. Paris Catacombs – France
Paris, which is usually visited for its fashion and art, turns out to have horror tourist destinations that you can visit. Those of you who are curious and want to test your courage can go to a place called The Catacombs of Paris. There you can see millions of human bones piled on the walls.
The Catacombs of Paris is a building built underground. On the right and left side of the tunnel wall, human bones could be clearly seen. It is estimated that there are more than 6 million human bones laid there. The Catacombs of Paris were built in the late 18th century as a cemetery.
9. Plastinarium – Germany
Not only can we gain knowledge but we can also get a horror atmosphere by going to museums. Going to the museum can definitely increase knowledge because there is a lot of information that can be seen there. But how can a museum have a spooky atmosphere? If you go to the Plastinarium, you can find the answer.
The Plastinarium is a large museum located in the city of Guben, Germany. This museum shows the anatomy of animals as well as humans. Those who enter the museum can not only know the anatomical structure of humans but also animals. But on the other hand it also shows the horror. What if one day there was an anatomy doll that moved on its own?
Among Indonesia’s indigenous tribes, the Toraja of South Sulawesi is pretty unique in how they approach the common human experience of death, Ma’nene Torajan tradition.
In this unique tradition, living relatives first exhume their ancestors or loved ones from the Patane, a type of mausoleum made of wood unique to the Torajans. Once the preserved bodies are cleaned, they are then dressed up in new clothes and reunited with their extended families and the whole village.
Originated From Toraja Land
Toraja land, Indonesia has natural and cultural charm. This land has various unique cultural rituals such as Rambu Solo and Rambu Tuka’. However, the most unique tradition that is famously known is called Ma’nene tradition. This traditional ritual replaces the clothes of ancestral bodies in the village of Pangala, North Toraja, South Sulawesi.
Ma’nene is a form of ritual that reflects the importance of family relationships. The Torajan people believe that the Ma’nene ritual can provide peace and prosperity for the bereaved family.
Ma’nene Torajan Tradition
The Ma’nene ritual is a continuation of the Rambu Solo’ ceremony. If Rambu Solo’ is synonymous with grief, Rambu Tuka describes a joy. For the Torajan people, the Ma’nene ritual is a symbol between Rambu Solo’ and Rambu Tuka. They claimed that they feel joy and sorrow during the Ma’nene ritual.
Together, each family lifted the bodies of their dead ancestors, just like as the people who are still alive. Before the ritual begin, the Torajan clean the corpse body in detail and neatly.
Without any slight of fear from cleaning the dead body, each family rejoices while doing the Ma’nene tradition. You’ll see their togetherness during the Ma’nene ritual.
The first step, family members will go to Patane, which is the grave house of the Torajan people. Together they removed the body from the grave. Various bodies that are tens to hundreds of years old are there. Then, they clean the body and change the clothes with a new one. Complete with glasses, hair tie and even a belt. However, the new clothes are the same as the ones they wore when they were still alive.
After the cleaning part, they will put the dead body in line and all the villagers will erect the dead body around the village as if they’re still alive.
The Torajan people do it as a form of respect for their ancestors. In their perspective, Ma’nene is a moment of joy and sorrow for family members.
In addition to remember and pay respects, family members even took pictures with the bodies of their ancestors. When you visit this land, you can also ask permission to the family members to take pictures with the bodies together with their families. It is a thrilling and unique experience that you should not miss.
Afterwards, the villagers will put back the clean and neat body into the coffin. The differences in burial burrows are a marker of social status in Toraja. The stone grave on the hill indicates that the person was a nobleman. Meanwhile, the community resides in the Patane cemetery housing complex.
Corpse Preservation
The Ma’nene ritual then continued with “Sisemba”, a ritual of eating with family members. They celebrate the final steps of the tradition by eating together. Each clan will provide special food from their family.
Despite tens to hundreds of years, the corpse remains good. In fact, the Toraja people have a special herb to preserve corpses. After the body dries it will be stored in a coffin. The coffin is then put into Patane and a rocky hill burrow.
History
Ma’nene rituals have been performed for hundreds of years.
It started when an animal hunter, Pong Rumasek found a body in the middle of the road. He then took care of the remains of the bones. He put on the clothes he was wearing.
The local believe that it helps him during the hunt which result in a good harvest season. That’s when the Ma`nene ritual happen once every 3 years.
Bottom Line
Its beautiful nature and thick culture attract local and foreign tourists. Toraja’s cultural wealth will always be maintained even though it is in the midst of the times. A unique and phenomenal ritual that you should see in person.