HAUNTED PLACES
Everyone seems to know of at least one haunted house; as kids there was almost certainly one in our own neighbourhood. This list contains the most famous and most haunted places in the world. If you have had any experiences of a similar nature, feel free to tell us about it in the comments. I should add, before starting, that I am a skeptic; I have written this list for entertainment value.
1. Borley Rectory, Essex, England [Wikipedia]
The haunting of the Borley Rectory during the 1920s and 1930s, is undoubtedly one of the most famous in Britain, as well as being one of the most controversial. The wealth of sightings and experiences by independent witnesses, suggests that although much of the phenomena can be explained in rational terms, a percentage remains which can still be seen as inexplicable at the present time.
2. The Whaley House, California [Wikipedia]
Author deTraci Regula relates her experiences with the house: “Over the years, while dining across the street at the Old Town Mexican Cafe, I became accustomed to noticing that the shutters of the second-story windows [of the Whaley House] would sometimes open while we ate dinner, long after the house was closed for the day. On a recent visit, I could feel the energy in several spots in the house, particularly in the courtroom, where I also smelled the faint scent of a cigar, supposedly Whaley’s calling-card. In the hallway, I smelled perfume, initially attributing that to the young woman acting as docent, but some later surreptitious sniffing in her direction as I talked to her about the house revealed her to be scent-free.”
3. Raynham Hall, Norfolk, England [Wikipedia]
aynham Hall is a country house in Norfolk, England. For 300 years it has been the seat of the Townshend family. The hall gave its name to the area, known as East Raynham, and is reported to be haunted, providing the scene for possibly the most famous ghost photo of all time, the famous Brown Lady descending the staircase. However, the ghost has not been reported since the photo was taken. Its most famous resident was Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend (1674-1738), leader in the House of Lords.
4. The Myrtles Plantation, Louisiana [Wikipedia]
The Myrtles Plantation was built in 1796 by General David Bradford and called Laurel Grove. Touted as “one of America’s most haunted homes”, the plantation is supposedly home of at least 12 ghosts.[9] It is often reported that 10 murders occurred in the house, but historical records only indicate the murder of William Winter. Possibly the most well known of the Myrtles supposed ghosts, Chloe (sometimes Cleo) was reportedly a slave owned by Clark and Sara Woodruff. According to one story, Clark Woodruff had pressured or forced Chloe into being his mistress. Chloe and Clark were caught by Sara Woodruff, and Chloe began to listen at keyholes, trying to learn what would happen to her.
5. Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia [Wikipedia]
Designed by John Haviland and opened in 1829, Eastern State is considered to be the world’s first true penitentiary. Its revolutionary system of incarceration, dubbed the Pennsylvania System, originated and encouraged solitary confinement as a form of rehabilitation. On June 1st, 2007 a television show called “Most Haunted” went live to the penitentiary. Part of the group went to Al Capones cell. Two people passed out while “investigating” the prison. One member of the team, Yvette, stated that “this is the most evil place I have ever been.” They claimed to have had contact with spirits but there was no hard evidence that their claims were legitimate.
6. The Tower of London, London [Wikipedia]
Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress The Tower of London, more commonly known as the Tower of London (and historically simply as The Tower), is an historic monument in central London, England on the north bank of the River Thames. Perhaps the most well-known ghostly resident of the Tower is the spirit of Ann Boleyn, one of the wives of Henry VIII, who was also beheaded in the Tower in 1536. Her ghost has been spotted on many occasions, sometimes carrying her head, on Tower Green and in the Tower Chapel Royal.
7. Waverly Hills Sanatorium, Kentucky [Wikipedia]
Waverly Hills Sanatorium, located in Louisville, Kentucky, opened in 1910 as a two-story hospital to accommodate 40 to 50 tuberculosis patients. It has been popularized on television as being one of the “most haunted” hospitals in the eastern United States, and was seen on ABC/FOX Family Channel’s Scariest Places On Earth as well as VH1′s Celebrity Paranormal Project. It was also seen on the Sci Fi Channel’s Ghost Hunters. Ghost investigators who have ventured into Waverly have reported a host of strange paranormal phenomena, including voices of unknown origin, isolated cold spots and unexplained shadows. Screams have been heard echoing in its now abandoned hallways, and fleeting apparitions have been encountered.
8. The Queen Mary, California [Wikipedia]
RMS Queen Mary is an ocean liner that sailed the North Atlantic Ocean from 1936 to 1967 for Cunard Line (then Cunard White Star Line). The Queen Mary was purchased by the city of Long Beach, California in 1967 and transformed into a hotel. The most haunted area of the ship is the engine room where a 17-year-old sailor was crushed to death trying to escape a fire. Knocking and banging on the pipes around the door has been heard and recorded by numerous people. In what is now the front desk area of the hotel, visitors have seen the ghost of a “lady in white.” Ghosts of children are said to haunt the ship’s pool.
9. The White House, Washington DC [Wikipedia]
The home of the presidents of the United States. President Harrison is said to be heard rummaging around in the attic of the White House, looking for who knows what. President Andrew Jackson is thought to haunt his White House bedroom. And the ghost of First Lady Abigail Adams was seen floating through one of the White House hallways, as if carrying something. The most frequently sighted presidential ghost has been that of Abraham Lincoln. Eleanor Roosevelt once stated she believed she felt the presence of Lincoln watching her as she worked in the Lincoln bedroom. Also during the Roosevelt administration, a young clerk claimed to have actually seen the ghost of Lincoln sitting on a bed pulling off his boots.
10. Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland [Wikipedia]
Edinburgh Castle is reputed to be one of the most haunted spots in Scotland. And Edinburgh itself has been called the most haunted city in all of Europe. On various occasions, visitors to the castle have reported a phantom piper, a headless drummer, the spirits of French prisoners from the Seven Years War and colonial prisoners from the American Revolutionary War – even the ghost of a dog wandering in the grounds’ dog cemetery
It
being October and all, everyone wants to get into the spirit of
Halloween. Even real estate website Zillow.com has published an article
on the country's Top 10 Haunted Houses.
The first house they cite is the Winchester House, located in San Jose,
CA, which they claim has been "certified" by the U.S. Commerce
Department as being haunted. It is one of two houses in California with
that distinction, the other being the 10th house on the list, the Whaley
House in San Diego.
This intrigued me that the government was going around labeling houses as haunted, but I could find nothing on the Commerce Department's website. Seems the earliest mention of it (that I could find anyway) was an article in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer from 1996, which was actually an Associated Press story. Wikipedia even cites this article as the source for the claim. They say in the 1960's Commerce designated it as haunted and their registry includes 29 other places.
As I suspected, it turns out this is not true. According to a blog post on Haunted Jaunts, there is no such listing. They point to another article that appeared in the Tuscon Citizen which debunks the certification story. Interestingly, the Whaley House itself has a link to the PI article on its "In the News" page, which initially made me think it might have been true. If they're including it, then it must be, right? No doubt they're not about to kill a source of possible business for them.
Yet other sources I read cited the certification as being from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Now that I could believe. They're in the business of promoting business so if they came out with a list of "official" haunted houses, that would make sense. Alas, not even the Chamber site has any reference of haunted houses on it. This seems to be one of those stories that continues to grow in the telling.
The second house on the list is the Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA, and no real introduction is needed as to why it might be haunted. The other houses on the list include:
3. LaLaurie Mansion, New Orleans, LA
4. White House, Washington, DC (yes, that White House...good ol' Abe Lincoln is said to stalk the halls)
5. Franklin Castle, Cleveland, OH
6. Sprague Mansion, Cranston, RI
7. Chambers Mansion, San Francisco, CA
8. Myrtles Plantation, St. Francisville, LA
9. Stranahan House, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
The one house Zillow purposely didn't put on the list was the Amityville Horror house in Amityville, NY. As you'll recall from my previous post on the subject, I never did buy into it that the house was haunted. Now I read that the haunting was all just a fiction created by DeFeo's lawyer William Weber and the Lutz family.
The cool thing about the Zillow article is that it links to the listing for the haunted house. The Winchester House (from the descendants of the maker of Winchester rifles), is estimated to be worth some $2.2 million. The Franklin Castle, just $267,000. Wanna make a bid on a haunted house?
Speaking of haunted houses, look for my review (hopefully tomorrow) of the Headless Horseman Haunted Hayride & Haunted Houses attraction that I visited on Saturday in Ulster Park, NY.
Source
There are a number of legends associated with this 14th-century castle, and it has a reputation of being haunted. It has 2 famous female ghosts; the White Lady and the Blue Lady. According to legend the White Lady is the spirit of Margaret Pomeroy, who starved to death while imprisoned in the dungeons by her jealous sister. Apparently she haunts the dark dungeons, and rises from St Margaret’s Tower to the castle walls. The Blue Lady is not confined to specific areas and is supposed to lure people into parts of the ruin. Apparently it’s a very bad idea to follow her!
According to some people the ghosts of people who were killed during the war haunt this place. Some say the patients who died here despite having the hope to be alive turned into ghosts. Hearing the banging of doors, windows, clattering of dishes and screaming voices during night are reported by people.
Source
This magnificent castle is typically medieval, perched atop a rocky crag, giving it an amazing vista of Scottish hills. But inside the empty halls and narrow streets of Edinburgh, there are the echoes of the dead. At least, that’s what has been reported. Hot spots for specters include the castle’s prison cells, the South Bridge vaults and Mary’s King Close, a disused street used to quarantine and eventually entomb victims of the plague. There are also reports of ghost dogs, a headless drummer, and the bodies of prisoners taken during the French seven-year war and the American War of Independence.
Source
Monte Cristo, Australia’s most haunted mansion is located in Junee, New South Wales. Mrs Crawley, the owner of the house never came out of her home after the death of her husband in 23 years of her remaining life except for two times. After her death her ghost haunts the place particularly her former room. Bodiless ghost, phantom face in the window, floating apparition, strange and ghostly voices, automatic turning on and off lights are some haunting experiences of the people. Some people reported that when they entered the boy’s bed room they were breathless and turned purple and almost died, they became normal after coming out from the room.
Source
Whether you believe in ghosts or not, a trip to the Ancient Ram Inn is an unsettling experience. Its creaky floorboards, cold bare walls, musty smells and dimly lit nooks and crannies epitomise everything a haunted house should be. And the stories attached to this creepy building are not for the fainthearted: Murder, satanism and child sacrifice are just a few of the dark deeds said to have occurred here, oh and did we mention apparently it’s built on a pagan burial ground?
By night, Highgate Cemetery is like something out of a horror movie. Eerie crooked gravestones, headless angles covered in ivy, dark overgrown passages between the tombs, it’s no wonder this is Britain’s number-one ghost spot. Despite it’s chilling atmosphere, by day Highgate Cemetery showcases some of the Britain’s most spectacular Gothic architecture, offers fascinating guided tours. It’s also the burial place of Karl Marx.
Bhangarh Fort is on way from Jaipur to Alwar in Rajasthan, India. According to a legend, Singhia, a black magic tantrik cursed the palace that everybody would die in the palace and their souls will stay there for centuries without rebirth. Another interesting point is, all the houses in this area are without roofs because whenever a house is built with roof, the roof collapses. This is the called most haunting place in India. People who visit this place experience anxiety and restlessness. It is said that nobody returns from this place that stays there after dark. Government prohibited this area from staying after sunset. You will find a board installed by Archaeological Survey of India displaying “Staying after sunset is strictly prohibited in this area”.
Source
The haunting of the Screaming Tunnel is one of Niagara Falls’ most enduring legends. Located off Warner Road, the tunnel runs under the railway tracks that link Niagara Falls to Toronto and New York City. According to local legend, over a century ago, a farm house located just past the south entrance to the tunnel caught fire one night. A young girl, her clothes engulfed in flames, fled screaming from the house. She ran through the tunnel in an attempt to extinguish her garments but collapsed and died on the tunnel floor. A variation of this story has the girl set ablaze in the tunnel by her enraged father when he learned his wife had won custody of their children during an nasty divorce battle. Another version tells of a young girl who was raped inside the tunnel and her body burned to cover the evidence. All these stories allege that if you stand in the middle of the dark tunnel at midnight and light a match, the flame will go out and a girl’s screams will be heard.
Source
Ohio University is known in state folklore as the most haunted college campus. A large number of places on campus are said to be haunted, and numerous other popular tales are told about the university across Athens county. The British Society for Psychical Research claims that Athens, Ohio, is one of the most haunted places in the world. Wilson Hall, famous for a girl (a supposed witch)who killed herself moments after writing satanic and supernatural things on the wall in her own blood. The five cemetaries that form a pentagram that surrounds the campus, with the administrative building being in the center of the devil’s sign. Washington Hall, which is famous for housing a team of basketball players who all died in a terrible crashm their ghosts still haunt the hall, and you can sometimes hear them dribbling. The catacombs of Jefferson Hall, where numerous ghost sightings have occurred. And finally, for The Ridges, an abandoned insane asylum that was known for thousands of labotamies and electro shock treatments. Also, a patient who disappeared, and was found five weeks later, her body decomposed onto the floor and left a stain that outlines her body. This stain can still be seen today.
Source
Changi Beach served as a popular killing ground for the Japanese during the Sook Ching massacre of The Second World War. Thousands of Chinese were tortured and killed during this Operation as they were suspected of being anti-Japanese. Strange crying and screaming are reported by people. The heads of the Chinese dead bodies are sometimes seen flying everywhere and headless bodies walk around the beach. The scariest thing is that the ghosts leave blood stains. During nights people observe dug holes that appear as if they were used for burying bodies.
Continuing this month's apropos theme of all things haunted, I bring a
list of 13 of the most haunted places in the world. Paranormal
activity is an international affair, and ghosts and apparitions toy with
the living everywhere from California to Mumbai. This list will have
some familiar names, and some places you never expected to be haunted
(The White House?!), but each one comes with tale after tale of weird
and terrifying experiences with the phantom world.
Though now a newly renovated hotel, Ballygally Castle was built in 1625
by James Shaw. True to most castles in Europe, it is, of course,
haunted. The most notable ghost in Ballygally is that of Lady Isobel
Shaw, who was locked in a room by her husband James and starved to
death. Said to be friendly, she amuses herself by knocking on doors and
then disappearing. Another apparition is Madame Nixon who can be seen
and heard walking around in her silk dress. When Ballygally was
actually a castle it came under attack several times and many soldiers
lost their lives. Consequently, their restless souls frequent the
castle grounds in military uniform toying with guests, and perhaps
searching for their enemies.
I admit to a guiltless plug here because I am from Arkansas and have
actually stayed in this hotel. Nonetheless, this place is renowned for
its possession and I have friends who can attest to its haunts. This
78-year old hotel is haunted by a number of ghosts, including Michael,
an Irish stones man who worked in the hotel and took a fatal fall off
the roof into an area that is now room 218. His ghost is said to still
roam the halls surrounding the room. Also roaming the grounds is a
gentleman in Victorian clothing who haunts the lobby, the confused ghost
of Doctor Baker (who ran the facility in the 1930s when it was a
hospital/health spa), and the ghost of a nurse dressed in white who
wanders the entire hotel. A good friend of mine, who claims he has a
knack for getting into trouble with the paranormal, swears that while he
was staying in room 202 (a notably haunted room in the hotel) he saw
the nurse ghost briefly when he entered his room. He also said that the
nurse ghost played with the lights, touched his arm and shook the
antique mirror that hung above his bed. When my mother remarried in
Eureka Springs, I tried to talk her out of having the family stay in
this hotel. She didn't listen but, luckily, we had a ghoul free
weekend. Click here to read more history about the Crescent.
The Rose Hall Great House is one of the most popular tourist
attractions in Jamaica due in no small part to the legend of its
mistress, Annie Palmer. Palmer came to Rose Hall in 1820 and was known
for her gruesome treatment of slaves. Considered a Black Witch by
locals, she brutally tortured slaves and killed many of them simply
because she was bored by them. She is also said to have murdered three
of her husbands: the first by poison, the second my stabbing and then
pouring boiling oil in his ears, and the third my strangling. All of
Annie's victims are said to haunt the grounds and tourists come armed
with instant cameras in hopes of snapping a picture of ghosts such as
the ones in the picture. There is also rumored to be secret underground
tunnels on the grounds and visitors have spoke of bloodstains smeared
in numerous places. It should also be noted that the included picture
was taken without a flash or sun exposed windows. Find out more about the history, hauntings and personal experiences here.
Ok, I know Singapore is an entire country, but I was reading about some
pretty disturbing stuff that goes on around there. Considered Asia's
most haunted city, Singapore is home to many locations that register
high numbers in paranormal activity. Strange lights glitter through
Hougang School near East Coast Beach and one ghost actually goes around
slapping people at the Changi Beach House. Near the coast at Lor
Halus, ghosts of the poor beg for food and money along the streets.
Many years ago at the Bedok Tenant House, a ghost apparently killed a
resident and now the woman is herself a screaming ghost who disturbs the
residents at the Hou Gang Tenements. In the Fort Sentosa district, the
Punggol White House is haunted by a whole family who committed suicide
together, while headless apparitions terrorize passengers as they pass
through certain MRT mass transit stations in the city. As you can see
Singapore has a slew of hauntings that are ceaseless in their
disturbance to the living.
If
you know about Haussmannization, the grand remodeling of Paris in the
1860s, you may or may not know that the Catacombs of Paris were
reconstructed in order to support the sprawling housing developments and
massive boulevards that would come to define the city. Underneath the
beautiful façade of Paris is a structural support system built of human
bones. In order to strengthen his structure and alleviate the
sanitation issues that were being caused by past improper burial,
Haussmann had his team of workers dig up the remains of many of Paris'
graveyards and use them as building materials for his project. And
what, if anything, do we know about disturbing graves? Right, it pisses
the dead off. Though only a small part of the catacombs are open to
the public, there are many secret entrances and tourists and trespassers
alike have attested to its haunting with stories and sightings of
run-ins with ghosts of a bygone Paris. Expect to see apparitions
ranging from the ancients to the revolutionaries and don't forget your
flashlight if you go hunting. It's dark down there. Here is a nice history of the catacombs and a personal ghost hunting story.
The Tower of London is known historically as the prison for the crown of England. Its ghostly presence is due no doubt to the mass amounts of executions, tortures and murders that occurred within its walls. Hundreds of ghost sightings are reported there every year by tourists and Londoners alike, and, on a misty night, many hope to catch a glimpse of one of its dead prisoners. A story goes that one night a guardsman was standing watch when he heard a banging noise on his guardhouse. He went out to investigate and he saw a shapeless white figure that very well could have been the ghost of Lady Jane Grey, who was beheaded that very same date, February 12th, in 1554. Others have reported seeing the spirit of Ann Boleyn, a wife of Henry VI, who was also beheaded in 1536. Ann is a frequent visitor to the Tower and she is sometimes seen carrying her own head. Other ghosts include Henry VI, Thomas Beckett, Sir Walter Raleigh and the Countess of Salisbury, whose gruesome execution is sometimes seen being re-enacted by ghosts. Click here to find out more about the hauntings in the Tower of London.
Even though the White House is an American institution at the center of
our political climate, it is also a hot spot for ghosts. Several
former presidents are said to frequent many of the rooms in the house.
President Harrison has been seen and heard rummaging around in the White
House attic, who knows for what. Andrew Jackson frequently joins
guests in what was his bedroom during his presidency, and Abigail Adams
has been spotted roaming hallways apparently carrying something. The
most spotted president ghost, however, is Abraham Lincoln. Eleanor
Roosevelt was said to have felt the presence of Honest Abe while she
worked in the Lincoln bedroom. Also, during the Roosevelt
administration, a young clerk saw Lincoln's ghost sitting on a bed
removing his boots. Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, during an
overnight stay, was awakened by a knock at her door and, upon answering,
saw the ghost of President Lincoln facing her in the hallway. Calvin
Coolidge's wife reported on several occasions seeing President Lincoln
standing at a window in the oval office with his hands clasped behind
his back, appearing to be in a deep contemplative mood. Check out the
official White House webpage for more about its many ghosts.
This once famous luxury cruise liner was purchased by the city of Long Beach and converted in a hotel in 1967, but many passengers and crew members from its sailing days still haunt the ship. The most haunted room is said to be the engine room where a 17-year-old sailor was crushed trying to escape a fire. It has been numerously reported that he bangs on pipes throughout the room. There have also been reports of a "lady in white" around the front desk of the hotel and the ghosts of children haunting the pool area. Many visitors claims to hear the ghost of a little girl, who reportedly broke her neck while swimming, asking her mommy for her doll. In the pool's changing room, there has been plenty of strange activity. Furniture is said to move by itself and unseen figures touch hotel guests. In the front hull of the ship, there is a ghost that some guest say they can hear screaming. He is said to be a sailor who was killed when the Queen Mary collided with another, smaller ship. Click here to read more and even watch a live ghost cam on the ship.
Raynham Hall is one of the most famous haunted places in the world due largely in part to its most famous ghost, the Brown Lady, who was captured on film in 1936 in what is said to be one of the most authentic ghost photos every taken. The Unexplained Site describes one of the first encounters with the spirit: "The first known sighting happened during the 1835 Christmas season. Colonel Loftus, who happened to be visiting for the holidays, was walking to his room late one night when he saw a strange figure ahead of him. As he tried to gain a better look, the figure promptly disappeared. The next week, the Colonel again came upon the woman. He described her as a noble woman who wore a brown satin dress. Her face seemed to glow, which highlighted her empty eye sockets." The photo has been examined multiple times by experts who all confirm it is authentic and untouched. The Brown Lady is said to have been confined in a room by her husband, unable to see her children. She soon perished in the room and has continued to haunt Raynham Hall clad in her brown dress.
The
Bell Farm has been made notorious through books, TV specials and
movies. Most recently the events at this small Tennessee farm were
dramatized in the 2005 movie An American Haunting. The story
behind the Bell Farm haunting is so notable and recognized because it is
said to be the only documented account in paranormal history when a
ghost caused the death of a living person. Between the years of 1817
and 1821, the Bell Family was terrorized by some sort of entity, mostly
said to be a woman, who became known as the Bell Witch or, more
personally, "Kate." She is said to have perturbed and tortured John
Bell (the father of the family and victim of a nervous system disorder)
so much that it lead to his inevitable death. He was unable to sleep or
recuperate and the ghost's antics worsened his condition. It is also
said that a vile with a strange black liquid was found at John Bell's
deathbed and that Kate herself claimed she gave it to him. Supposedly,
in order to test the liquids validity, a drop was placed on the family
cat's tongue and it immediately killed the animal. Though the haunting
of the Bell Farm has been sensationalized many times over, it is still
inarguable that something happened there during those three
years. A family and a community were terrorized by an entity of some
kind, and residents still believe Kate is up to no good. For an
extensive history of everything that went on at the Bell Farm, click here.
England is widely known as a land haunted by spirits, and the Borley
Rectory claims to be the most haunted place in England. The rectory was
built in 1863 next to the Borley Church as a home for Reverend Henry
Bull. After its construction it became the site of intense poltergeist
activity such as spontaneous displacement of objects, strange odors,
cold spots, the sound of galloping horses and ghostly apparitions. The
rectory was destroyed by fire in 1939 but photos of the ruins still
contained odd images and unexplained elements. Captain W. H. Gregson,
one of the last residents there, reported seeing the ghost of a nun
wondering the grounds. People even reported seeing Gregson being
accompanied by a lady in a gray cloak and a bald man in a long black
jacket. Perhaps the most disturbing activity occurred around Marianne,
the wife of Reverend Lionel Foster, who took residence in the house in
1930. An entity of some kind tried to communicate with Marianne through
scratching messages on walls
and the whole episode was captured on camera. Also photographed was a
floating brick and a floating ribbon-like apparition. To this day odd
images show up in photographs and as recently as 2000 a photo was taken
with a mysterious orb floating in the background.
Said to be the most haunted place in the United States, the Whaley House was built in 1857 by Thomas Whaley on land that was partially a cemetery. Nothing gets the ghouls stirring like invading their home. Ghosts that inhabit the home include a young girl who was accidentally hanged on the property, the ghost of the thief Yankee Jim Robinson who was clubbed to death and can be heard on the stairway where he died, and the young red-headed Whaley daughter who is claimed to sometimes appear in such realistic form that visitors think she is a real child. Author deTraci Regula has had her fare share of experiences there as well: "Over the years, while dining across the street at the Old Town Mexican Cafe, I became accustomed to noticing that the shutters of the second-story windows [of the Whaley House] would sometimes open while we ate dinner, long after the house was closed for the day. On a recent visit, I could feel the energy in several spots in the house, particularly in the courtroom, where I also smelled the faint scent of a cigar, supposedly Whaley's calling card. In the hallway, I smelled perfume, initially attributing that to the young woman acting as docent, but some later surreptitious sniffing in her direction as I talked to her about the house revealed her to be scent-free." Furthermore, famed psychic Sybil Leek claimed to have sensed several spirits there, and world renowned ghost hunger Hanz Holzer considers it one of the true haunted spots in the United States. Check out the Whaley House website for stories, history and lots of photos. Here are some other good stories as well.
Edinburgh Castle, suspected to be one the most haunted spots in
Scotland, is appropriately judged considering Edinburgh has been said to
be the most haunted city in all of Europe, and possibly the world. The
castle is a historical fortress and parts of it have withstood its 900
year history. A battleground of countless deaths, Edinburgh Castle can
easily be thought of as an eternal spot of unrest for fallen soldiers.
Other ghosts said to haunt the castle are a phantom piper, a headless
drummer, the spirits of French prisoners from the Seven Years War and
colonial prisoners from the American Revolutionary War and even a dog
that wanders the castle's cemetery. Other areas of Edinburgh also have
ghostly reputations: the subterranean vaults of South Bridge and a
disused street called Mary Kings Close where victims of the Black Death
plague were sealed up to die. What also makes Edinburgh Castle so
noteworthy among the paranormal community is that in 2001, Dr. Richard
Weisman took a group of 240 volunteers, ignorant of the castle's past,
on a walk-through of the castle and its surroundings in order to gather
paranormal data. Armed with every ghost busting tool imaginable, almost
all the volunteers reported experiences such as drops in temperature,
shadowy figures, burning sensations in the limbs, physical touching, and
tugging at clothes. One woman was even brave enough to stay the night
alone in a South Bridge vault. She reported hearing heaving breathing
from the corner of the cell that got louder throughout the night and she
saw strange flashes of light. What is most intriguing about the whole
experiment is that even though none of the volunteers had any previous
knowledge of what rooms had haunted reputations and which ones didn't,
they reported the most amount of activity from the reputed locations and
saw many of the same things as other tourists. Click here to read more about Edinburgh's grisly past, and here for more about Dr. Weisman's investigation.
There are literally thousands of haunted places around the world, and this list only compiles a small number of them. Nevertheless, paranormal activity occurs time and time again and some instances, such as the ones listed here, are hard to disprove. What about you? Got any strange ghost experiences? Tell us about them and maybe you'll uncover the next great haunted hot spot.
BHANGARH : ONE OF THE MOST HAUNTED PLACE IN THE WORLD
Bhangarh is a place between Jaipur and Alwar in Rajasthan state of India. Today Bhangarh is known for its ruins where nobody dares to go after dark, but is worth a visit; in fact the place is beautiful and tranquil. What remains though, is a shadow of a once beautiful kingdom.
Bhangarh in the state of Rajasthan India. Local mythology says the place is haunted, coz they have to say so. But in this case, the Archaelogical Survey of India (ASI) in charge of it warns people off the area!
The ASI is the official government body in charge across India of all the monuments and ruins.
Take a look at this ASI signboard in Bhangarh. The signboard is placed 1 Km away from the Bhangarh fort, which has been in ruins since the 17th century, when Bhangarh was deserted overnight. People do not enter the area as it is believed that if you do, you do not return.
The Government of India
The Archeological Survey of India, Bhangarh
Important warning:
1. Entering the borders of Bhangarh before sunrise and after sunset is strictly prohibited.
2. Shepherds and woodcutters who enter Bhangarh area will face legal action.
3. The Kewda or Pandanus trees found in Bhangarh area belong to the Archaelogy Survey of India. Is it forbidden to subject this tree to any kind of harm.
Note: Anyone flouting of the rules mentioned above will face legal action.
By order
Incharge, Archaelogical Survey Board
One of the stories say that the Bhangarh was cursed by a tantrik (a wizard who practices dark arts), Singhia, who was in love with the beautiful princess Ratnawati of Bhangarh. Singhia added a love potion to a bowl of oil that belonged to the princess, but Singhia’s hopes were dashed (literally) when Ratnawati hurled the bowl on a wall that collapsed and buried Singhia.
A dying Scindia cursed the kingdom of Bhangarh saying that the city would be wiped out overnight, and would never be inhabited again, except for the temples. Shortly after the death of Singhia, the whole city was sacked and destroyed in the Bhangarh-Ajabgarh wars.
Bhangarh was built in the 17th century, by Raja Madho Singh, younger brother of Man Singh, a general of Emperor Akbar’s army. At that time, Bhangarh had a population of over 10,000. Now, not a soul lives in the ruined but still beautiful city. Bhangarh was the precursor of the exquisite old city of Jaipur, with its havelis, colorful bazaars, and temples.
Havelis are elaborate residences, almost miniature palaces, built around large courtyards. The walls are painted in bright colors with detailed frescoes. If the old city of Jaipur is anything to go by, Bhangarh must have been an extremely prosperous city. Today nothing remains but the temples
One is a dusty village and the other a ruined city; both are less than 10 km from the super-luxury resort Amanbagh, hidden deep in Alwar district. Book yourself into the delicious resort and then go tramping around these beautiful but dusty relics of princely Rajasthan. Ajabgarh, meaning ‘place of mysteries’, is an appropriately ghostly village, dotted with abandoned old houses where you’ll find the odd, stunningly carved window frame of picturesquely decorated doorstep. Prepare to be startled by the scale and beauty of Bhangarh – the abandoned city’s marketplace areas, temples and gardens are in surprisingly good repair as well. Legend goes that the city was abandoned after it was cursed by a holy man. It’s perfectly serene; you’ll have only stray dogs and ancient temple-keepers for company.
Passing by Bhangarh, banyans and temples dot the landscape and one chhatri can be seen up on the hill. The most remarkable are the temples of Gopinath, Shiva (Someshwar), Mangla Devi and Keshava Rai. Other more or less preserved buildings are e.g. shops along the main road, several havelis, a mosque, and a palace. The palace was protected by two inner fortifications across the valley. The town is separated from the plain by ramparts with five gates. Bhangarh is also a pre-historic site.
This town was established in 1573 (VS 1631) during the rule of Raja Bhagwant Das and it became the residence of his second son Madho Singh. Madho Singh was younger brother of Emperor Akbar’s General Man Singh I of Amber. Madho Singh participated in many campaigns with his father and brother. The next ruler of Bhangarh was his son Chhatr Singh. Bhangarh slowly declined after Chhatr Singh's violent death in 1630. Near Ajabgarh was founded by Ajab Singh, the son of Chhatr Singh. When Mughal Empire became weaker after the death of Aurangzeb, Jai Singh II attached Bhangarh to his state by force in 1720. After this Bhangarh diminished in population, and when the famine of 1783 (VS 1840) fell on the land the town was abandoned, and has remained a ruin ever since.
All of us have heard and enjoyed ghost stories in our childhood. We might have forgotten some but some still lingers in our mind. But there are some places in the real world which contains some spooky stories and haunting experiences of the people. Have you ever happened to visit a place which has given you goose bumps even on a warm sunny day? Let us talk about some popular haunted places around the world associated which have been marked indelibly in popular culture associated with ghosts, aliens and spooky experiences.
Bermuda Triangle
Probably the most popular place when it comes to the
mysteries associated with it, Bermuda Triangle is the name given to the
triangle formed by the boundaries of Miami, Bermuda and San Juan off the
southeastern Atlantic coast of United States, Bermuda Triangle is also
known as Devil’s Triangle due to the mysterious disappearances of over
170 ships, boats and planes. Several myths that has attributed to these
disappearances are hazardous weather conditions, alien abduction and
paranormal activities.
Changi Beach
Located on the northwestern tip of Singapore, Changi
Beach once served as a popular killing ground of Chinese soldiers by
Japanese during Second World War. Thousands of innocent Chinese soldiers
were tortured and killed during this operation as they were suspected
of being indulged into anti-Japan activities. The strange screaming and
crying of Chinese soldiers have been reported by the people. Often at
night people can find deep dug holes as that needed for burying dead
bodies.
Highgate Cemetery
High gate Cemetery is a popular cemetery in North London
which scores among the haunted places in United Kingdom. The old
section in the Western Part of the cemetery is the part which adds to
the spooky character with its dark ambience, overgrown vegetation,
spooky Egyptian Avenues and Gothic architecture. This visit to this
part is only allowed as part of a guided tour. It is said that as the
night falls the haunted environment starts to descend the panorama.
Edinburgh Castle
A magnificent castle perched atop of volcanic Castle
Rock. Edinburgh castle is a major tourist attraction offering panoramic
view of Scottish hills and grassland. The massive citadel is claimed to
be one of the most haunted spots in Scotland. Many visitors of the
castle said to have reported ghost dogs, a headless drummer and the
spirits of seven year French war prisoners and colonial prisoners from
American War of Independence.
White House
The White house is the official residence of the
president of America. The place is full of ghostly incidents reported in
the past. Several people are said to have witnessed the spirits of
former presidents of America such as President Harrison, President
Jackson, the first lady Abigail Adams and the latest one being Abraham
Lincoln. Eleanor Roosevelt reported that she felt the presence of
Abraham Lincoln observing her while she was working in her Bedroom.
Bhangarh
Bhangarh is a deserted town in the Alwar district of
Rajasthan state. Established by Madho Singh in 1613, the town is said to
be cursed by a black magician. A popular legend has it that a black
magician Singhia cursed the fort palace that everyone who resides in
this palace would die and their spirits would get imprisoned in the
palace forever without rebirth. The haunted status of the place attracts
a number of tourists and daring souls to this elusive fort in the
outskirts of Alwar.
Screaming Tunnel
Screaming Tunnel is one of the most haunted places
located in the northwest corner of Niagara Falls in Ontario. A local
legend has it that a young girl was burnt by his father after losing her
custody in a nasty divorce battle. It is believed that if you stand in
the middle of the dark tunnel during midnight and burn a wooden
matchstick, the endless screams of a young girl dying could be heard.
Monte Cristo Homestead
Monte Cristo is a historic two-storeyed mansion plagued
by many tragedies and deaths over the years. The homestead is declared
as 'Australia's Most Haunted House' owing to some spooky experiences of
the people like bodiless ghosts, phantom sounds and ghostly voices. It
is said that the owner of the house, Mrs. Crawely never came out of her
home after the demise of her husband in 23 years except for two times.
The homestead is now a tourist site with a museum and antique store
housed within the mansion.
Myrtle Plantation
Touted to be the America’s most haunted house, Myrtle
Plantation is claimed to be home to at least 10 ghosts. This place has
been part of several documentaries and research and most of them claim
that there is something spooky and haunted about this place. The
plantation is a bread and breakfast and offers ghost tours to those
looking forward to experience spooky and mysterious.
Tower of London
Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress popularly known
as the Tower of London may be one of the most well preserved and most
haunted places in the world. There are a number of ghost stories and
legends from the Tower of London which is not surprising considering the
fact that over its 1000 years old history, the fortress has seen scores
of murders, execution and torture take place within it precincts. Some
of the most famous ghosts of the tower include Henry VI, Arabella Stuart
Everyone seems to know of at least one haunted house; as kids there was almost certainly one in our own neighbourhood. This list contains the most famous and most haunted places in the world. If you have had any experiences of a similar nature, feel free to tell us about it in the comments. I should add, before starting, that I am a skeptic; I have written this list for entertainment value.
1. Borley Rectory, Essex, England [Wikipedia]
The haunting of the Borley Rectory during the 1920s and 1930s, is undoubtedly one of the most famous in Britain, as well as being one of the most controversial. The wealth of sightings and experiences by independent witnesses, suggests that although much of the phenomena can be explained in rational terms, a percentage remains which can still be seen as inexplicable at the present time.
2. The Whaley House, California [Wikipedia]
Author deTraci Regula relates her experiences with the house: “Over the years, while dining across the street at the Old Town Mexican Cafe, I became accustomed to noticing that the shutters of the second-story windows [of the Whaley House] would sometimes open while we ate dinner, long after the house was closed for the day. On a recent visit, I could feel the energy in several spots in the house, particularly in the courtroom, where I also smelled the faint scent of a cigar, supposedly Whaley’s calling-card. In the hallway, I smelled perfume, initially attributing that to the young woman acting as docent, but some later surreptitious sniffing in her direction as I talked to her about the house revealed her to be scent-free.”
3. Raynham Hall, Norfolk, England [Wikipedia]
aynham Hall is a country house in Norfolk, England. For 300 years it has been the seat of the Townshend family. The hall gave its name to the area, known as East Raynham, and is reported to be haunted, providing the scene for possibly the most famous ghost photo of all time, the famous Brown Lady descending the staircase. However, the ghost has not been reported since the photo was taken. Its most famous resident was Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend (1674-1738), leader in the House of Lords.
4. The Myrtles Plantation, Louisiana [Wikipedia]
The Myrtles Plantation was built in 1796 by General David Bradford and called Laurel Grove. Touted as “one of America’s most haunted homes”, the plantation is supposedly home of at least 12 ghosts.[9] It is often reported that 10 murders occurred in the house, but historical records only indicate the murder of William Winter. Possibly the most well known of the Myrtles supposed ghosts, Chloe (sometimes Cleo) was reportedly a slave owned by Clark and Sara Woodruff. According to one story, Clark Woodruff had pressured or forced Chloe into being his mistress. Chloe and Clark were caught by Sara Woodruff, and Chloe began to listen at keyholes, trying to learn what would happen to her.
5. Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia [Wikipedia]
Designed by John Haviland and opened in 1829, Eastern State is considered to be the world’s first true penitentiary. Its revolutionary system of incarceration, dubbed the Pennsylvania System, originated and encouraged solitary confinement as a form of rehabilitation. On June 1st, 2007 a television show called “Most Haunted” went live to the penitentiary. Part of the group went to Al Capones cell. Two people passed out while “investigating” the prison. One member of the team, Yvette, stated that “this is the most evil place I have ever been.” They claimed to have had contact with spirits but there was no hard evidence that their claims were legitimate.
6. The Tower of London, London [Wikipedia]
Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress The Tower of London, more commonly known as the Tower of London (and historically simply as The Tower), is an historic monument in central London, England on the north bank of the River Thames. Perhaps the most well-known ghostly resident of the Tower is the spirit of Ann Boleyn, one of the wives of Henry VIII, who was also beheaded in the Tower in 1536. Her ghost has been spotted on many occasions, sometimes carrying her head, on Tower Green and in the Tower Chapel Royal.
7. Waverly Hills Sanatorium, Kentucky [Wikipedia]
Waverly Hills Sanatorium, located in Louisville, Kentucky, opened in 1910 as a two-story hospital to accommodate 40 to 50 tuberculosis patients. It has been popularized on television as being one of the “most haunted” hospitals in the eastern United States, and was seen on ABC/FOX Family Channel’s Scariest Places On Earth as well as VH1′s Celebrity Paranormal Project. It was also seen on the Sci Fi Channel’s Ghost Hunters. Ghost investigators who have ventured into Waverly have reported a host of strange paranormal phenomena, including voices of unknown origin, isolated cold spots and unexplained shadows. Screams have been heard echoing in its now abandoned hallways, and fleeting apparitions have been encountered.
8. The Queen Mary, California [Wikipedia]
RMS Queen Mary is an ocean liner that sailed the North Atlantic Ocean from 1936 to 1967 for Cunard Line (then Cunard White Star Line). The Queen Mary was purchased by the city of Long Beach, California in 1967 and transformed into a hotel. The most haunted area of the ship is the engine room where a 17-year-old sailor was crushed to death trying to escape a fire. Knocking and banging on the pipes around the door has been heard and recorded by numerous people. In what is now the front desk area of the hotel, visitors have seen the ghost of a “lady in white.” Ghosts of children are said to haunt the ship’s pool.
9. The White House, Washington DC [Wikipedia]
The home of the presidents of the United States. President Harrison is said to be heard rummaging around in the attic of the White House, looking for who knows what. President Andrew Jackson is thought to haunt his White House bedroom. And the ghost of First Lady Abigail Adams was seen floating through one of the White House hallways, as if carrying something. The most frequently sighted presidential ghost has been that of Abraham Lincoln. Eleanor Roosevelt once stated she believed she felt the presence of Lincoln watching her as she worked in the Lincoln bedroom. Also during the Roosevelt administration, a young clerk claimed to have actually seen the ghost of Lincoln sitting on a bed pulling off his boots.
10. Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland [Wikipedia]
Edinburgh Castle is reputed to be one of the most haunted spots in Scotland. And Edinburgh itself has been called the most haunted city in all of Europe. On various occasions, visitors to the castle have reported a phantom piper, a headless drummer, the spirits of French prisoners from the Seven Years War and colonial prisoners from the American Revolutionary War – even the ghost of a dog wandering in the grounds’ dog cemetery
Most-Haunted Houses?
This intrigued me that the government was going around labeling houses as haunted, but I could find nothing on the Commerce Department's website. Seems the earliest mention of it (that I could find anyway) was an article in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer from 1996, which was actually an Associated Press story. Wikipedia even cites this article as the source for the claim. They say in the 1960's Commerce designated it as haunted and their registry includes 29 other places.
As I suspected, it turns out this is not true. According to a blog post on Haunted Jaunts, there is no such listing. They point to another article that appeared in the Tuscon Citizen which debunks the certification story. Interestingly, the Whaley House itself has a link to the PI article on its "In the News" page, which initially made me think it might have been true. If they're including it, then it must be, right? No doubt they're not about to kill a source of possible business for them.
Yet other sources I read cited the certification as being from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Now that I could believe. They're in the business of promoting business so if they came out with a list of "official" haunted houses, that would make sense. Alas, not even the Chamber site has any reference of haunted houses on it. This seems to be one of those stories that continues to grow in the telling.
The second house on the list is the Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA, and no real introduction is needed as to why it might be haunted. The other houses on the list include:
3. LaLaurie Mansion, New Orleans, LA4. White House, Washington, DC (yes, that White House...good ol' Abe Lincoln is said to stalk the halls)
5. Franklin Castle, Cleveland, OH
6. Sprague Mansion, Cranston, RI
7. Chambers Mansion, San Francisco, CA
8. Myrtles Plantation, St. Francisville, LA
9. Stranahan House, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
The one house Zillow purposely didn't put on the list was the Amityville Horror house in Amityville, NY. As you'll recall from my previous post on the subject, I never did buy into it that the house was haunted. Now I read that the haunting was all just a fiction created by DeFeo's lawyer William Weber and the Lutz family.
The cool thing about the Zillow article is that it links to the listing for the haunted house. The Winchester House (from the descendants of the maker of Winchester rifles), is estimated to be worth some $2.2 million. The Franklin Castle, just $267,000. Wanna make a bid on a haunted house?
Speaking of haunted houses, look for my review (hopefully tomorrow) of the Headless Horseman Haunted Hayride & Haunted Houses attraction that I visited on Saturday in Ulster Park, NY.10. Berry Pomeroy Castle, Totness
Source
There are a number of legends associated with this 14th-century castle, and it has a reputation of being haunted. It has 2 famous female ghosts; the White Lady and the Blue Lady. According to legend the White Lady is the spirit of Margaret Pomeroy, who starved to death while imprisoned in the dungeons by her jealous sister. Apparently she haunts the dark dungeons, and rises from St Margaret’s Tower to the castle walls. The Blue Lady is not confined to specific areas and is supposed to lure people into parts of the ruin. Apparently it’s a very bad idea to follow her!
9. Dominican Hill, Baguio City, Philippines.
According to some people the ghosts of people who were killed during the war haunt this place. Some say the patients who died here despite having the hope to be alive turned into ghosts. Hearing the banging of doors, windows, clattering of dishes and screaming voices during night are reported by people.
8. Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland
Source
This magnificent castle is typically medieval, perched atop a rocky crag, giving it an amazing vista of Scottish hills. But inside the empty halls and narrow streets of Edinburgh, there are the echoes of the dead. At least, that’s what has been reported. Hot spots for specters include the castle’s prison cells, the South Bridge vaults and Mary’s King Close, a disused street used to quarantine and eventually entomb victims of the plague. There are also reports of ghost dogs, a headless drummer, and the bodies of prisoners taken during the French seven-year war and the American War of Independence.
7. Monte Cristo, New South Wales, Australia
Source
Monte Cristo, Australia’s most haunted mansion is located in Junee, New South Wales. Mrs Crawley, the owner of the house never came out of her home after the death of her husband in 23 years of her remaining life except for two times. After her death her ghost haunts the place particularly her former room. Bodiless ghost, phantom face in the window, floating apparition, strange and ghostly voices, automatic turning on and off lights are some haunting experiences of the people. Some people reported that when they entered the boy’s bed room they were breathless and turned purple and almost died, they became normal after coming out from the room.
6. Ancient Ram Inn, Gloucestershire, England
Source
Whether you believe in ghosts or not, a trip to the Ancient Ram Inn is an unsettling experience. Its creaky floorboards, cold bare walls, musty smells and dimly lit nooks and crannies epitomise everything a haunted house should be. And the stories attached to this creepy building are not for the fainthearted: Murder, satanism and child sacrifice are just a few of the dark deeds said to have occurred here, oh and did we mention apparently it’s built on a pagan burial ground?
5. Highgate Cemetery, North London, England
By night, Highgate Cemetery is like something out of a horror movie. Eerie crooked gravestones, headless angles covered in ivy, dark overgrown passages between the tombs, it’s no wonder this is Britain’s number-one ghost spot. Despite it’s chilling atmosphere, by day Highgate Cemetery showcases some of the Britain’s most spectacular Gothic architecture, offers fascinating guided tours. It’s also the burial place of Karl Marx.
4. Bhangarh Fort, India
Bhangarh Fort is on way from Jaipur to Alwar in Rajasthan, India. According to a legend, Singhia, a black magic tantrik cursed the palace that everybody would die in the palace and their souls will stay there for centuries without rebirth. Another interesting point is, all the houses in this area are without roofs because whenever a house is built with roof, the roof collapses. This is the called most haunting place in India. People who visit this place experience anxiety and restlessness. It is said that nobody returns from this place that stays there after dark. Government prohibited this area from staying after sunset. You will find a board installed by Archaeological Survey of India displaying “Staying after sunset is strictly prohibited in this area”.
3. Screaming Tunnel, Niagara Falls, Ontario
Source
The haunting of the Screaming Tunnel is one of Niagara Falls’ most enduring legends. Located off Warner Road, the tunnel runs under the railway tracks that link Niagara Falls to Toronto and New York City. According to local legend, over a century ago, a farm house located just past the south entrance to the tunnel caught fire one night. A young girl, her clothes engulfed in flames, fled screaming from the house. She ran through the tunnel in an attempt to extinguish her garments but collapsed and died on the tunnel floor. A variation of this story has the girl set ablaze in the tunnel by her enraged father when he learned his wife had won custody of their children during an nasty divorce battle. Another version tells of a young girl who was raped inside the tunnel and her body burned to cover the evidence. All these stories allege that if you stand in the middle of the dark tunnel at midnight and light a match, the flame will go out and a girl’s screams will be heard.
2. Ohio University, Athens, America
Source
Ohio University is known in state folklore as the most haunted college campus. A large number of places on campus are said to be haunted, and numerous other popular tales are told about the university across Athens county. The British Society for Psychical Research claims that Athens, Ohio, is one of the most haunted places in the world. Wilson Hall, famous for a girl (a supposed witch)who killed herself moments after writing satanic and supernatural things on the wall in her own blood. The five cemetaries that form a pentagram that surrounds the campus, with the administrative building being in the center of the devil’s sign. Washington Hall, which is famous for housing a team of basketball players who all died in a terrible crashm their ghosts still haunt the hall, and you can sometimes hear them dribbling. The catacombs of Jefferson Hall, where numerous ghost sightings have occurred. And finally, for The Ridges, an abandoned insane asylum that was known for thousands of labotamies and electro shock treatments. Also, a patient who disappeared, and was found five weeks later, her body decomposed onto the floor and left a stain that outlines her body. This stain can still be seen today.
1. Changi Beach, Singapore
Source
Changi Beach served as a popular killing ground for the Japanese during the Sook Ching massacre of The Second World War. Thousands of Chinese were tortured and killed during this Operation as they were suspected of being anti-Japanese. Strange crying and screaming are reported by people. The heads of the Chinese dead bodies are sometimes seen flying everywhere and headless bodies walk around the beach. The scariest thing is that the ghosts leave blood stains. During nights people observe dug holes that appear as if they were used for burying bodies.
13 REAL Haunted Places That Will Make You Cry for Mommy
by Seth Plattner13. Ballygally Castle - Ballygally Bay, Ireland
Though now a newly renovated hotel, Ballygally Castle was built in 1625
by James Shaw. True to most castles in Europe, it is, of course,
haunted. The most notable ghost in Ballygally is that of Lady Isobel
Shaw, who was locked in a room by her husband James and starved to
death. Said to be friendly, she amuses herself by knocking on doors and
then disappearing. Another apparition is Madame Nixon who can be seen
and heard walking around in her silk dress. When Ballygally was
actually a castle it came under attack several times and many soldiers
lost their lives. Consequently, their restless souls frequent the
castle grounds in military uniform toying with guests, and perhaps
searching for their enemies.12. The Crescent Hotel - Eureka Springs, Arkansas, US
I admit to a guiltless plug here because I am from Arkansas and have
actually stayed in this hotel. Nonetheless, this place is renowned for
its possession and I have friends who can attest to its haunts. This
78-year old hotel is haunted by a number of ghosts, including Michael,
an Irish stones man who worked in the hotel and took a fatal fall off
the roof into an area that is now room 218. His ghost is said to still
roam the halls surrounding the room. Also roaming the grounds is a
gentleman in Victorian clothing who haunts the lobby, the confused ghost
of Doctor Baker (who ran the facility in the 1930s when it was a
hospital/health spa), and the ghost of a nurse dressed in white who
wanders the entire hotel. A good friend of mine, who claims he has a
knack for getting into trouble with the paranormal, swears that while he
was staying in room 202 (a notably haunted room in the hotel) he saw
the nurse ghost briefly when he entered his room. He also said that the
nurse ghost played with the lights, touched his arm and shook the
antique mirror that hung above his bed. When my mother remarried in
Eureka Springs, I tried to talk her out of having the family stay in
this hotel. She didn't listen but, luckily, we had a ghoul free
weekend. Click here to read more history about the Crescent.11. The Rose Hall Great House - Montego Bay, Jamaica
The Rose Hall Great House is one of the most popular tourist
attractions in Jamaica due in no small part to the legend of its
mistress, Annie Palmer. Palmer came to Rose Hall in 1820 and was known
for her gruesome treatment of slaves. Considered a Black Witch by
locals, she brutally tortured slaves and killed many of them simply
because she was bored by them. She is also said to have murdered three
of her husbands: the first by poison, the second my stabbing and then
pouring boiling oil in his ears, and the third my strangling. All of
Annie's victims are said to haunt the grounds and tourists come armed
with instant cameras in hopes of snapping a picture of ghosts such as
the ones in the picture. There is also rumored to be secret underground
tunnels on the grounds and visitors have spoke of bloodstains smeared
in numerous places. It should also be noted that the included picture
was taken without a flash or sun exposed windows. Find out more about the history, hauntings and personal experiences here.10. Singapore
Ok, I know Singapore is an entire country, but I was reading about some
pretty disturbing stuff that goes on around there. Considered Asia's
most haunted city, Singapore is home to many locations that register
high numbers in paranormal activity. Strange lights glitter through
Hougang School near East Coast Beach and one ghost actually goes around
slapping people at the Changi Beach House. Near the coast at Lor
Halus, ghosts of the poor beg for food and money along the streets.
Many years ago at the Bedok Tenant House, a ghost apparently killed a
resident and now the woman is herself a screaming ghost who disturbs the
residents at the Hou Gang Tenements. In the Fort Sentosa district, the
Punggol White House is haunted by a whole family who committed suicide
together, while headless apparitions terrorize passengers as they pass
through certain MRT mass transit stations in the city. As you can see
Singapore has a slew of hauntings that are ceaseless in their
disturbance to the living.9. The Catacombs Museum - Paris, France
If
you know about Haussmannization, the grand remodeling of Paris in the
1860s, you may or may not know that the Catacombs of Paris were
reconstructed in order to support the sprawling housing developments and
massive boulevards that would come to define the city. Underneath the
beautiful façade of Paris is a structural support system built of human
bones. In order to strengthen his structure and alleviate the
sanitation issues that were being caused by past improper burial,
Haussmann had his team of workers dig up the remains of many of Paris'
graveyards and use them as building materials for his project. And
what, if anything, do we know about disturbing graves? Right, it pisses
the dead off. Though only a small part of the catacombs are open to
the public, there are many secret entrances and tourists and trespassers
alike have attested to its haunting with stories and sightings of
run-ins with ghosts of a bygone Paris. Expect to see apparitions
ranging from the ancients to the revolutionaries and don't forget your
flashlight if you go hunting. It's dark down there. Here is a nice history of the catacombs and a personal ghost hunting story.8. The Tower of London - London, England
The Tower of London is known historically as the prison for the crown of England. Its ghostly presence is due no doubt to the mass amounts of executions, tortures and murders that occurred within its walls. Hundreds of ghost sightings are reported there every year by tourists and Londoners alike, and, on a misty night, many hope to catch a glimpse of one of its dead prisoners. A story goes that one night a guardsman was standing watch when he heard a banging noise on his guardhouse. He went out to investigate and he saw a shapeless white figure that very well could have been the ghost of Lady Jane Grey, who was beheaded that very same date, February 12th, in 1554. Others have reported seeing the spirit of Ann Boleyn, a wife of Henry VI, who was also beheaded in 1536. Ann is a frequent visitor to the Tower and she is sometimes seen carrying her own head. Other ghosts include Henry VI, Thomas Beckett, Sir Walter Raleigh and the Countess of Salisbury, whose gruesome execution is sometimes seen being re-enacted by ghosts. Click here to find out more about the hauntings in the Tower of London.
7. The White House - Washington D.C., USA
Even though the White House is an American institution at the center of
our political climate, it is also a hot spot for ghosts. Several
former presidents are said to frequent many of the rooms in the house.
President Harrison has been seen and heard rummaging around in the White
House attic, who knows for what. Andrew Jackson frequently joins
guests in what was his bedroom during his presidency, and Abigail Adams
has been spotted roaming hallways apparently carrying something. The
most spotted president ghost, however, is Abraham Lincoln. Eleanor
Roosevelt was said to have felt the presence of Honest Abe while she
worked in the Lincoln bedroom. Also, during the Roosevelt
administration, a young clerk saw Lincoln's ghost sitting on a bed
removing his boots. Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, during an
overnight stay, was awakened by a knock at her door and, upon answering,
saw the ghost of President Lincoln facing her in the hallway. Calvin
Coolidge's wife reported on several occasions seeing President Lincoln
standing at a window in the oval office with his hands clasped behind
his back, appearing to be in a deep contemplative mood. Check out the
official White House webpage for more about its many ghosts.6. The Queen Mary - Long Beach, California, USA
This once famous luxury cruise liner was purchased by the city of Long Beach and converted in a hotel in 1967, but many passengers and crew members from its sailing days still haunt the ship. The most haunted room is said to be the engine room where a 17-year-old sailor was crushed trying to escape a fire. It has been numerously reported that he bangs on pipes throughout the room. There have also been reports of a "lady in white" around the front desk of the hotel and the ghosts of children haunting the pool area. Many visitors claims to hear the ghost of a little girl, who reportedly broke her neck while swimming, asking her mommy for her doll. In the pool's changing room, there has been plenty of strange activity. Furniture is said to move by itself and unseen figures touch hotel guests. In the front hull of the ship, there is a ghost that some guest say they can hear screaming. He is said to be a sailor who was killed when the Queen Mary collided with another, smaller ship. Click here to read more and even watch a live ghost cam on the ship.
5. Raynham Hall - Norfolk, England
Raynham Hall is one of the most famous haunted places in the world due largely in part to its most famous ghost, the Brown Lady, who was captured on film in 1936 in what is said to be one of the most authentic ghost photos every taken. The Unexplained Site describes one of the first encounters with the spirit: "The first known sighting happened during the 1835 Christmas season. Colonel Loftus, who happened to be visiting for the holidays, was walking to his room late one night when he saw a strange figure ahead of him. As he tried to gain a better look, the figure promptly disappeared. The next week, the Colonel again came upon the woman. He described her as a noble woman who wore a brown satin dress. Her face seemed to glow, which highlighted her empty eye sockets." The photo has been examined multiple times by experts who all confirm it is authentic and untouched. The Brown Lady is said to have been confined in a room by her husband, unable to see her children. She soon perished in the room and has continued to haunt Raynham Hall clad in her brown dress.
4. The Bell Farm - Adams, Tennessee, USA
The
Bell Farm has been made notorious through books, TV specials and
movies. Most recently the events at this small Tennessee farm were
dramatized in the 2005 movie An American Haunting. The story
behind the Bell Farm haunting is so notable and recognized because it is
said to be the only documented account in paranormal history when a
ghost caused the death of a living person. Between the years of 1817
and 1821, the Bell Family was terrorized by some sort of entity, mostly
said to be a woman, who became known as the Bell Witch or, more
personally, "Kate." She is said to have perturbed and tortured John
Bell (the father of the family and victim of a nervous system disorder)
so much that it lead to his inevitable death. He was unable to sleep or
recuperate and the ghost's antics worsened his condition. It is also
said that a vile with a strange black liquid was found at John Bell's
deathbed and that Kate herself claimed she gave it to him. Supposedly,
in order to test the liquids validity, a drop was placed on the family
cat's tongue and it immediately killed the animal. Though the haunting
of the Bell Farm has been sensationalized many times over, it is still
inarguable that something happened there during those three
years. A family and a community were terrorized by an entity of some
kind, and residents still believe Kate is up to no good. For an
extensive history of everything that went on at the Bell Farm, click here.3. The Borley Rectory - Borley, England
England is widely known as a land haunted by spirits, and the Borley
Rectory claims to be the most haunted place in England. The rectory was
built in 1863 next to the Borley Church as a home for Reverend Henry
Bull. After its construction it became the site of intense poltergeist
activity such as spontaneous displacement of objects, strange odors,
cold spots, the sound of galloping horses and ghostly apparitions. The
rectory was destroyed by fire in 1939 but photos of the ruins still
contained odd images and unexplained elements. Captain W. H. Gregson,
one of the last residents there, reported seeing the ghost of a nun
wondering the grounds. People even reported seeing Gregson being
accompanied by a lady in a gray cloak and a bald man in a long black
jacket. Perhaps the most disturbing activity occurred around Marianne,
the wife of Reverend Lionel Foster, who took residence in the house in
1930. An entity of some kind tried to communicate with Marianne through
scratching messages on walls
and the whole episode was captured on camera. Also photographed was a
floating brick and a floating ribbon-like apparition. To this day odd
images show up in photographs and as recently as 2000 a photo was taken
with a mysterious orb floating in the background.2. The Whaley House - San Diego, California, USA
Said to be the most haunted place in the United States, the Whaley House was built in 1857 by Thomas Whaley on land that was partially a cemetery. Nothing gets the ghouls stirring like invading their home. Ghosts that inhabit the home include a young girl who was accidentally hanged on the property, the ghost of the thief Yankee Jim Robinson who was clubbed to death and can be heard on the stairway where he died, and the young red-headed Whaley daughter who is claimed to sometimes appear in such realistic form that visitors think she is a real child. Author deTraci Regula has had her fare share of experiences there as well: "Over the years, while dining across the street at the Old Town Mexican Cafe, I became accustomed to noticing that the shutters of the second-story windows [of the Whaley House] would sometimes open while we ate dinner, long after the house was closed for the day. On a recent visit, I could feel the energy in several spots in the house, particularly in the courtroom, where I also smelled the faint scent of a cigar, supposedly Whaley's calling card. In the hallway, I smelled perfume, initially attributing that to the young woman acting as docent, but some later surreptitious sniffing in her direction as I talked to her about the house revealed her to be scent-free." Furthermore, famed psychic Sybil Leek claimed to have sensed several spirits there, and world renowned ghost hunger Hanz Holzer considers it one of the true haunted spots in the United States. Check out the Whaley House website for stories, history and lots of photos. Here are some other good stories as well.
1. Edinburgh Castle - Edinburgh, Scotland
Edinburgh Castle, suspected to be one the most haunted spots in
Scotland, is appropriately judged considering Edinburgh has been said to
be the most haunted city in all of Europe, and possibly the world. The
castle is a historical fortress and parts of it have withstood its 900
year history. A battleground of countless deaths, Edinburgh Castle can
easily be thought of as an eternal spot of unrest for fallen soldiers.
Other ghosts said to haunt the castle are a phantom piper, a headless
drummer, the spirits of French prisoners from the Seven Years War and
colonial prisoners from the American Revolutionary War and even a dog
that wanders the castle's cemetery. Other areas of Edinburgh also have
ghostly reputations: the subterranean vaults of South Bridge and a
disused street called Mary Kings Close where victims of the Black Death
plague were sealed up to die. What also makes Edinburgh Castle so
noteworthy among the paranormal community is that in 2001, Dr. Richard
Weisman took a group of 240 volunteers, ignorant of the castle's past,
on a walk-through of the castle and its surroundings in order to gather
paranormal data. Armed with every ghost busting tool imaginable, almost
all the volunteers reported experiences such as drops in temperature,
shadowy figures, burning sensations in the limbs, physical touching, and
tugging at clothes. One woman was even brave enough to stay the night
alone in a South Bridge vault. She reported hearing heaving breathing
from the corner of the cell that got louder throughout the night and she
saw strange flashes of light. What is most intriguing about the whole
experiment is that even though none of the volunteers had any previous
knowledge of what rooms had haunted reputations and which ones didn't,
they reported the most amount of activity from the reputed locations and
saw many of the same things as other tourists. Click here to read more about Edinburgh's grisly past, and here for more about Dr. Weisman's investigation.There are literally thousands of haunted places around the world, and this list only compiles a small number of them. Nevertheless, paranormal activity occurs time and time again and some instances, such as the ones listed here, are hard to disprove. What about you? Got any strange ghost experiences? Tell us about them and maybe you'll uncover the next great haunted hot spot.
BHANGARH : ONE OF THE MOST HAUNTED PLACES IN THE WORLD
BHANGARH : ONE OF THE MOST HAUNTED PLACE IN THE WORLD
Bhangarh is a place between Jaipur and Alwar in Rajasthan state of India. Today Bhangarh is known for its ruins where nobody dares to go after dark, but is worth a visit; in fact the place is beautiful and tranquil. What remains though, is a shadow of a once beautiful kingdom.
Bhangarh in the state of Rajasthan India. Local mythology says the place is haunted, coz they have to say so. But in this case, the Archaelogical Survey of India (ASI) in charge of it warns people off the area!
The ASI is the official government body in charge across India of all the monuments and ruins.
Take a look at this ASI signboard in Bhangarh. The signboard is placed 1 Km away from the Bhangarh fort, which has been in ruins since the 17th century, when Bhangarh was deserted overnight. People do not enter the area as it is believed that if you do, you do not return.
What does the signboard say?
What does it mean----The Government of India
The Archeological Survey of India, Bhangarh
Important warning:
1. Entering the borders of Bhangarh before sunrise and after sunset is strictly prohibited.
2. Shepherds and woodcutters who enter Bhangarh area will face legal action.
3. The Kewda or Pandanus trees found in Bhangarh area belong to the Archaelogy Survey of India. Is it forbidden to subject this tree to any kind of harm.
Note: Anyone flouting of the rules mentioned above will face legal action.
By order
Incharge, Archaelogical Survey Board
One of the stories say that the Bhangarh was cursed by a tantrik (a wizard who practices dark arts), Singhia, who was in love with the beautiful princess Ratnawati of Bhangarh. Singhia added a love potion to a bowl of oil that belonged to the princess, but Singhia’s hopes were dashed (literally) when Ratnawati hurled the bowl on a wall that collapsed and buried Singhia.
A dying Scindia cursed the kingdom of Bhangarh saying that the city would be wiped out overnight, and would never be inhabited again, except for the temples. Shortly after the death of Singhia, the whole city was sacked and destroyed in the Bhangarh-Ajabgarh wars.
Bhangarh was built in the 17th century, by Raja Madho Singh, younger brother of Man Singh, a general of Emperor Akbar’s army. At that time, Bhangarh had a population of over 10,000. Now, not a soul lives in the ruined but still beautiful city. Bhangarh was the precursor of the exquisite old city of Jaipur, with its havelis, colorful bazaars, and temples.
Havelis are elaborate residences, almost miniature palaces, built around large courtyards. The walls are painted in bright colors with detailed frescoes. If the old city of Jaipur is anything to go by, Bhangarh must have been an extremely prosperous city. Today nothing remains but the temples
One is a dusty village and the other a ruined city; both are less than 10 km from the super-luxury resort Amanbagh, hidden deep in Alwar district. Book yourself into the delicious resort and then go tramping around these beautiful but dusty relics of princely Rajasthan. Ajabgarh, meaning ‘place of mysteries’, is an appropriately ghostly village, dotted with abandoned old houses where you’ll find the odd, stunningly carved window frame of picturesquely decorated doorstep. Prepare to be startled by the scale and beauty of Bhangarh – the abandoned city’s marketplace areas, temples and gardens are in surprisingly good repair as well. Legend goes that the city was abandoned after it was cursed by a holy man. It’s perfectly serene; you’ll have only stray dogs and ancient temple-keepers for company.
Passing by Bhangarh, banyans and temples dot the landscape and one chhatri can be seen up on the hill. The most remarkable are the temples of Gopinath, Shiva (Someshwar), Mangla Devi and Keshava Rai. Other more or less preserved buildings are e.g. shops along the main road, several havelis, a mosque, and a palace. The palace was protected by two inner fortifications across the valley. The town is separated from the plain by ramparts with five gates. Bhangarh is also a pre-historic site.
This town was established in 1573 (VS 1631) during the rule of Raja Bhagwant Das and it became the residence of his second son Madho Singh. Madho Singh was younger brother of Emperor Akbar’s General Man Singh I of Amber. Madho Singh participated in many campaigns with his father and brother. The next ruler of Bhangarh was his son Chhatr Singh. Bhangarh slowly declined after Chhatr Singh's violent death in 1630. Near Ajabgarh was founded by Ajab Singh, the son of Chhatr Singh. When Mughal Empire became weaker after the death of Aurangzeb, Jai Singh II attached Bhangarh to his state by force in 1720. After this Bhangarh diminished in population, and when the famine of 1783 (VS 1840) fell on the land the town was abandoned, and has remained a ruin ever since.
All of us have heard and enjoyed ghost stories in our childhood. We might have forgotten some but some still lingers in our mind. But there are some places in the real world which contains some spooky stories and haunting experiences of the people. Have you ever happened to visit a place which has given you goose bumps even on a warm sunny day? Let us talk about some popular haunted places around the world associated which have been marked indelibly in popular culture associated with ghosts, aliens and spooky experiences.
 |
| Top 10 Haunted Places in the World |
Bermuda Triangle
 |
| Bermuda Triangle |
Changi Beach
 |
| Changi Beach, Singapore |
Highgate Cemetery
 |
| High gate Cemetary, England |
Edinburgh Castle
 |
| Edinburgh Castle, Scotland |
White House
 |
| The White House, USA |
Bhangarh
 |
| Bhangarh, India |
Screaming Tunnel
 |
| Screaming Tunnel, Ontario |
Monte Cristo Homestead
 |
| Monte Cristo Homestead, Australia |
 |
| Myrtle Plantation, Lousiana |
Tower of London
 |
| Tower of London, England |
1 comments:
Hey thanks for the location detail, I dare to visit such places like this.
Texas Haunted House
Post a Comment