So you’ve heard all about the dark side of Bali, where hauntings supposedly leave the locals trembling in fear and superstition.
But did you know, hidden in the dark corners of the bustling and beautiful island, are places long abandoned – resorts and parks that are more than just crumbling ruins?
Also read: 22 beautiful hidden natural attractions in Bali you never knew existed
Now completely devoid of human life, these locations in Bali are the perfect destinations for the curious and adventurous tourist – only if your heart is up to it.
This Halloween, we explore Bali’s darkest secrets. So read on if you dare!
1. Never taking off: (Another) abandoned plane in South Kuta
Planes – huge ones – seem to be all the rage in Bali right now.
Earlier, we found one carefully wedged between houses in Kuta, and guess what? Turns out that’s not the only “abandoned” plane in the vicinity – there’s another one in South Kuta, near the idyllic Pandawa beach.
Check this out on Google Maps!
The two planes bear an uncanny similarity to each other – both have people claiming to be their owners, with plans to turn these gigantic flying contraptions into restaurants.
These planes have yet to come to fruition, though for now, the abandoned plane serves as a unique attraction for adventure-loving seekers, who would love to attempt walking on a wing without risking their necks.
Photos via Fashionferno
Abandoned plane in South Kuta
Getting There: The abandoned plane is located in South Kuta, along the Jalan Nasa Dua Selatan road. It is a 5-min drive an 40-min walk from Pandawa Beach. Coordinates here
Taman Festival is a large amusement park in Sanur that was never completed.
Since the park – and its crocodile pit – was abandoned 14 years ago, it has literally crumbled, a sad reminder of an abandoned potential that was never realised.
Now, with shaky buildings threatening to fall at any moment, missing roofs and treacherous steps, locals refer to the old park as a “ghost town”.
But it’s not just about the possible wandering spirits that will leave your hair standing in fear.
Rumour has it that the crocodiles left in the park eventually resorted to cannibalism, so if you ever visit, do take special care to avoid the old crocodile pit and pools filled with polluted, black water.
The reptiles might have been removed many years ago, but it’s better safe than sorry, isn’t it?
Full images credit: Anthony Yates
Taman Festival Bali
Getting There: Taman Festival is located along the JL. Pantai Padang Galak road in Sanur. It’s just a 7-min drive and 40-min walk up north from Sanur Beach. Coordinate here
3. Haunting remains of Bounty Beach Club Bungalows
The eerie remains of what used to be the Bounty Beach Club Bungalows can be found on Gili Meno, a small island just a short ferry ride away from Bali.
The abandoned hotel has lost most of its former glory – its traditional Balinese infrastructure lay broken, in a crumbling state of ruin.
You rarely see anyone on the grounds, except for the occasional adventurer curious to discover its haunting past.
Rumours are aplenty about the origins of this tattered resort – some say it was abandoned after the 2002 terrorist bombings dealt a blow to Bali’s tourism industry, while another story claims that the place was shut down after its owner died unexpectedly.
If you ever wander here, watch out for a man’s silhouette – it may very well be the owner, back to check on his business.
Bounty Beach Club Bungalows
Getting There: The Bounty Beach Club Bungalows are located on the southwest coast of Gili Meno. You can get to the island via ferry, fast boats or plane from Bali.
4. Forgotten Tribute: Pemuteran’s hidden underwater temple
If water ghosts are your greatest fear, the underwater temple lodged in the murky waters off the coastal village of Pemuteran probably wouldn’t be your best choice for a diving trip.
The Hindu temple was constructed by an Australian man named Chris Brown in 2005 as part of an environmental conservation project.
And in the years since, oceanic wildlife has taken over the location, adding a sense of foreboding beauty to the place.
With the poor visibility in the area and the eeriness of this underwater site, even local divers think twice about venturing there if there are too few people in a group.
So… If you are curious, are you brave enough to make this dive into the unknown?
Full images credit: Paul M Turley
Pemuteran’s hidden underwater temple
Getting There: The underwater temple can be found off the coast of Pemuteran Bay. Coordinates here.
Recommended tour to Pemuteran temple: Sea Rovers
It is recommended to get to the village of Pemuteran by car. Rides from major towns such as Kuta, Sanur and Nusa Dua will take around four hours. It is 20-minutes away from the Lovina Beach.
5. Dusty devotion: Abandoned temple in Karangasem
Perched on a hill and surrounded by dense greenery in the village of Tista, this temple is a mystery that no one has been able to solve.
With statues and stairways almost completely covered with moss and cobwebs, the temple has lay forgotten for decades – nobody knows the exact name of this once-sacred place.
The majestic stone gods and guardians that may have once offered consolation and courage to devoted followers now serve as eerie reminders of the past.
Take a trip up the hill if you dare.
After all, you can’t be sure of what you’ll find.
Abandoned temple in Karangasem
Getting There: The abandoned temple is located up the hill at the village of Tista in Karangasem, on the eastern coast of Bali. It is a 1 hr and 19min drive from Denpasar
6. Hotel uncompleted: Taman Rekreasi Bedugul
Originally a project initiated by the son of Indonesia’s second president, Tommy Suharto, the construction of the Taman Rekreasi Bedugul Hotel was inexplicably halted after the terrorists’ bomb attacks in 2002.
For the past 12 years, the half-completed hotel has been slowly rotting away. And even now, no one can say for sure why it is so.
In fact, Taman Rekreasi Bedugul was almost ready for its opening day – toilets had been installed, and it’s even furnished with beds and an elegant reception area.
Full images credit: Anthony Yates
One thing’s for sure: if the hotel has ever seen a single customer, it’s definitely not a living one.
After all, it has even been dubbed as the ‘Ghost Palace Hotel’.
Some daredevils have managed to explore the crumbling buildings by sneaking bribes to the caretakers of the place. No one knows what they have seen or heard though.
What secrets does it hold?
You can only find out if you make the trip down yourself – if you are brave enough.
Full images credit: Piet Mulder
Taman Rekreasi Bedugul
Getting There: You can get to the Taman Rekreasi Bedugul Hotel by driving up towards Bedugul from Kuta; it’s a one-and-a-half hour’s drive away.
7. Beautiful water ruins of the Tulamben shipwreck
The Tulamben shipwreck may be a prime diving destination for thrill seekers and underwater photography, but have you actually heard about how the wreck came to be?
It was originally a cargo ship belonging to the United States Army, the USAT Liberty, before it met with an unfortunate and untimely end during World War II – when she was torpedoed by Japanese forces in 1942.
In order to salvage her fittings and cargo, the ship was left on the beach at Tulamben when she began to take in too much water.
But unfortunately, she was still unable to escape her ill fate.
When the nearby Mt. Agung erupted in 1963, she was pushed into the sea, where she was doomed to stay.
If you choose to make the trip down to this beautiful place, brace yourself.
Who knows – you might even run into the lonely ghost of a vengeful soldier.
Tulamben shipwreck
Getting There: The USAT Liberty wreck is located off the coast of Tulamben, which is a 2-hour drive from Kuta. Diving trips can be booked with the Tulamben Wreck Divers.
Are there any other abandoned places we missed? Let us know!
Photos via Flickr by Robert Scales, Worldlynomads by Barry, Treadwithwonder by KaitlinBarketDavis and RobDavis, benreboots.blogspot.com, Panoramio by Simon Potter, Balidaily by Ida Ayu Indah, Pinterest-by Essential Travel Magazine, Pinterest by Nadya Kulagina, Baliadvisor
PLEASE NOTE: All the above information is correct at the date of publication. If you come across any changes or updates, please let us know and we will update the information accordingly. Thank you!
Tell us
| PLEASE NOTE: All the above information is correct at the date of publication. If you come across any changes or updates, please let us know and we will update the information accordingly. Thank you! Tell us |
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