Forbidden World Tour: Places Where People Aren’t Allowed To Go
Most people love feeling the sun against their skin and the sand underneath their feet. Others like hearing the sounds of chirping birds while they are surrounded by luscious green forests. Some are excited about the heights of a mountainside with the cold air touching their faces. To sum it up, people love being in nature and spending time in some of the most amazing places on the face of the planet.All of us have a favorite place to visit.
That’s why we make investments to travel to these locations. For others, they prefer to travel somewhere new. While we are often just limited by our schedules and budget, there is another reason why we won’t be able to reach our destination. That is, there are also places in this world that we aren’t allowed to go to for various reasons. With that said, let’s take a look at some forbidden places we can’t visit.
North Brother Island, USA
The bustling city of New York is home to the famous Lady Liberty and some of the most popular skyscrapers on the face of the planet. It is also one of the busiest cities on Earth, where you can find several business and investment centers. Once we consider that, most of us would instantly think that there is no place left in New York City that isn’t open to the public. If you were thinking the same thing, then you would probably be surprised that you are wrong.
There’s an island near the East River that is called the North Brother, which is widely known for its history. Back in the day, there used to be a hospital on the island, which eventually became a rehabilitation center up until its closure during the ‘60s. Since then, it became a bird sanctuary for herons and other shorebirds and was not made accessible to the public.
Poveglia, Italy
The Poveglia Island situated in the Northern part of Italy, near Lido and Venice, is known as the most haunted island in the country. A couple of centuries ago, it became the quarantine center for many illnesses such as the plague and other dreadful medical conditions. Over the course of history, the island became the final resting place of many people who were affected by these various diseases.
However, the island was eventually used for another purpose. The quarantine center became a mental hospital up until its closure during the late ‘60s. Although there are many spooky events in Bolivia, there are still many daring people who come to the island to pursue the truth, but in the end they all fled out of Poveglia Island in embarrassment because of fear. Since that time, there has been little to no investment made on the island and the local government closed the area to the public.
Surtsey Island, Iceland
Iceland is home to many volcanoes and the island of Surtsey rose from the eruption of one of the seabed volcanoes during the early ‘60s. The said eruption lasted for four straight years, and after the dust settled, a new landform surfaced. It was about 2.7 square kilometers and has an altitude of around 130 meters above sea level.
After the eruption, scientists conducted research on the newly formed island and were shocked to a certain degree about the ecological progress that happened in a very short span of time. Because of the erosion brought by the tides of the sea, scientists believe that the island would still remain on the surface for the next 100 years. However, this doesn’t make it inhabitable and people were also not allowed to visit.
Ise Grand Shrine, Japan
Japan is home to some of the most beautiful and elegant shrines in the world. In fact, there are over 80,000 of them and that would give you a quick rundown on how the country gives importance to its culture and traditions. Ise Grand Shrine is the spiritual pillar of the Japanese. Since its construction, no foreigner can enter it. It was not open to foreigners until 1957.
One of the pride and joy of the Japanese people is the Ise Grand Shrine located in Ise, Mie Prefecture. It contains multiple shrines which are connected to the two main Shinto shrines called Naikū and Gekū. In the past, these shrines were open to the public, but in recent times, it is only exclusive to the Japanese Imperial family. Since the shrine is closed to the public, you can expect it to have a state of the art home security system around its perimeter.
Heard Island, Australia
The Heard Island in Australia is considered as one of the most remote islands, not only in the country but in the face of the planet as well. It is a complex volcano with an elevation of 2745 feet, has been active, mostly covered by ice, located in the Indian Ocean. In addition to the volcano and its danger, the weather on the island is also deadly.
Currently, the island still remains uninhabited, but you will find animals, mostly seals, penguins, and birds that can survive in its harsh environment. Even if you have all the sea vessels and the gas for the trip to the island, the Australian government prohibits any kind of visit to the region. If they do eventually allow visitations, the only way to get to the island is to use the neighboring island’s route. Currently, this place is also protected by the Australian authorities.
Lascaux Caves, France
There is one magnificent spot that can give us insight into our journey to learning all there is to find out about the human race. The Lascaux Caves is home to a series of dazzling Paleolithic paintings that are likely around 20,000 years old. The paintings are plastered in the walls. They are hauntingly vibrant and depict ancient images of cattle, bison, stags, cats, and many more.
The most unbelievable of all the paintings are found in the Hall of the Bulls, where four bull murals that are 17 feet long each can be found. It is unfortunate since public access to these caves has been barred in the 1960s because of the invasion of fungi and black mold that are both considered health hazards. The human presence is not ideal for the area since it also might cause damage to the works of art. The pieces here can be great investments in the future.
Tomb of Qin Shi Huang, China
The Terra-Cotta Warriors of Xi’an is considered to be one of the most significant findings of all time. There are thousands of unique lifelike statues that portray ancient Chinese soldiers filling up secret caverns of the burial ground for China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. It looks like the king acquired some homeowner’s insurance even in the afterlife.
Although the site is one of China’s most popular tourist spots, the tomb itself is still a protected mystery. It is most likely that the tomb will still stay sealed in the near future since there are rumors that there are booby traps around the area against invaders. A deadly high concentration of mercury is also lingering around within the tomb so it would be unsafe for anyone to enter without proper safety measures.
Mezhgorye, Russia
If you have any plans of doing a town to town journey in the Southern part of the Ural Mountains in Russia, we suggest you stay away from the town of Mezhgorye. It is the only closed town in Russia, and local authorities have forbidden anyone from going in or out of the town. Even if you have a good lawyer, we doubt that you’ll be granted access within the town’s vicinity.
This place was found during the late ’70s, and a lot of rumors surfaced back then that the town was a storage point of the country’s weapons. Others suggest that there are precious gas and minerals that can be found near the town’s vicinity. There may be a secret base, and no one knows what exactly is being studied, only the parties in it know best. Whatever the case may be, it is better to respect local laws to prevent any further issues.
Vatican Apostolic Archive, Vatican City
Although the Vatican Secret Archives has been repeatedly mystified by popular culture, it is not as illusory as its name. Many people speculated that the Vatican holds many secrets, which are hidden away in the Vatican Apostolic Archive in the Cortile del Belvedere, Vatican City. Thousands of manuscripts and official documents are kept and restored in this place, like a compendium of world history written over the past eight centuries.
By definition, the Pope holds all authority and is considered the owner of the whole archive. Only a select number of people are allowed to visit the Vatican Apostolic Archive. People with a specialty in history or are doing significant research about the church would need to apply to gain access to some of the Vatican’s records. Certainly, the place has a really advanced level of safety similar to a high-end home security system.
Bohemian Grove, United States
The Bohemian Grove in Monte Rio, California, is an exclusive campground for the elite, namely members of the Bohemian Club. It is an exclusive gentlemen’s club based in San Francisco. Some of its members are prominent businessmen and vital figures of the society, such as politicians and other people of power. The campground holds a two-week meeting and other club activities each year. Unfortunately, people who aren’t part of the exclusive club aren’t allowed on this 2,700-acre campground.
They were divided into several groups, and they gave their group some mysterious and crazy names such as “Cave Man” or “Lost Angel”. During the gathering, we also arranged time for everyone to speak. With so many people together, everyone can speak freely. Since this is the definition of a rich man’s playground, you can expect that credit cards could go anywhere and everywhere without having any second thoughts about the possible drawbacks.
Snake Island, Brazil
The famous Snake Island in Brazil (or what the locals call Ilha da Queimada Grande) is home to some of the world’s rarest snakes such as the golden lancehead pit viper. The whole island has 43 hectares of landmass, which is enough for a small village. However, local authorities won’t allow people to live here and have restricted any entry to the island because of the snakes residing on it.
According to local researchers, there are about one to five snakes in every 10 square feet inside the island. While the Brazilian authorities have cut off any access to the island, they do allow the country’s Navy and a couple of researchers to be stationed on the island. We have to give their government a huge credit for protecting the public and the population from these rare snakes.
Pravčická Brána, Czech Republic
The Pravčická Brána is perhaps nature’s greatest and largest natural sandstone arch in the whole of Europe. Because of its natural beauty, a lot of people who have witnessed this majestic scene were blown away by the fact that it looks like something made out of a movie set of some famous studio. The arch reaches a height of around 16 meters and spans nearly 26.5 meters.
We have to give nature a huge credit for sculpting this piece of art in the heart of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. Pravčická Brána is one of the largest natural rock gates on the mainland and is a natural monument of Switzerland. It is considered the most beautiful natural structure in Bohemian Switzerland and a symbol of the entire region. Because of the earth’s composition beneath the arch, it is prone to erosion and deformation. This is why people are restricted from visiting the arch.
North Sentinel Island, India
Human evolution is not only a morphological change, taken place in the human brain and way of thinking. Under the influence of information and economic globalization, it is believed that no one can exist independently of society. In today’s day and age, you would think that all the places in the world have already received a touch of modernization to a certain degree. However, the North Sentinel Island located in the Bay of Bengal might be one of the biggest exemptions to this rule.
The Sentinelese have been living on the island for many decades now, and they are one of the few tribes that resist any form of contact with the outside world. Authorities have also forbidden all marine vessels to get any closer than five nautical miles or 9.26 km from the coast of the island due to a couple of incidents. A couple of lives were lost after a close encounter with the tribesmen.
Niʻihau Island, USA
The Hawaiians dub the island of Niʻihau as the ‘The Forbidden Isle’ and they have all the reasons to back this up. First of all, there are only two points that you can use to gain access to the island. You should also have a relative residing in the region or are a member of the US Navy to be able to visit. Aside from that, the island is so remote that they have limited to no access to standard utilities such as electricity and the internet.
Who would want to live on an island without these? Records show that there are around 160 to 170 people residing on the island, and that number is expected to be stagnant for the next couple of years. Fortunately, the minute number of people living on the Niʻihau island allows the preservation of the endemic Brighamia insignis’ natural habitat.
Morgan Island, South Carolina, United States
Morgan Island, located in Beaufort County, South Carolina, is locally known as Monkey Island because of the sheer population of the rhesus monkeys. This island has a swampy topography and is home to almost 3,500 free-roaming monkeys living in their natural and favorable habitat. The island is a 4,489-acre marshland, and that’s a huge investment of ground space for these wild primates.
According to records, the colony of rhesus monkeys found on the island was originally from La Parguera, Puerto Rico. The monkeys had to be relocated because they were said to be the cause of a virus outbreak that happened in some places in Puerto Rico. Local researchers then suggested using Morgan Island as a rehabilitation center for these monkeys. Since the relocation to the island, all of the monkeys within the area are now owned by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).
Spy Museum, China
The Jiangsu National Security Education Museum in Nanjing, China, showcases their collection of spy tools and other objects you’ve probably seen in movies. The Jiangsu National Security Education Hall is located in the Yuhuatai Scenic Area in Nanjing. The main building is designed by Professor Kang Qi, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and director of the Institute of Architecture of Southeast University.
It would have been a cool place to visit if you are in the country, but unfortunately, the Chinese government has forbidden foreigners from entering the vicinity. Spies pose a huge threat to any country, and a good old home security system won’t be enough to keep the nation safe from outside threats. However, over the past couple of years, the place’s security has become more favorable to foreigners, so one day, you might be able to visit the place.
The Island of the Dolls, Xochimilco, Mexico City, Mexico
The Island of the Dolls, or what the locals refer to as La Isla de las Muñecas, has some of the most wonderful and beautiful sites in the world. However, these are also some of the eeriest places on the planet. You’re probably familiar with horror movies that feature dolls, and if you find them scary, then you would probably understand why some people fear this island. As the name suggests, this place has multiple dolls hanging in its different sites.
According to history books, the place was owned by a man named Don Julian Santana Barrera, who believed that dolls can help ward off the restless spirit of a girl who drowned in the area. Since then, numerous dolls were hung by his family members until the whole place was filled with creepy dolls, and that’s a lot of investment just to get rid of a wandering spirit, right? There aren’t rules or laws that prohibit people from visiting the place, but most locals aren’t keen to give a tour service to those who want a first-hand experience of the creepy ambiance brought by the hundreds of dolls.
Bhangarh Fort, Rajasthan, India
The Bhangarh Fort in Rajasthan, India, is a famous tourist spot in the region where one can see the majestic scenes of the fort situated in the rolling hills of the Alwar district. Chittorgarh Fort is one of the most brilliant symbols of the tenacious Rajput spirit. However, local authorities set a strict rule prohibiting anyone from entering the place after the sun sets until sunrise.
A lot of people believed that the fort is one of the most haunted places in India, with curses and ill ghouls. It sounds like a pretty scary place to visit, and locals even tell tales of someone vanishing into thin air after gaining access to the fort’s restricted areas. If you have a lion’s heart and nerves of steel, make sure you pack yourself with a quality insurance policy in case something unexpected happens.
Svalbard Global Seed Vault, Norway
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault situated in Spitsbergen, Norway, is home to the world’s most secure seed bank. Gene banks around the world can send crop seeds here for free storage. This is where you’ll find all kinds of seeds coming from different types of plants on the face of the planet. It was built to create and preserve plants in case something happens to the majority of the planet.
It is like a last level of insurance to keep the world’s wildlife going. People often call this place the ‘Doomsday Vault’, which suits it very well. It can withstand massive earthquakes and destructive explosions. It was also built high above sea level, right at the side of a mountain, to ensure that it would be safe in case all the ice in the world melts.
Chichen Itza Pyramid, Mexico
The ancient city of Chichen Itza is one of the most important Mayan civilization centers on the Yucatan Peninsula. Many ethnic groups have left their footprints.The ancient city of Chichen Itza in Mexico is home to one of the oldest pyramids in Mexico. The Mayans are said to be responsible for creating this engineering marvel during the 6th century, which became their civilization’s religious, military, political, and commercial center.
To preserve this wonder, there are strict rules to be followed by anyone who has booked a tour with their credit cards to these great pyramids. For example, they are not allowed to climb the pyramid. This rule was also created for the tourists’ safety, and if the local authorities were able to implement it early on, accidents, like what happened in 2006, could have been avoided.
Pluto’s Gate, Turkey
Hierapolis is an ancient Greek city on the top of Pamukkale mountain. There are many temples and other religious buildings in the territory. It has the reputation of “Holy City” in the archaeological circle. If you are visiting the country of Turkey and your ride has enough gas in the tank, you might stumble into the ancient city of Hierapolis in Pamukkale, Turkey.
This is where you’ll find the famous Pluto’s Gate, a religious site made in honor of the god Pluto. Nowadays, people are forbidden to visit the area since it poses health risks to anyone who ventures into it. There is said to be a massive concentration of carbon dioxide around Pluto’s Gate. Surprisingly enough, the carbon dioxide level drops during day time and when the sun is high, but to prevent any chances of inhaling it, they closed off the area.
Room 39, North Korea
North Korea faces various international sanctions, which also makes the outside world wonder where their money comes from? Room 39, found in North Korea, has been shrouded in mystery for a couple of decades now. This area is also called Division 39, Bureau 39, or Office 39, and people aren’t allowed to visit or get close to this place. There are rumors that the site is involved in the sketchy activities of North Korean authorities.
Some say that they sort out funding and money management activities in this area. Since North Korea is secluded, there are little to no details available that would give a solid definition of what’s the exact purpose of Room 39. Since its founding during the late ’70s up until this date, all of the information about this area is still hidden in the clouds.
Diego García, British Overseas Territories
The Diego García island, located somewhere in the Indian Ocean, can be considered as a beach lover’s haven. It has beautiful, white sandy beaches with a luscious speck of greenery here and there. Everything seems to be perfect considering the view. However, this scenic view is off-limits to the public. Safety is tight as well on the island, a dozen times better than a top-of-the-line home security system.
It is in the middle of the Indian Ocean, far away from the mainland and very mysterious, but it is well known by the public because it is a military base of the US military. For those who don’t know, the island of Diego García plays an essential role in the military side of things. There are a couple of bases stationed around the region, and aside from the local military men garrisoned in the ground, the place is currently uninhabited. There used to be locals but they were relocated to make it an exclusive military island.
The Coca-Cola vault in Atlanta, United States
Coca-Cola is considered the world’s most famous carbonated drink, and they have been in the business for more than a century now, proving their skills in investment planning. Just take a look at their track record for the past couple of decades, their books would probably be enough to show their success. That is why their cola recipe, which is their bread and butter, is something they would protect at all costs.
They take security seriously, so they built a vault just to protect their secret recipe and prevent it from getting onto the hands of other people. The door of the vault is about three meters high and looks very design. There is a keyhole in the center of the coke bottle on the door. The top-secret formula is now secured in a museum in Atlanta, Georgia.
The White’s Club, UK
The White’s Club in St James’s, London, is the oldest gentlemen’s club in the city and probably one of the grandest in the world. The club started selling hot chocolate drinks, but eventually became a very personal gentleman’s club. Prominent figures such as Prince Charles of Wales and Duke of Cambridge Prince William are members of the exclusive club as well as the former British Prime Minister David Cameron.
Aside from political and social figures, big names in the investment scenes are also members of this club. Unfortunately, ladies are prohibited from gaining access to the club’s domain. The only exception to that rule was Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who was able to visit in 1991 and 2016. There have also been certain female daredevils who tried to sneak into the club, pretending to be men.
Disney Club 33, USA
Many people have had the experience of queuing in Disneyland, but there is a place in the park where you can’t get in. If you think that Disney is only for kids, well, this organization would definitely change your mind. The exclusive Disney Club 33 is one of the most famous clubs in the country. Their main base of operation is hidden in plain sight, right in the middle of Disney’s grounds. Only a small circle of people can see what happens behind the closed doors of this secret club.
There are lots of perks included if you are part of the club such as VIP treatments, exclusive access, and other benefits that ordinary people could only dream of. Credit card balances pose no issues to the members of this club since most of them are rich and won’t have any problems sorting out the initiation fees and other membership dues under their account.
The Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem
The old city of Jerusalem has received a lot of admiration from the people who have been to the beautiful landmark. In fact, the Dome of the Rock is considered to be Jerusalem’s most famous spot within the area. The Temple Mount is the third holiest place in Islam because it is the place where Muhammad climbed the sky at night.
However, only Muslims are allowed to enter the golden Islamic shrine, so not everyone is allowed to set foot on the shine – which is a bummer if you ask us. We need to honor each culture’s tradition, and if that’s their rule, even lawyers can’t do anything about it. For those who were fortunate to witness its immaculate beauty, they mentioned that it is a sight they would remember for the rest of their lives – and that’s the Dome of Rock in a nutshell.
Bank of England Vaults, UK
A lot of financial advisors would agree that gold is an integral part of their client’s portfolio. It has a high value in the market, which attracts many investors, and can open up new horizons for new ventures. In the United Kingdom, there is a place where almost 3% of all the golds mined in the world are stored. It is called the Bank of England Vaults, which can hold up to 400,000 gold bars.
As the national financial heart, the Bank of England vault is located deep underground. In the vault, 28 pounds and 24 carats of gold bars are placed in piles. The gold stock contains approximately 15,000 pure gold bars weighing approximately 210 tons. Because of the valuable goods stored in these vaults, no one is allowed to enter the place. However, there is a tour available on the internet if you are curious to see what it looks like inside.
Fort Knox, Kentucky
Fort Knox was built in 1937 when the U.S. Treasury Department did not have enough space to store the gold it collected, so it built a vault in Fort Knox. A couple of miles south of Louisville, Kentucky, you’ll see the most heavily guarded military installation in the nation. One of the main reasons why there are lots of guards stationed here would be the gold reserves located within the vicinity of Fort Knox.
Gold is highly-valued material, so it isn’t surprising when the government makes an investment to secure these precious minerals. Unauthorized people are forbidden from visiting Fort Knox and other surrounding buildings. Even the guards of the vaults only have access to certain security codes. This means that they will need to ask for each other’s codes just to get the vault open.
The Catacombs, Paris
Underneath the plumbing service network of Paris, France, you’ll find one of the most mystifying and creepiest places on the face of the planet. Known as the Catacombs of Paris, this was originally a tunnel network for Paris’ stone mines before the passageways were converted into a storage space for cadavers. At the end of the 18th century, these underground ossuaries have roughly 6 million bodies.
Entering from an inconspicuous entrance, you will see a dark, damp, narrow tunnel full of the underground world more than 300 kilometers long. Because of the endless maze and the creepy nature of the place, people’s wild imaginations have given birth to all kinds of tales. While local authorities have allowed public access to a small portion of the catacombs, the majority of the tunnel network still remains closed even to this date.