Remember Shutter Island, the 2010 mystery thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Ben Kingsley set on a fictional island housing a sinister psychiatric facility? In the real world, many such forbidden places pique our curiosity – Area 51 in the US is a prime example. These off-limits zones, inaccessible to the general public, fuel our fascination with the unknown.
While some, like Snake Island in Brazil, grant access to scientists or researchers with special permissions, most of the world’s forbidden places remain shrouded in secrecy. This lack of access adds to their mystery, surrounding them with enigmatic stories. Intrigued? Let’s delve deeper and explore the stories behind these forbidden places, where reality and rumour intertwine.
Forbidden places around the world you can’t visit
Area 51, USA
One of the most talked-about forbidden places in the world, Nevada’s Area 51 was established in 1955, but its existence was officially acknowledged by the CIA only in 2013. Said to be a testing ground for the US Air Force and CIA due to its secluded location, not much is known about Area 51, except that it is highly classified and off limits to the public. The exact activities conducted at Area 51 remain a mystery, but conspiracy theories claim it’s a dedicated space for research on alien activity after a supposed spaceship crash. Tight security and surveillance surround Area 51, and it is strictly off-limits to visitors. A BBC report, however, revealed that Area 51 played a role during the Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union as a testing facility for US aircraft, including the U-2 and SR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance planes.
Location: Groom Lake, Southern Nevada
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Chichen Itza Pyramid, Mexico
Located between Merida Yucatan and Cancún Quintana Roo city, Mexico’s Chichen Itza Pyramid (El Castillo) is one of the most iconic forbidden places in the world attracting thousands of visitors. While El Castillo, also known as the Temple of Kukulcan, sees a huge tourist influx, travellers can only marvel at its intricate exteriors. Climbing its breathtakingly beautiful stairs is banned much to the dismay of tourists after a woman fell from the top in 2006, resulting in a tragic accident. UNESCO lists it as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World since 2007.
Location: 97751 Tinum, Yucatan, Mexico
Ilha Da Queimada Grande, Brazil
Home to around 4,000 highly venomous golden lancehead vipers, Snake Island (Ilha da Queimada Grande) in Brazil is one of the most dangerous forbidden places in the world. Their venom is capable of causing rapid tissue necrosis (death). With estimates suggesting an incredibly high concentration of snakes, one per square meter in some areas, it’s no surprise access is strictly limited. Only authorised researchers, accompanied by a qualified doctor, are permitted on the island by the Chico Mendes Institute of Biodiversity Conservation.
Location: Atlantic Ocean (off the coast of Brazil)
Ise Jingu/Shrine, Japan
Located in Japan’s Mie Prefecture, visitors can only admire this beautiful shrine from the outside, as entry is restricted to priests and Imperial Family members. This grand shrine undergoes a unique 20-year rebuilding cycle, according to Shinto rituals, by incorporating the traditional wood-joining technique without using nails. Dedicated to Amaterasu, a Sun Goddess, the temple’s inner sanctum remains restricted to the general public to maintain its sanctity.
Location: 1 Ujitachicho, Ise, Mie 516-0023, Japan
Lascaux Caves, France
Boasting mesmerising cave paintings dating back to 17,000 years, featuring animals, humans, and abstract art, Lascaux Caves was a popular tourist destination in France from 1948 to 1963, until it was closed to the public. The cave’s ecosystem reportedly suffered damage due to increased heat, humidity and microbes, leading to deterioration of the paintings. While excessive crowds resulted in its closure, making it a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site, a replica named Lascaux II has been set up for tourists to gain insights into the rich history of this Upper Paleolithic Period cave art discovered in 1940 by a group of teenage boys. You can also explore the cave virtually through an interactive tour here.
Location: Montignac (part of Prehistoric Sites and Decorated Caves of the Vézère Valley)
Mausoleum Of Qin Shi Huang, China
While thousands of clay warriors, known as the Terracotta Army, have been unearthed since their discovery in 1974, the main tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, remains untouched. Fearing damage to these centuries-old artefacts, archaeologists have yet to receive permission from the government to excavate it. This enigmatic tomb is thus a forbidden zone, shrouded in mystery. Reports estimate that over 8,000 terracotta soldiers lie buried alongside the emperor. The 2,000 already unearthed are a testament to the incredible skill and artistry of ancient China. This vast mausoleum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, continues to spark the imaginations of archaeologists and history buffs worldwide, with a significant portion waiting to reveal its secrets.
Location: Lintong County/District, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province
North Sentinel Island, India
Home to the indigenous Sentinelese population who fiercely defend their voluntary isolation, India’s North Sentinel Island is forbidden to protect the well-being of the island’s inhabitants. Protected under the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Act of 1956, the island is off-limits to the public for the benefit of both the visitors and the Sentinelese people. As the uncontacted inhabitants have never been exposed to the outer world, they lack immunity to common diseases and isolation is required.
Location: Andaman Island, Bay of Bengal
Pravcicka Brana, Czech Republic
Listed as a Czech national monument and said to be an icon of the entire ‘Bohemian Switzerland’, according to its official website, Pravcicka Brana is one of the largest natural stone arches in the world. Next to this natural wonder (also called Pravčice Gate) is the Falcon’s Nest, a summerhouse created by Austria’s Prince Edmund Clary-Aldringen. While it was a popular tourist destination initially, the fragile Pravcicka Brana is now restricted to the public to save it from collapsing. However, you can marvel at its beauty from the outside.
Location: Hřensko 82, 407 17 Hřensko, Czechia
Svalbard Global Seed Vault, Norway
Also known as the ‘Doomsday Vault’, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault is a critical backup for the world’s crop diversity. Located deep inside a mountain on Spitsbergen, a Norwegian island, this vault stores over 100 million seed varieties from across the globe. Built at a depth of 320 feet, the vault can withstand natural disasters like earthquakes and even a scenario where all the ice on Earth melts. Constructed between 2006 and 2008, the vault is designed for long-term seed storage, potentially for centuries. It is a forbidden place for the public and opens on specific days only for seed depositors. This vital initiative ensures a safety net for our planet’s flora in the face of potential threats like climate change.
Location: 9170, Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Vatican Secret Archives, Vatican City
With some documents dating back to the eighth century, the Vatican Secret Archives, also called the Vatican Apostolic Archives, is one of the most intriguing forbidden places in the world. With 85 km of shelves holding a wealth of information about the Catholic Church, a major portion of the archive is housed in a secure underground facility. While access is restricted, scholars with proper credentials can examine some of these invaluable records. The archives are said to house extremely important and rare artefacts, potentially including documents like Michelangelo’s letter to Pope Julius II, a letter written by Mary Queen of Scots before her execution, and Martin Luther’s excommunication papers.
Location: Cortile del Belvedere, Vatican City
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Disclaimer: Please visit the official website of these destinations or read the latest news before planning your visit for current updates/changes.
(Hero image: Courtesy Fotokon/Shutterstock; Featured image: Courtesy WeStudio/Shutterstock)
This story first appeared on Travel+Leisure India
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Area 51 is forbidden as it is said to be a testing ground for the US Air Force and CIA due to its secluded location. Some theories suggest Area 51 is a testing facility for alien activity after an alleged spaceship crash.
North Sentinel Island is forbidden due to the aggressive nature of the inhabitants who have chosen voluntary isolation. The indigenous Sentinelese population is protected under the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Act of 1956.
Vatican Secret Archives, also called ‘Vatican Apostolic Archives’, houses 85 km of shelves containing documents related to the Catholic Church, and a major part of the archive is underground. Only scholars with special permission can access some documents as it is forbidden to the general public.
Snake Island is forbidden as it is home to around 4,000 golden lancehead vipers, whose deadly poison can melt human flesh.
Only researchers authorised by the Chico Mendes Institute of Biodiversity Conservation can visit Snake Island with a qualified doctor in the team.
Known to have been a plague quarantine station, Poveglia, a small island between Venice and Lido, is forbidden to the public. It was once home to over thousands of infected people and over half of its soil is said to have human remains.
A result of volcanic eruption, Surtsey Island is forbidden to the public as scientists are trying to understand its ecosystem and biodiversity sans human influence.
A hidden town in the Republic of Bashkortostan in Russia (Southern Ural Mountains), Mezhgorye is forbidden as it is rumoured to be a secret nuclear missile testing site. However, nothing has been officially disclosed about the facility.
