In the whole wide world, there are many beautiful and charming destinations that beckon travellers. People stomp around the world, collecting stories, making memories, and filling their travel diaries. But there are some other mysterious places that are forbidden to tourists.
Here, we take a look at some of these sites, that you better avoid on your travels to these countries.
The Lascaux Caves, France
Remember those pictures of vivid cave paintings from your history textbook? How the teacher compelled you to imagine the cavemen painting these pre-historic images by the fire in the cave? Unfortunately, the cave paintings at Lascaux are kept away from humans as they been threatened by a series of mysterious fungal invasions.
Discovered in 1940, they were found, much to the delight of archaeologists, to contain some of the world’s best-preserved Stone Age art. But they have been banned to public since 1963.
Diego Garcia, Indian Ocean
Tropical forest, white sand beaches and crystal waters with colourful coral beds. This is what you would probably see if you could visit this island. This British territory in the Indian Ocean is forbidden to tourists. The UK government built a large military base and forcefully evicted its inhabitants in 1973. Now only official personnel are allowed to visit it. But a James Bond kind of secrecy surrounds the place, with claims that the CIA uses it to torture prisoners.
Ise Jingu, Japan
The Japanese practise a form of Buddism that is known as Shinto. Ise Jingu is the Mecca of Shinto followers. But only high priests and members of the imperial family can visit this place. The shrine is demolished and rebuilt every two decades, in accordance with Shinto notions of death and renewal, as part of an elaborate ceremony that few people ever get to witness.
Bohemian Grove, California
For 150 years, this colourful sounding place holds an annual meeting of the most powerful men. While past US Presidents like Richard Nixon and Herbert Hoover have attended, women are strictly forbidden. This place is also notorious as the birthplace of the Manhattan Project, that was responsible for building the atomic bomb, and the subsequent historical tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Snake Island, Brazil
It may sound like some Hollywood thriller, but this dangerous island is the home to the most dangerous snake species, Golden Lancehead Viper. There are more than 4,000 of them on the island, and their poison is capable of eating through flesh. The Brazilian government has prohibited any visitors from setting foot there, with one exception. That is, every few years, a group of scientist land on the place to study the snakes.
Beautiful and mystic, but keep these destinations off your travel bucket-list.
