Bali’s Most Haunted Hotel: The Ghost Palace
An Empty Mountainside Resort
When first arriving on the tropical party island of Bali, I turned to my taxi driver to ask him what he knew about the infamous Ghost Palace Hotel. He merely grinned and mentioned that it has slowly become a popular tourist attraction. I was curious about what the locals thought about this mountainside resort being haunted and if the ghosts of those who built it truly lurk the dark corridors of the hotel. The driver shook off my question by laughing saying that the ghost stories are probably nothing more than a work of fiction, but nevertheless, it is fun to believe. Regardless of what people may think, the stories that surround this mysterious ruined palace is enough to bring in groups of tourists up to the misty mountain slopes of central Bali.
You can find more information about the Ghost Palace Hotel here!
A Hotel Built on Corruption and Murder
After driving up the winding roads through dense jungles and over steep mountains lead you to the gates of PI Bedugul Taman Rekreasi Hotel and Resort or better known as The Ghost Palace Hotel. Just 50km from the hedonistic party scene in Kuta and down the road from the iconic Lake Beratan, this luxurious resort was set to be a retreat for the mega-rich and political elite. Construction began in the 1990s, being funded by President Suharto’s infamous playboy son: Tommy. After being convicted for fraud, corruption, and murder, construction on the long-awaited 5-star resort was halted. As the grand halls and splendor of the palace fell into ruin, rumors began to circulate around the state of the hotel and its reason for closing. The most famous of these tales is that the resort is now home to the spirits of those workers who died building this mountaintop resort.
The Gate to the Spirit World
The hotel can only be reached by taxi or motorbike. After driving 1.5 hours out of Kuta, the palace can be found on the right side of the winding road leading to Lake Beratan. Just after you pull into the driveway, two caretakers will emerge from their small security box demanding 10,00 INR (0.70 USD) as an entry fee. It is unclear if these men are truly in charge of looking after the property or not, but for such a small price, no one can complain. When pulling up to the reception of the Ghost Palace, it is easy to imagine a dapper limousine’s doors being opened by bellhops in smart red uniforms. The reality today is much grimmer, you are welcomed by what appears to be police tape wrapped around enormous columns blocking off a pool of mossy water which has accumulated on the elegant marble floor. As you creep into the lobby you almost expect a ghastly figure to appear behind the counter at reception.
Location of the Ghost Palace Hotel:
Rooms of the Dead
After paying the small fee to the caretakers, you are free to roam the entirety of the hotel. One of the things you will notice is just how complete the resort truly is, all that is missing is the furniture. Unfortunately, due to the years of neglect, water has crept into the rooms causing severe damage to the ceilings in the form of massive holes. When wandering from room to room you will find the odd chair or even bedpost laying around, but the majority of the rooms are left empty. What is unique is the view from the balcony, the entire hotel looks over the surrounding mountains and lush jungles. On this certain day, we could see the storm clouds rolling in, further creating an eerie atmosphere to the already decrepit hotel.
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Reclaimed by the Jungle
Over the years, nature has slowly begun the process of swallowing whole this once extravagant hotel for the rich and wealthy. Vines climb their way up the brick, breaking its way through glass into the hotel bedrooms, the grand ballrooms have been made into murky swamps, and all sorts of creatures have turned the various suites into their homes. Cobwebs with spiders as big as your fist are a common sight in many corners throughout the hotel. Snakes can even be found slithering around the dark corridors of this massive resort. When exploring the ruins of the Ghost Palace, keep in mind that the water damage has given this haunted resort a voice. It is not uncommon to hear the building moan and ache when wandering through the long ill-lit hallways. Another word to the wise, it is easy to imagine that you are the only one here in this remote mountain refuge. Due to the hotel’s increased notoriety, many tourists can be found making the journey up to the ghost palace, even tour groups will make a small detour while in route to some of the more famous of attractions. When wandering around in the black, keep in mind that another traveling could be just around the corner.
A Palace Left To Rot
The many statues of fearsome nagas and tranquil angels can be seen keeping a watchful eye over the slowly dying holiday getaway. The Ghost Palace is huge, visitors almost need a whole day to see the entirety of the hotel. Although much of the resort is nothing more than empty rooms filled with broken shards of glass, this broken down palace is truly an amusement park for lovers of dark tourism and abandoned places. When en route to Lake Beratan, it is quite easy to visit the Ghost Palace, but plan on spending more time exploring the hotel than the touristy temple by the lake. The details and uniqueness of the architecture alone are enough to make you want you to keep wandering around the haunted halls of the Ghost Palace for hours. As the stories of the Ghost Palace continue to grow, so will the influx of tourists in search of the truth behind this abandoned manor and the supernatural beings which may wander its gloomy corridors.
I traveled to the Ghost Palace Hotel with my good friend Richard, the Travel Tramp. You can check out his article here!
