10 hotels in Asia with a dark past
If a hotel has a history of spooky encounters, would that put you off from checking in?
Many hotels have had alleged supernatural occurrences or ghost sightings. You have probably heard stories from friends or relatives who have spent nights in 'haunted' hotels. Whether you believe in paranormal beings or not, there are apparently some 'rules' you should follow to ward off any spirits. Sometimes, it is better to be safe than sorry!
Travel site Best Resort Asia says every hotel has a room that is permanently vacant - supposedly for these 'special guests'. Hence, the site advises travellers never to insist for a room when the hotel is full, lest the staff gives the 'special room' to you. Always book in advance.
To avoid incurring the wrath of these 'special guests', Best Resort Asia also suggests a routine for hotel guests to follow upon checking in.
Always knock before entering, and after entering, immediately switch on all lights and open the windows to let sunlight in. In the event that you feel suddenly cold or uneasy, the site says you should leave quietly immediately and request for a change of room.
Before going to bed, turn one of your shoes upside down - this is supposedly to represent 'yin' and 'yang' to protect you while you're asleep. Leave a lamp on through the night too - preferably the toilet light.
Lastly, if you are sleeping alone but were unfortunately allocated a twin bed, do not sleep with the other bed empty. Put something on it, like a luggage for example.
The site also dished out a list of the 10 most haunted hotels in Asia. If having a creepy encounter is something you never want to experience, you may want to steer clear of these hotels.
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1. Yu Shan Fan Dian, Chengde, China
Located along the Yangtze River to the north of Beijing, this hotel was built on the site which Manchu royalty would seek refuge from the summer heat in ancient times.
It is no surprise that legend has it that this hotel is haunted by the spirit of Empress Dowager Cixi. Apparently, there have been sightings of her tending to her garden.
2. First Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
On the outside, this hotel looks like a typical afforable tourist refuge. But the hotel is marred by its dark past - a fire broke out there in 1988, killing 13 people.Seven Singaporeans were among those who lost their lives, including local singer Shi Ni. Since then, there have been reports of paranormal encounters by the guests.
3. Asia Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
Best Resort Asia says one would deem this hotel as 'spooky with just one glance'. It says the corridors and dimly lit with lights that would constantly flicker. There has also been various accounts of spooky encounters by reviewers on travel sites, with witnessing a ghostly apparition being the most common.
4. Baiyoke Sky Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
The Baiyoke Sky is a luxury hotel in Thailand's tallest building, with top-notch service and facilities. Yet a previous mishap has caused it to reportedly become haunted.
Three workers were killed when a cable supporting the platform they were standing on to install advertising on the exterior of the hotel broke.
5. The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, India
The Taj Mahal Palace, despite its elegant exterior and beautifully furnished suites, is said to be haunted by its former architect who had committed suicide there. This hotel is also infamous for being one of the sites of the Nov 26, 2008 terrorist attacks, which claimed 164 lives in total.
6. First World Hotel, Genting Highlands, Malaysia
Undoubtedly a popular haunt (no pun intended) for Singaporeans on short getaways, this colourful 3-star hotel is said to have seen many gambling-related suicides. There have also been countless reports of eerie sounds or ghostly sightings in the hotel. A murder of a Chinese woman had also took place in the hotel in 2006.
7. Grand Hyatt Hotel, Taipei, Taiwan
Similarly to previous hotels mentioned, the Grand Hyatt Taipei is an elegant, established hotel but haunted by its history. Apparently it was built on World War II execution grounds. There were so many reports of supernatural occurences that the hotel management was prompted to install two huge talismans (above) at the lobby. Other small talismans are also reported to have been placed strategically inside the hotel.
8. Tambun Inn, Ipoh, Malaysia
This is another hotel where guests have complained of ghost sightings, such as the spirit of an elderly woman. Despite all the alleged supernatural recounts, the hotel is unfazed and remains a tourist favourite, possibly due to its good location.
9. Diplomat Hotel, Baguio, Philippines
The only hotel of the lot which has been abandoned, it is now a haven for paranormal explorers. Apparently, there have been sightings of headless apparitions.
10. Savoy Hotel, Mussoorie, India
In the early 1900s, a spiritualist was found dead in the hotel. It was later revealed that she was poisoned. But the murder was never solved and her doctor was also mysteriously found dead years later. The case inspired literary works, including Agatha Christie's first novel "The Mysterious Affair at Styles".
