Top 10 Forbidden Places in the World That You Cannot Visit

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The advancement of technology has allowed humans to explore corners of the Earth that have never been touched before. However, some places in the world seem "reluctant" to be visited for several reasons.

The following forbidden places in the world, from Area 51 to Snake Island in Brazil, may not be visited by tourists or locals, whether it is because of safety or the existence of secret information that must not be leaked to the public. Reported by Travel + Leisure Asia and Holidify, scroll to read the full list.

List of Forbidden Places in the World

1. Area 51, United States

Talking about places that are forbidden to be visited by the world, Area 51 cannot be missed from this list. Located in Nevada since 1955, United States (US), not much is known about this area because of its tight security and remote location.

However, Area 51 is known to be a testing ground for the US Air Force and CIA. However, conspiracy theorists believe that Area 51 is closely related to aliens and extraterrestrials.

2. Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum, China

Thousands of clay warrior statues, known as the Terracotta Army, are neatly lined up in the mausoleum complex of the first Chinese emperor, Qin Shi Huang. The blank stares of at least 2,000 of these statues, which have been excavated since their discovery in 1974, add to the eerie atmosphere of this UNESCO cultural heritage site.

To this day, archaeologists and historians still do not know for sure what is inside Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum because the Chinese government has not granted permission. However, it is known that the tomb contains items that the emperor needed in the afterlife.

3. Ilha da Queimada Grande, Brazil

It is not without reason that Ilha da Queimada Grande is forbidden to visit. The reason is, this island in Brazil is home to approximately 4,000 golden spearhead vipers which are known for their deadly venom.

The island is so densely populated by these reptiles that you can find one snake in a 1 square meter radius. Access to Ilha da Queimada Grande, which means 'Snake Island', is limited to researchers from the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation.

4. Ise Grand Shrine, Japan

In addition to cherry blossoms and its refreshing landscape, shrines are also one of the tourist destinations in Japan that have succeeded in attracting countless visitors. Among the 80,000 shrines spread across the country, the Ise Grand Shrine in Mie Prefecture is one that is no less stunning.

Its magnificent architecture is the result of intensive maintenance, which of course costs a lot of money, which is carried out every 20 years. This shrine is dedicated to Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess in Japanese mythology, so access is limited to priests and members of the Imperial Family in order to maintain its sanctity.

5. North Sentinel Island, India

The next forbidden place on Earth is North Sentinel Island in India. Not inhabited by venomous reptiles or other dangerous animals, people are prohibited from setting foot on this island because its native inhabitants, the Sentinelese tribe, are not friendly to foreigners.

The Sentinelese are known to have lived on the island for over 50,000 years and are protected under the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Aboriginal Tribes Protection Act of 1956.

6. Lascaux Caves, France

Once a popular tourist spot between 1948 and 1963, the Lascaux Caves in Paris are now completely closed to the public. This is because the prehistoric paintings, which are around 17,000 years old, in the cave have been damaged by increased temperature, humidity, and microbes.

However, tourists can still study and appreciate the artwork from the Upper Paleolithic era through a replica of the cave called Lascaux II.

7. Chichén Itzá, Mexico

Not completely closed to tourists, there was one incident that made the Chichén Itzá Pyramid one of the most forbidden places to visit in the world. In 2006, a woman died after falling from the top of the Temple of Kukulcan, another name for the pyramid. As a result, visitors are now only allowed to view one of the New Seven Wonders of the World from a distance.

8. Svalbard Seed Vault, Norway

The Svalbard Seed Vault, also known as the Doomsday Vault, is one of the most forbidden places on Earth that holds over 100 million varieties of seeds from around the world. Located deep in a mountain on Spitsbergen, the vault is closed to the public and is only accessible for seed storage purposes.

9. Vatican Secret Archives, Vatican City

Not everyone can enter the Vatican Secret Archives or the Vatican Apostolic Archives. This place stores various information about the Catholic Church and other priceless documents, such as Michelangelo's letter to Pope Julius II, which are kept safe in 85 km of shelves or underground facilities.

10. Pravická Brána, Czech Republic

The next forbidden place in the world is Pravická Brána in the Czech Republic. This place was originally crowded with visitors who wanted to see the formation of a large stone arch that was formed naturally. However, the stone arch is fragile so the place is now restricted to the public for safety reasons.

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