We most often associate the word ‘mystery’, with the unknown, the bewildering, and the bizarre. Thrill-seekers the world over scour the planet on the search for remote locations and rare locales that few humans have been able to visit, but even the most savvy adventurer would have trouble getting to these forbidden destinations that normal civilians are barred from entering.

From top secret locations, to underground train networks, to cult-like locations, once you are through with the list you’ll know why these locations are so secretive.

Area 51 (Nevada)

Area 51 is a secret US base deep in the Nevada desert. It is the mother of all mystery places as it purpose is unknown to the public till date. With rumored theories around the area being used for alien autopsies, UFO crash-landings, top secret technologies and underground bases, Area 51 remains off-limits to everyone and steeped in controversy. It really is a mystery. Try as you might, any dependable information on it remains minimal and vague at best.

Snake Island (Brazil)

About 90 miles from the city of São Paulo lies “Snake Island” — a place so filled with up to 4,000 venomous serpents that it’s been called one of the world’s deadliest islands. It is also home to the Golden Lancehead, one of the most venomous vipers in the world. It’s venom is capable of melting human flesh. The Brazilian Government has banned all civilian entries to the island.

Metro-2 (Russia)

Metro-2 is a secret underground metro system which parallels the public Moscow Metro. It was built by Joseph Stalin and was code-named D-6 by the KGB. It is supposedly still operated by the Russian Ministry of Defence. The length of Metro-2 is rumored to exceed that of the public Metro and it is said to connect the Kremlin with other locations of national importance. The FSB or the Moscow Metro administration refuse to confirm or deny its existence to this very day.

North Sentinel Island (India)

This is one of the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal, where a group of indigenous people, the Sentinelese, live. Their population is estimated to be between 50 and 400 individuals. They live completely isolated and have rejected any contact with other people. The Indian Government has declared it off limits. Entry is made even more challenging by locals reported desire to kill outsiders. They have been known to fire arrows and throw rocks.

The Negev Nuclear Research Centre (Israel)

This Israeli nuclear installation is located in the Negev desert. Its construction started back in 1958 with French assistance but any information about the facility remains highly classified. The place is not allowed nor opened for curious people who would like to see in person how this nuclear center looks. It is also a strictly no-fly zone.

Pine Gap (Australia)

Known as Australia’s equivalent to Area 51, this facility is run by the government and the CIA. It is the only place down under which is declared as a no-fly zone and is used as a monitoring station. What exactly they are monitoring, nobody knows. It employs over 800 people and has been subject to numerous public controversies over the years.

Jiangsu National Security Education Museum (China)

This Chinese spy museum exhibits guns disguised as lipstick, hollowed-out coins used to conceal documents and maps hidden as a deck of cards. However, amid repeated complaints overseas about alleged modern-day Chinese espionage efforts, banned foreign tourists from viewing the exhibits.

Bohemian Grove (California)

Since 1873, Bohemian Grove has hosted top secret meetings for the richest and most powerful men in the world. It is most famous for giving birth to the Manhattan Project, which in turn led to the creation of the first atomic bomb. The secrecy, symbolism and rituals of the group have been controversial since its inception.

RAF Menwith Hill (England)

RAF Menwith Hill is a Royal Air Force station in North Yorkshire, England. It provides ‘communications and intelligence support services’ to the UK and the US military. It is thought to be the largest electronic monitoring station in the world, originally set up to intercept messages between the Soviet Union and the eastern bloc allies. Many now believe this original scope has widened.

Poveglia Island (Italy)

Poveglia Island is one of the many islands in the lagoons of Venice, Italy but instead of being a place of beauty, its is regarded as one of the most haunted locations on the planet. The place was earlier used to isolate plague victims and then to carry out inhuman experiments on mental patients. Today no one visits save to harvest the vineyards.  Fishermen even steer clear of the island for fear that they will catch human bones in their nets.

Chhavi Mahajan