Bali｜Exploring the "Ghost Palace"

How to spend a leisurely day in Bali? The obvious answer is to rent a surfboard and go surfing; relax on the beach; watch the sunset while drinking beer.

But for me, who has lived in Bali for several years, this is a bit cliché?.

jQuery17107965738539881904_1593605349611♀? Last weekend, I joined an adventure team to explore some abandoned buildings in Bali.

Our plan was to head north to the "Ghost Palace" in the Bedugul area, which locals talk about with fear, also known as the Bedugul Taman Hotel. Before the adventure, we had searched some information about this abandoned hotel, but there was no specific information about whether it was safe, or if there were any risks, or even ?. Everything had to be experienced by ourselves.

? Reason for the hotel's abandonment

There are various rumors about why it was abandoned, with the two most common reasons being:

1. The hotel was plagued by the ? of workers who died during its construction. (Locals refuse to enter, including our local driver.)

2. A more credible reason is that the then-president's son, Tommy Suharto, set it up as an investment project in the 1990s. Due to political and financial issues, the construction was halted.

The Ghost Palace has been swallowed by vines, bushes, trees, and moss.

Today, the elegant tiled floors are covered with mud, moss, and puddles. Walls are coated with cobwebs and vines. As we walked through the huge rooms, we found that the decoration was never completed, and many ornaments were left half-finished. This made us believe that the hotel never opened, as previously searched materials suggested; it was never open and construction was abruptly stopped midway through.

? Coolest spots in the hotel

? A giant stone snake in the middle of the garden stairs, overgrown with trees and bushes. This is the staircase leading to the rooftop area.

? We saw a snake, frogs, fish, giant spiders, and lizards.

? Moss-covered floors folded back like a carpet.

? Spacious dining and entertainment area on the top floor, with beautiful marble tiles.

? The weirdest part is the basement and lower levels. Here, the floor is covered with several inches of sand, and sunlight only enters through cracks.

? Beautiful hotel rooms with walk-out balconies overlooking the mountains and rice paddies.

? How to enter:

It shows as permanently closed on Google Maps. To enter, you can negotiate with the security guard at the gate (not always present) and pay a small fee (usually 10,000-20,000 Indonesian Rupiah) to get in. It is not recommended to visit at night.

(Transport) Transportation tips:

It is located in central Bali and requires a chartered car. Inform the driver in advance, as not all drivers are willing to go.

(Location) Detailed address:

Batunya, Baturiti, Batunya, Kec. Baturiti, Kabupaten Tabanan, Bali 82191

(Pin) Practical tips:

Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, or clothes that are easy to move in. This area is in the highlands of central Bali, with frequent weather changes, low temperatures, and many mosquitoes due to the long-abandoned hotel. Must wear sports shoes.