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5 Best Sites for Dark Tourism in India with a deep history

by middha on August 11, 2021

Loss of life and sorrow appear to be an untapped resource in the tourism industry. You’re probably wondering what the term “Dark Tourism” means. Without a doubt! Dark tourism in India is catching up with some of the country’s most popular tourist destinations and competing for a spot among the top attractions. Dark tourism is a type of bereavement tourism in which people visit locations that have a history of being associated with demise and misery.

India has a tragic history, and everyone wonders how far back it can be traced to Old India. Dark tourism in India is catching up with some of the country’s most popular tourist destinations and competing for a spot among the top attractions. Though it may seem strange, nature lovers are increasingly becoming modern-day historians, and as a result, they visit sites that remind them of human pain and the agony of life.

Travel has traditionally been associated with adventure and seeing beautiful places, but as this type of tourism gains traction, it only serves to demonstrate how the human mind cannot be tamed. Curiosity motivates people to take the road less traveled in their quest for answers.

This book is for you if you are a frequent traveler who has been frustrated for a long time because you haven’t had the opportunity to see unusual places. Take a break from your daily routine and visit dark tourist sites in India to see how these places have stood the test of time.

Dark Tourism Sites in India –

1. Cellular Jail, Port Blair

Cellular Jail is regarded as ‘The Location of Exclusion and isolation within a more broadly defined isolated penal area’. Cellular Jail has seen a lot of misery and its wall bears witness to that. Cellular Jail now functions as a National Memorial Park and is also amongst the list of the ideal dark tourist sites in India.

Cellular Jail was a colonial jail and is also known as Kala Pani in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It was regarded as Kala Pani because all around the jail was sea and hence no prisoner could escape. It was widely used by the British to exile political prisoners.

In fact, the remote archipelago was thought to be ideal for punishing independence fighters. sent to Kala Pani, they were not only separated from the mainland, but their international travel to the archipelago also resulted in their social marginalization.

It was widely reported that only a small percentage of those who visited there survived. It paints a horrifying and depressing picture, and the majority of visitors go through sorrow and grief.

The entire journey should take no longer than 3-4 hours. Visitors are strongly advised, however, to attend the light and sound performance, which begins at 6 p.m. This may lengthen your journey.

Visiting Time – The time to visit the Cellular Jail and Jail Museum is divided into 2 periods that is, one from 09:00 am – 12:30 pm and the other 01:30 pm – 04:45 pm

Entrance Fee – INR 50-200 depending upon the add ons

2. Dumas Beach, Surat

Dumas Beach is undeniably God’s playground during the day, but it transforms into the devil’s playground after dark. It is one of the popular dark tourism sites in India. Every day, hordes of tourists flock to this beach, but they leave as soon as the sun goes down for their safety. Those who have attempted to get their hands dirty have either never returned or have the most horrific stories to tell.

The beach is famous for two things: its black sand and for being haunted! Dumas Beach was once a Hindu burial ground, and as a result, it is alleged to haunt souls who never left the area. Folklore believes that the presence of black sand is due to the amount of ash produced by the cremation of the deceased, which combined with the beach’s white sand and turned dark in shade.

There is some debate about whether or not Dumas is haunted, but the eerie structures in the area certainly add to the mystery and terror. If it weren’t for the rumors that it’s haunted, you should go there just for the delectable bhajiyas. Interested in visiting haunted locations like Dumas Beach, check now.

Timing – 07:00 am – 05:00 pm

3. Dow Hill in Kurseong, Darjeeling

Darjeeling is one of the most beautiful cities and simultaneously the most favored dark tourist site in India. It’s a small hill that is beautiful as well as haunted. If the stories are true, it is one of India’s haunted places.

According to the terrifying tales, a headless child has been seen walking and disappearing into the darkness of the woods. The forest is said to be home to an evil creature that causes people to lose their minds and become insane.

Now it’s up to you to decide whether they’re true or just stories! Get used to the creepy atmosphere if you’re going to Kurseong. Avoid crossing the forest and limit your excursion to one day. But, in the end, the small village is a dreamy spot with lovely weather all over the year.

Timings – 11:00 am – 05:00 pm

4. Shaniwarwada, Pune

Forts, Havelis, and other architectural structures are steeped in tragic and terrifying stories. Shaniwarwada fort in Pune is famous for its heartbreaking ghost story and historical account of the majestic Maratha Kingdom, which makes it stand out on the list of dark tourist sites in India.

It’s a fantastic place to visit because it gives you a good idea of what Maratha royal architecture looked like in the past. Peshwa Bajirao-I laid the groundwork for this magnificent fort, which is a superb blend of Maratha style and genuine Mughal construction.

According to Folklores, a large fire in 1791 destroyed a significant portion of the fort, but it was burned several times after that until it was eventually destroyed by fire in 1828.

The screams of Peshwa Narayan Rao, whose last minutes before being slain were spent sprinting across the fort pleading with his uncle to save his life, are said to be heard in the fort on a full moon night. Whether or not it is haunted, this location is well worth a visit. You’ll also have the opportunity to visit nearby attractions. There are various forts explore like Shaniwarwada in Pune.

Timing – Highly recommended visiting the beautiful yet dark site in the morning, by 08:00 am.

5. Bhuj, Gujrat

Bhuj rose to prominence overnight in 2001, but not for the reasons you might think. Bhuj became the haunted dark tourist site in India. An earthquake struck Bhuj at 08:46 IST on India’s 52nd Republic Day (January 26, 2001) and lasted nearly 2 minutes. The earthquake’s magnitude was so great that it killed 20,023 people, injured another 167,000, and destroyed nearly 400,000 homes.

During this time, it was hit by a massive earthquake. As a result of this natural disaster, many people were killed and thousands more were displaced. Bhuj was only 20 kilometers from the epicenter, but the devastation was indescribable.

You’re probably curious about what happened to this location. If the human mind is famous for its curiosity, it is also famous for its ability to solve problems. Visit Bhuj to see how people have persevered through the ages and how the city has retained its enchantment.

More about Dark Tourism

1. why dark tourism.

It’s challenging to state what exactly drives travelers to dark tourist sites in India. Tourists are drawn to unusual, unfamiliar, and one-of-a-kind locations, which encourages them to visit India’s dark tourism destinations.

Dark tourism in India can also be used to gain a better understanding of one’s own, regional, or national identity. These dark tourism destinations, which are often associated with heritage tourism or roots tourism, have significant historical value in addition to being famous for a tragic event. Given that “much of history has been unpleasant for many,” hence dark tourism is pacing up amongst the travelers.

2. Is Dark tourism scary?

Although the name may appear frightening, Dark Tourism in India is anything but. It may haunt you if you are afraid of being upset or challenged after viewing the authentic photographs, but it is not frightening. Because of the rich and pure understanding, it provides to all visitors, dark tourism is becoming more popular in India.

It is the name given to genocide sites caused by natural disasters, an assassination that will provide you with the most information about the past in exchange. After visiting these historical sites, you will be astonished by the rich and pure information you will be holding post your trip.

3. Why dark tourism is called ‘’DARK TOURISM”

Dark tourism, also known as black tourism or grief tourism, is defined as tourism related to death or tragedy. Dark tourism is a divisive issue, with some viewing it as a form of respect and others viewing it as unethical. The site resembles another side of life which resembles pain and agony.

Dark tourism in India (also known as ‘black’ or ‘grief’ tourism) is the practice of visiting a location that has gained notoriety as a result of death, disaster, or horror. It could be the site of a natural disaster or of genocide, assassination, incarceration, ethnic cleansing, or war.

4. Why is Dark Tourism is popular?

For many, it’s simply the chance to emotionally immerse themselves in a tragic setting. People must become acquainted with and immersed in prior history and culture. We could give ourselves time to reflect on history by visiting depressing tourist destinations.

Visitors to dark tourism destinations come from a variety of backgrounds. Educational goals, a desire to learn more about the past, and so on are examples of motivations. Others are motivated by a desire to try something new or different. While dark tourism in India is not a pleasant pastime, many people appreciate the educational value it provides.

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Dark Tourism in India | Top 11 Forbidden Wonders Destination

Dark-tourism-in-India-Dhanushkodi-Rameshwaram

Unlike any other unique experiences around the world, we’re also delving into the mystical temples and ancient ruins that hold secrets older than time itself.

Why is Dark Tourism in India a Unique Experience?

Dark tourism in India is like nothing else you’ve ever experienced! Its captivating blend of history, mystery, and culture will take you on an unforgettable journey. And you know what’s truly fascinating? These dark tourist spots are often tucked away from the usual tourist trails, making the experience even more authentic and offbeat. It’s like stepping into a world where the past comes alive with every step.

Dark Tourism Sites in India:

From historical monuments that give you goosebumps to mystical temples that feel like magic, India’s got them all! These are the most popular dark tourism in India sites.

1. Jalianwala Bagh, Amritsar, Punjab

Dark-tourism-in-India-Jalianwala-Bagh-Amritsar-Punjab

Jallianwala Bagh, a solemn ground in Amritsar, Punjab, holds a profound place in India’s struggle for independence. On April 13, 1919, during British colonial rule, a horrific massacre occurred at this very site. Thousands of peaceful protesters had gathered here to protest against the oppressive Rowlatt Act when British troops opened fire without warning.

The indiscriminate firing led to the loss of hundreds of innocent lives and left a scar that still resonates with the nation today.

How to get there:

If you’re arriving by air, you can hire a taxi to the site, which is approximately 13 kilometers away. And If you’re traveling by train, take a short auto-rickshaw ride from the Amritsar Junction railway station to Jallianwala Bagh, near the famous Golden Temple.

What to Expect:

Prepare to step back in time and relive a significant chapter in India’s struggle for independence at Jallianwala Bagh. The bullet marks on walls and a well tells the story of innocent lives lost during the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. It’s a place that makes you think about the value of freedom.

2. Cellular Jail, Port Blair, Andaman, and Nicobar Island

Constructed in the late 19th century by the British colonial administration, Cellular Jail, also known as Kala Pani was a high-security prison designed to imprison political prisoners, especially freedom fighters who fought for India’s independence. The jail’s architecture is unique, with seven wings radiating from a central watchtower. Each wing consists of individual cells to isolate prisoners, making communication nearly impossible.

The prisoner s suffered harsh conditions, forced labor, and severe punishments, earning it the reputation of one of the most dreaded colonial prisons.

To reach Cellular Jail, you can travel to Port Blair, the capital city of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Port Blair is accessible by air and sea from major cities in India, such as Chennai and Kolkata. Once in Port Blair, you can hire a taxi or take a local bus to reach the Cellular Jail – dark tourism in India, which is located in the Aberdeen area.

What to Expect :

Visiting Cellular Jail is not just an educational experience; it’s a profound journey of empathy and understanding. As you’ll explore the cells and corridors you’ll feel the hardships endured by those who were imprisoned here. Cellular Jail evokes solemn emotions and also serves as a powerful reminder of the resilience and courage of the Indian people.

3. Skeleton Lake (Roopkund), Uttarakhand

This spot high up in the Himalayas has a jaw-dropping history – brace yourselves! Okay, so here’s the deal: they found a lake filled with ancient human skeletons! Say what?! Yup, it’s true! Scientists say these bones are over 1,000 years old and belong to a bunch of mysterious travelers.

I mean, talk about an Indiana Jones moment! And you know what makes it even crazier? They think it could be a group of warriors, a pilgrimage gone wrong, or maybe even an ancient dance party – dark tourism in India – okay, I made that last one up, but who knows, right?

First things first – hop on a plane or train to Delhi, India’s buzzing capital city. From there, grab a ticket to Kathgodam, a charming town in Uttarakhand. Now, the real fun begins! I remember taking a thrilling road trip through lush green forests and winding mountain roads to Lohajung, the base camp for Roopkund.

And hey, if you’re feeling extra adventurous, you can even trek your way to the lake! Just don’t forget to pack your best hiking shoes and some snacks – trust me, you’ll need ’em!

What to expect:

People say that when the ice melts, you can see ancient skeletons peeking out. Scary! Right? It’s like a real-life mystery movie! Some adventurers claim they heard whispers from the past as if the souls beneath the ice are trying to tell their story. I heard whispers that these skeletons are restless spirits, roaming around the lake at night. Some say they dance under the moonlight, and if you’re brave enough, you might even hear their bony footsteps! female solo travel blog, Female Travel Blogs, budget travel tips, Best Trips for Solo Female Travelers, Best Places for Solo Female Travel, dark tourism,Solo Female Travel Destinations

4. Bhangarh Fort, Rajasthan

Bhangarh Fort, with its grandeur and splendor, was once a bustling town thriving under the rule of the charming ruler, Madho Singh. One legend says the curse turned the whole town into ruins, leaving the fort deserted and haunted. Since then, locals say that no one dares to stay within the fort premises after sunset.

There is a local belief that any building constructed near Bhangarh Fort collapses due to the curse.

Once you reach Jaipur, the vibrant Pink City of Rajasthan, it’s an approximately 90-kilometer journey into the land of mysteries. I remember taking a bumpy but exciting ride through the beautiful countryside of Rajasthan to reach this haunted wonderland – dark tourism in India.

People have said they felt sudden chills and saw shadows dancing in the moonlight. Some visitors claim to have seen shadowy figures wandering around the ruins of Bhangarh Fort at night. Some who have visited Bhangarh Fort claim to feel an overwhelming sensation of being watched over. As if someone is following their every move, sending shivers down their spines.

5.Agrasen Ki Baoli, Delhi

Alright, get ready to dive into the intriguing world of Agrasen Ki Baoli! This mind-blowing stepwell in Delhi has a jaw-dropping history dating back to ancient times. Legend says that it was built by the legendary king, Maharaja Agrasen, way, way back – like before your great-great-great-grandma’s time! But wait, here comes the mysterious part – dark tourism in India, some say it’s much, much older, and might’ve been here since the age of dinosaurs (well, maybe not that old, but close!).

People back then used this Baoli (fancy word for stepwell) to quench their thirst and chill in the shade. Cool, right? According to a tale, the water in Agrasen ki Baoli is said to be haunted, and some have reported feeling an inexplicable urge to jump into the well.

To reach Agrasen Ki Baoli, head to Hailey Road in Connaught Place, Delhi. Now, don’t worry if you’re not a human GPS like me – just ask anyone in the area, and they’ll happily point you in the right direction. From the hustle-bustle of Connaught Place, you’ll soon find yourself stepping into the serene and mysterious ambiance of the stepwell. It’s like stepping back in time – well, sorta!

As you descend the ancient steps, you might feel a sense of mystery in the air. Some folks say they’ve heard faint whispers, as if the past is reaching out to them. Visitors claim to have heard mysterious whispers and faint voices echoing from the depths of the Baoli, even when no one else is around. But don’t worry, it’s not the ghosts trying to chat; it’s just the wind playing tricks!

6. Kalighat Temple, Kolkata

This ancient temple is dedicated to the fierce goddess Kali. It is said that the toes of Goddess Sati, wife of Lord Shiva, fell right here, making it a sacred spot. The image of goddess Kali was found with her right toe mysteriously sticking out. Despite several attempts to push it back into place, the toe always returned to its original position. This was considered a divine sign and led to the consecration of the temple with the image in its unique form of dark tourism in India.

Since then, people from all corners of the country flock here to seek blessings.

I heard from locals that Nishi, the temple ghost, roams around at night, keeping an eye on the temple.

From Kolkata’s hustle-bustle, just hop on a local bus or hail a taxi. Trust me, you won’t miss it – the temple’s right in the heart of the city, like a shining jewel amid the urban chaos.

At Kalighat Temple, you might feel intense energy and witness intense rituals dedicated to the powerful goddess Kali. People say the atmosphere crackles with energy as they seek blessings from the fierce goddess Kali. It’s like being part of a spiritual carnival – exciting and electrifying!

7. Dhanushkodi, Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu

Dhanushkodi was once a bustling town with houses, schools, and a railway station. However, in 1964, a massive cyclone struck the region, destroying the entire town and leaving it uninhabitable. Today, the remains of the town can be seen, with abandoned buildings, adding to the haunting ambiance of the place.

According to Hindu mythology, Lord Rama, along with his army of monkeys, built a bridge of floating stones from Rameswaram to Sri Lanka to rescue his wife Sita from the demon king Ravana. This bridge is known as Ram Setu or Adam’s Bridge.

Some say that if one throws a stone into the water, it will never sink but instead float on the surface, defying the laws of physics.

To reach Dhanushkodi, you should first head to Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu. From Rameshwaram, hop into a jeep or van – it’s like a thrilling desert safari, but instead of camels, you have sandy dunes to conquer!

I visited Dhanushkodi, and the deserted town felt like a portal to the past. The tragic history of the cyclone that wiped out the town might make you feel a sense of sorrow. People say the ghosts of the cyclone’s victims still haunt Dhanushkodi at night.

When I was there, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of sadness and wonder – it’s dark tourism in India experience you won’t forget!

8. South Park Street Cemetery, Kolkata

Dark-tourism-in-India-South-Park-Street-Cemetery

The South Park Street Cemetery was established in the late 18th century during British colonial rule in India. The cemetery was primarily reserved for British expatriates and officials who had settled in Kolkata. One of the most famous tales of South Park Street Cemetery is about a tombstone with an inscription that reads, “The wages of sin is death.”

It is said that those who touch or disturb the tombstone will be cursed with misfortune and even death.

If you’re already in Kolkata, you can take a taxi or use public transportation like buses to reach the Park Street area. The cemetery is located near the Park Street Metro Station, so taking the metro is also a convenient option. Once you’re in the vicinity, you can quickly find the entrance to the cemetery.

People who’ve explored this graveyard say it’s like stepping into a real-life ghost story. Many people claim to have heard mysterious footsteps and whispers while wandering through the cemetery. Some believe that the spirits of the deceased still roam the grounds, guarding their final resting place. this is one of the best dark tourism in India sites.

9. Kuldhara Village, Rajasthan

Kuldhara Village was once a prosperous and thriving community of Paliwal Brahmins in the 19th century. However, the village faced a terrible fate due to an unjust ruler’s tyranny. The story goes that the local ruler, Salim Singh, who was known for his tyranny and desire for the Paliwal Brahmins’ daughter, levied heavy taxes on the village. Fearing the ruler’s cruelty, the villagers left behind their homes, belongings, and fields, vanishing without a trace.

Many believe that the Paliwal Brahmins cursed the village to remain uninhabited forever, and anyone who attempted to settle there would face misfortune and encounter malevolent spirits.

Since then, the village has remained abandoned, and its buildings now stand as haunting reminders of its past.

To reach Kuldhara Village, you can travel to the city of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, which is well-connected by road and rail. From Jaisalmer, you can hire a taxi or take a local bus to Kuldhara, which is about 15 kilometers away.

At Kuldhara, you’ll step into a ghost town frozen in time. The empty streets and abandoned houses might give you a spine-chilling feeling of being watched. Visitors claim to have witnessed mysterious footprints appearing and disappearing on the sandy streets of Kuldhara.

Some believe that these footprints belong to the spirits of the departed villagers, roaming the village in search of peace.

10. Dow Hill, Kurseong, West Bengal

Dow Hill is a serene hill station known for its beautiful landscapes and colonial-era charm. It was once a favored summer retreat for British officers and their families during the British Raj. Dow Hill is known for its spooky tales and chilling folklore, especially centered around the Dow Hill Girls’ School and the nearby forested areas. One of the most famous tales revolves around the headless ghost of Dow Hill. Locals and visitors claim to have seen a headless ghost wandering through the forested areas, especially near the Victoria Boys’ School. The ghost is said to be that of a young girl who tragically lost her life in the forest. Some have claimed to hear the sound of footsteps echoing in the empty halls or glimpsed a fleeting shadow out of the corner of their eyes.

To reach Dow Hill, you can travel to Kurseong, a town in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal. Kurseong is well-connected by road and rail to major cities in the region. From Kurseong, you can hire a local taxi or take a shared jeep to reach Dow Hill.

At Dow Hill, you’ll find yourself amid a hauntingly dense forest with tales of ghostly sightings and strange occurrences. People have reported hearing footsteps and whispers, even when no one is around. While not everyone experiences something scary, the foggy surroundings and creepy tales might give you an adventure in the haunted hills.

11.Kamakhya Temple, Assam

The Kamakhya Temple, located on Nilachal Hill in Guwahati, Assam, is one of the most revered and ancient temples in India. It is said that when Lord Shiva was in deep meditation after Sati’s death, her body was dismembered into 108 pieces by Lord Vishnu’s Sudarshan Chakra. These pieces fell at various places across the Indian subcontinent, and the Kamakhya Temple is believed to be the place where the womb and genitals of Sati fell. During the Ambubachi Mela, it is believed that the underground spring within the temple turns red, symbolizing the menstruation of the Goddess Kamakhya. There is also a belief that the temple’s head priestess, known as the Deodhani, can predict the future.

However, if she reveals her prediction to anyone, she will die. Thus, the Deodhani is said to live a secluded and secretive life within the temple premises.

To reach Kamakhya Temple, you can travel to Guwahati, the largest city in Assam, dark tourism in India. From Guwahati, you can hire a taxi or take a local bus to the temple, which is situated atop Nilachal Hill, offering panoramic views of the city and the Brahmaputra River.

Some visitors have felt an electrifying energy as if the goddess herself is watching over them. Legends tell of powerful goddesses and sacred rituals that might send shivers down your spine. Some have claimed to feel a strange energy surrounding them as if they’ve stepped into another dimension.

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it, the top dark tourism in India sites . I’ve visited a few places out of them and I’m glad I did! But wait, here’s a little secret – these places aren’t as scary as they seem! Sure, they might give you a shiver or two, but it’s all part of the thrill, right? And the real charm lies in the mysterious stories that surround them. Remember, this dark tourism in India sites comes with a hint of danger. So, I’ve one word for you: never go alone!

Having a local guide by your side is not only safe but also like having your very own storyteller who’ll narrate all the tales while you explore the mysterious sites.

And trust me, you don’t want to bring scaredy cats along. I remember when my friend brought their cousin along – oh, what a hilarious adventure it turned out to be! Every rustle of leaves had them jumping, and every shadow turned into a ghostly spirit! So, keep your ghost-hunting gadgets ready, and don’t forget to have a fully charged phone with you.

Now, off you go, but remember, shhh… you never know what awaits in the shadows! And always remember to Travel Till You Drop!

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August 6, 2023
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These Sites In India For Dark Tourism With Their Tragic Past Are Not For The Faint Hearted

If you are someone who is attracted to places associated with mystery or tragic history, then these dark tourism spots are for you..

By: Yagnoseni Das Published: Jan 31, 2022 08:00 AM IST

These Sites In India For Dark Tourism With Their Tragic Past Are Not For The Faint Hearted

Recently, this intriguing form of tourism has been catching everyone’s eyes. Therefore, we bring you some of our top picks of dark tourism spots that you can venture out on to experience the thrills and mysteries of India. By Yagnoseni Das

Travelling to beautiful places is quite de-stressing. Be it vacationing in a coastal destination where one might love to dig their feet in the warm sand by the musical sea or trekking in steep mountain ranges and experiencing the thrills a life can offer. But places that serve neither are often solely visited for their tragic or mysterious — untapped tourism terrain. And these places are what create a part of a tourism bereavement that we call “Dark Tourism”.

Dark tourism is gradually becoming popular, thanks to human’s need to quench their thirst for curiosity. And with the country’s long, rich history, there is no scarcity of places that preserve ancient memories of tragedies.

Here are our top picks of dark tourism spots in India

Kuldhara village, jaisalmer.

Now a historical site maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India, the abandoned village is a popular tourist attraction among dark tourism enthusiasts. Located 20 kilometres from the Jaisalmer, this village is has a rich history with a fair share of myths and legends associated with it. Travellers often visit this village in hopes to experience something paranormal or ghostly around the beautiful yet eerie stretches of desserts and remains of an old civilisation.

Getting there: From Jaisalmer, you can take a cab or a rental that will take you to the entrance gates of the haunted village which remain open for visitors every day from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. The entry fee per person is INR 10 and for cars, it is INR 50.

Best time to visit: According to Rajasthan’s seasonal calendar, October to March seems like the ideal time to visit this spot.

Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar

The place that witnessed the tragic Jallianwala Bagh massacre is a popular tourist spot for history enthusiasts. As the name suggests it is a beautiful and well maintained public garden in Amritsar . Upon visiting, travellers can spot bullet holes on its walls that reminisce the historic tragedy and memorials informing one of the details of the tragedy that took place in 1919.

Getting there: Located on the Golden Temple Road, Amritsar, you can take a cab or rental to reach the place. And there’s no entry fee as such.

Best time to visit: You can visit the park all year round

Kala Pani, Port Blair

The Cellular jail was once a colonial prison in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands . The cellular jail has witnessed innumerable torturous acts against the Indian freedom fighters by the British Raj. And even before the construction of the jail, the island itself was a prison to contain prisoners of India’s First War of Independence in 1857. Now a national museum, Kala Pani is a perfect place to delve deep into the darkest sides of India’s freedom struggle.

Getting there: There are flights available from Delhi to Andaman, Mumbai to Andaman, Kolkata to Andaman, Bangalore to Andaman, Pune to Andaman, and, Chennai to Andaman.

Best time to visit: The Islands are at their prime climate-wise from October to May

Lothal, Indus Valley civilisation sites, Gujarat

The Indus Valley civilisation in the South-Western Asian region was a Bronze Age civilisation that existed somewhere between 3300 BCE and 1300 BCE. It is one of the three early civilisations of the Middle East and southern Asia. And is one of the most widely spread in the world, encompassing ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. The Indus Valley Civilisation was South Asia’s most ancient civilisation.

Lothal in Gujarat , about 80 kilometres south of Ahmedabad, is the most important site of the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation that you can visit in India. Harappa and Mohenjo Daro, the other, more famous excavations of this culture, are now in Pakistan.

Getting there: By road, Lothal is 80 kilometres from the city of Ahmedabad. Five daily trains are also available from Ahmedabad’s Gandhigram station to Lothal-Bhurki station.

Taj Palace, Mumbai

The sophisticated heritage tourist destination is one of the city’s most sought-after hotels. But it hasn’t been spared of a history that is marred by terrorism, death, and ghosts. It was used as a military hospital during WWII and was the target of a vicious terrorist attack in 2008. A number of guests were held hostage within the hotel, resulting in 137 deaths, 31 of which occurred within the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel . Following such a number of deaths emerged all sorts of haunting stories of supernatural sightings.

Getting there: Located in Colaba, Mumbai, Maharashtra, cabs and buses are easily available to the hotel .

Roopkund Lake, Uttarakhand

Another must-visit place for dark tourism enthusiasts is the infamous Roopkund Lake otherwise known as Skeleton lake. But getting to the lake itself isn’t an easy task. The trek requires the trekkers to be physically fit and be able to walk up the lake which lies at an altitude of 16,500 feet. Upon reaching the travellers can catch the sight of skeletal remains of what seems like hundreds of people scattered throughout the lake. Some submerged while some were strewn around the edges. The origins of the skeletons are still unknown.

Getting there: Located in the Chamoli district, the spot requires a trek for about 23 kilometres after the last motorable point which is in Wan village.

Best time to visit: Between May to June, and September to October is the ideal time to set off for the trek

Related: Discovering The Oasis Called Banswara Amidst The Desert Of Rajasthan

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Dark Tourism in India—walking through the alleys of India’s dark past

Panchali Dey Panchali Dey / Times Travel Editor / TRAVEL TRENDS , INDIA / Updated : Oct 8, 2018, 11:06 IST

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Dark Tourism, also known as grief tourism, involves people taking a keen curiosity to visit places that are historically linked to death and tragedy. Also, places that are reminders of human sufferings and bloodshed are subsets of … Read more

Dark Tourism in India—walking through the alleys of India’s dark past

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Heard of dark tourism? Here are 10 places to visit for it

From poignant memorials to haunting historical sites, each place tells a story of tragedy and resilience..

Ever heard of dark tourism? No, it's not your usual sun and sand vacation or posing in front of iconic landmarks. We're talking about diving deep into the mysterious and somewhat eerie pages of history, exploring sites linked to tragedy, morbidity, and death! Sounds unsettling, right? But it's way more fascinating than your average beach trip.

So, what's the deal with dark tourism? Well, imagine a world where your travel itinerary goes beyond the ordinary and into the realms of the bizarre. That's where dark tourism comes in. It's not about your typical touristy stuff; it's about delving into the darker side of human history, where stories are rooted in tragedy, conflict, and catastrophe.

Now, some might say, "Why on earth would anyone want to visit places associated with death and gloom?" But hold on! There's a method to the madness. Dark tourism isn't just about embracing the macabre; it's a testament to our inherent curiosity. It's about getting in touch with your humanity in a lot of ways. We're not avoiding history; we're diving headfirst into it, trying to make sense of the hardships and losses that shaped our past.

Ready for it? Here are our 10 top picks.

The Catacombs of Paris, France Beneath the romantic streets of Paris lies a macabre world—the Catacombs, where the bones of millions are arranged in bizarre patterns. In the 18th century, Paris grappled with a significant public health crisis, with local cemeteries became overcrowded, leading to improper disposal of corpses and the subsequent spread of diseases. To address this pressing issue, the city opted to repurpose its extensive subterranean Lutetian limestone quarries, transforming them into expansive underground ossuaries.

Auschwitz Birkenau, Poland Nestled in the quiet countryside of Poland, Auschwitz-Birkenau stands as a haunting site to one of the darkest chapters in human history—the most extensive Nazi concentration camp during World War II, which tragically became a site of mass genocide, claiming the lives of more than 1.1 million people, with a staggering 9,60,000 of them being Jews. Visitors come to pay their respects, learn about the atrocities committed, and reflect on the importance of preserving human rights and preventing such horrors from happening again.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Auschwitz - Birkenau Oświęcim (@auschwitz_birkenau)

Chernobyl, Ukraine On April 26, 1986, an explosion occurred in nuclear reactor number four at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Pripyat, Ukraine.This catastrophic event rendered the area uninhabitable, leaving it in ruins. It has become a unique destination for those interested in the intersection of history and environmental impact. Estimates by scientists suggest that the land around Chernobyl may need as long as 20,000 years for complete recovery from the effects of radioactive damage. Nearly 37 years later, evolving into a deserted town with forsaken schools, hospitals, and apartment buildings, the Chernobyl vicinity has become a magnet for thousands of visitors.

Tours take visitors through abandoned towns and the decaying remnants of a once-thriving community, offering a somber reminder of the consequences of nuclear technology gone awry.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Keisuke Shingu | Based in Fukuoka (@kei.photography)

Ground Zero, USA The term "Ground Zero '' originally referred to the point on the Earth's surface directly below or above an exploding nuclear bomb. For this one, it is the site of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack, which serves as a poignant tribute to the nearly 3,000 victims who lost their lives during the attacks. The memorial features twin reflecting pools set within the footprints of the original towers, inscribed with the names of those who perished. It draws visitors seeking to pay tribute to the lives lost and understand the profound impact of the event on global history.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pâmella Miranda • Trips da Pam (@tripsdapam)

Pompeii, Italy Pompeii, Italy, stands as a captivating dark tourist site, frozen in time by the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The ancient city was buried under layers of ash and pumice, preserving its streets, buildings, and inhabitants in an eerie tableau. The plaster casts of citizens, captured in their final moments of agony, add a hauntingly human dimension to the tragedy that befell Pompeii. Several guided tours and excursions are available for tourists, providing access to historical sites surrounding the remarkably preserved ruins like Pompeii Archaeological Park and the forum that are still frozen in time.

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Hiroshima Peace Memorial, Japan It opened in August 1955, The Hiroshima Peace Memorial, also known as the Atomic Bomb Dome, stands as a symbol of peace and a reminder of the devastating impact of nuclear warfare. Visitors to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial can explore the museum, which houses artefacts, personal belongings, and first hand accounts of the atomic bombing. Every year around 1 million people visit this site.

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Robben Island, South Africa Robben Island, situated off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa, once a notorious political prison, held Nelson Mandela and other anti-apartheid activists during South Africa's dark history of racial segregation. Political prisoners endured harsh conditions, forced labor, and systematic oppression. Today, it serves as a museum and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, providing insight into the struggles for freedom and equality.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Amanda White (@amandalikestheworld)

Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, Cambodia It is a haunting site that bears witness to the atrocities committed during the Khmer Rouge regime from 1975 to 1979. Formerly a high school turned into a prison, the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum stands as a stark reminder of Cambodia's painful history, showcasing the inhumane treatment suffered by an estimated 17,000 people who passed through its gates. The museum also displays the crude instruments of torture and the grim cells where detainees were held in appalling conditions.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (@tuolslenggenocidemseum)

Jallianwala Bagh The tragic incident took place on April 13, 1919, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Brigadier General Reginald Dyer ordered British troops to open fire on a gathering of unarmed Indian civilians who had assembled for a peaceful protest against the repressive Rowlatt Act. The echoes of gunfire in the enclosed garden created a macabre symphony, resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives and leaving thousands injured.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Amit Panchal (@amithpanchal)

The Killing Fields, Cambodia The Killing Fields, a series of sites where mass executions occurred during the Khmer Rouge regime, serve as a stark reminder of Cambodia's tragic history. It offers an immersive experience, with audio guides providing firsthand accounts from survivors and historical context. The remnants of clothing and bone fragments that occasionally surface from the ground serve as haunting reminders of the human tragedy that unfolded here.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by @citrachristina

Dark tourism, though unconventional, offers a unique lens through which travelers can explore the complexities of human history. These 10 destinations represent just a fraction of the many sites around the world that attract visitors seeking to engage with the darker chapters of our collective past.

Feature image: @lyndseyfaye/instagram

The catacombs of paris image: @undeadforeststudios/instagram

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Discover the Past: 6 Dark Tourism Sites in India with Rich Histories

December 21, 2023 Admin

There’s a widespread notion that travel brings us happiness and tranquility. But there’s another aspect of travel and tourism that will change your mind about that. Dark tourism, sometimes referred to as grief tourism, is a type of travel when travelers visit locations associated with tragedies, death, suffering, or notable historical atrocities. Unlike ordinary tourism, which tries to offer travelers pleasure, tranquility, and entertainment, dark tourism involves exploring places with gloomy or dismal history. It can raise awareness of historical events and promote comprehension and recall. So, get ready to book cheap flight tickets from Toronto to Hyderabad with Flyopedia and explore these 6 dark tourism sites in India with rich histories.

Best Destinations for Dark Tourism in India

1. jallianwala bagh, amritsar.

On April 13, 1919 Thousands of innocent citizens were shot dead in the center of Amritsar city while peacefully opposing British authority over India. It was a mass murder of humanity. As the British forces surrounded the unarmed, defenseless crowd in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, from all sides, acting Brigadier-General Dyer ordered his men to fire.

Many of the victims made the fruitless attempt to jump into the on-site well in an attempt to escape the relentless hail of gunshots.

Due to this disaster, over 1500 people were injured and about 1000 people lost their lives.

Many visitors come to this location to witness the bullet holes and understand the people’s helplessness during that period of British control.

2. Cellular Jail, Andaman & Nicobar Island (Kala Pani)

On the isolated island of Andaman & Nicobar, the British Indian government built The Cellular Jail, popularly known as Kala Pani, in 1906. Kala Pani, also called the jail of death, was renowned for its iron rods and concrete walls. Its purpose was to torment and confine the Indian freedom warriors.

It is reported that not many of the convicts who had been sent there survived this horrific nightmare.

80,000 people were housed in jail, hundreds of them were liberation fighters convicted of torturing and isolating themselves from the outside world. Because of the tight security measures in place, nobody had ever been able to escape from Kala Pani Prison save for the well-known freedom warrior Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.

3. Indus Valley Civilization Sites

Between 3300 and 1300 BCE, the Indus Valley civilization existed in South-Western Asia during the Bronze Age. One of the world’s most widely dispersed civilizations spanned Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt, establishing itself as one of the three oldest civilizations in the Middle East and southern Asia. The Indus Valley Civilization was the oldest in South Asia.

An archaeological camp led by Sir John Hubert Marshall, Rai Bahadur Daya Ram Sahni, and Madho Swarup Vats excavated the Indus Valley Civilization sites in 1921.Approximately 1400 sites in India have yielded structures and artifacts that provide insight into the past. Furthermore, you can visit Flyopedia to book affordable air tickets from Vancouver to Mumbai .

4. Kuldhara Village, Rajasthan

Kuldhara, a village with 83 inhabitants, is now a ruin located in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district. The Paliwal Brahmins departed the region around two centuries ago because of insufficient water supply and high taxes collected by Diwan. According to another version, King Salim set his eye on a girl in the village and planned to marry her anyhow, so he cursed the settlement so that nobody else would ever live there. Consequently, the locals evacuated their homes and left the area throughout the night.

Nobody saw them go, and nobody still knows where the Paliwals of Kuldhara have settled, leaving behind their dwellings, which are now open to tourists.

5. Roopkund, Uttarakhand

Roopkund Lake, often called the Lake of Skulls, is a strange location in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.

This amazing lake, located five thousand meters above sea level, is a popular trekking destination. At the shore of the lake are hundreds of ancient human skeletons that become visible as the snow melts.

According to scientists, the skeleton discovered next to the lake belonged to 200 Indian tribe members who perished in a severe snowstorm in the ninth century. Also, if you are seeking cheap flights from US to India, make sure to check out Flyopedia.com .

6. Union Carbide Factory, Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh)

The Bhopal gas tragedy, one of the strangest disasters in history, was an industrial accident that occurred at a Union Carbide subsidiary pesticide facility in Bhopal.

On December 3, 1984, 42 tonnes of toxic methyl isocyanides (MIC) gas leaked near a residential area of over 500,000 people due to senior Union Carbide officials’ disregard for certain industrial maintenance.

Hundreds of people died instantaneously from an extremely toxic material in the air that destroyed their lungs and gave them a burning sensation.

As of right now, this location is India’s most well-known and well-liked Dark Tourism attraction.

Dark tourism destinations attract visitors from a wide range of backgrounds. Motivating factors may involve things like learning objectives, a desire to comprehend the past more deeply, and so forth. The urge to try something novel or unique motivates some people. Despite not being a fun activity, many people appreciate the educational benefits of dark tourism. Thus, if you are planning on visiting these places, make sure to browse Flyopedia first to book cheap flights from Toronto to Chennai India .

Also Read: The Caves of India are here to Amaze the History buff in you

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TTDC offers dark tourism packages

CHENNAI: Tourists visiting Tamil Nadu will soon have more places to see than the usual spiritual, heritage and salubrious spots. In an ambitious plan, the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation has proposed to introduce Dark Tourism in the state by showcasing colonial cemeteries, packed with history.

Dark Tourism is a fast emerging area of special interest in tourism all over the world and involves visits to historic sites that invoke memories of battles or horrific crimes or instances of genocide. Some of the popular sites in the world are Ground Zero in New York, the Nazi extermination camp in Auschwitz and the Dakota apartment building outside of which John Lennon was killed.

“In our State, we have identified cemeteries built during the colonial period as examples of dark tourism,” A Chittaranjan Mohandoss, Director of Tourism and Managing Director of TTDC told Express. He said, “Cemeteries are important places, where tales of yesteryears could be traced. Tourists would be taken to various cemeteries to help them gain an insight into historical events.”

Among TTDC’s chosen spots are St Peter’s graveyard in Thanjavur, Christ Church cemetery in Kumbakonam, Dutch graveyard in Tarangambadi, graveyard of CSI Peter’s Church in Nagapattinam, Christ Church and graveyard in Anaikadu village near Pattukottai, the Madras War Cemetery and Cathedral Church in Chennai and few graveyards in Vellore Fort , Madurai, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi.

“Interestingly,” Mohandoss said, “the cemetery of British Collector Jackson, who fought against chieftain of Panchalankurichi, Veera Pandiya Kattabomman, for refusing to pay tax to the British East India Company is situated in West Perumal Maistry Street in Madurai.”

Though dark tourism has not gained popularity in India, it has been successfully experimented in Haryana as it was the theatre for the Kurukshetra war.

Tales the cemeteries tell Madras War Cemetery, Nandambakkam, Chennai

The ‘Madras 1914-1918 memorial’, bearing the names of more than 1,000 soldiers who died in the First World War, lies at the back of the Madras War Cemetery, spreading across 2.85 acres. It has 856 graves of soldiers, sailors and airmen from various countries, who died in India en route to the different theatres of the World War II.

C Venkatesan, former Emeritus Professor in the Department of Indian History, the University of Madras, however, clarified that cemeteries and memorials in Chennai were different from those in France and Belgium. Venkatesan said that unlike France and Belgium, where soldiers fell in battle fields, South India did not witness any war. So graves and memorials are of those who served in garrisons.

According to him, India was a transit point for the forces and many died here due to natural causes or injuries sustained in battle fields elsewhere. “ As these servicemen, who came to fight the war were stationed in different parts of the then Madras province, their mortal remains were brought to Chennai,” he said.

One could find Islamic religious symbols on the tombstones of Muslim warriors at the Madras War Cemetery, Venkatesan said and added that the stones were uniform in size and design and demonstrate the principle that all those who died in war lay down their lives for the same cause.

Glorinda Church Cemetery, Palayamkottai

Glorinda Church Cemetery in Palayamkottai has the grave of the British district collector C H Ashe, assassinated by Vanchinathan in 1911 at the Maniyachi railway station.

Vanchinathan, who participated in the freedom movement was trained by V V S Aiyar, who at that time had sought refuge in French Pondicherry. Vanchinathan was peeved by the collector’s interference in the local affairs. Ashe expressed his dismay over people of a dominant caste refusing to let a pregnant woman, belonging to a lower caste, being taken through their street for medical treatment, said Josephine Jeyashanthi, Professor in the Department of Tamil, Loyola College.

“The Glorinda Church Cemetery also has the cemetery of Sybil Florence, Ashe’s wife, who died on February 19, 1920,” she said and added that it derived its name from a woman called Glorinda, whose grave was nearby.

According to Jeyashanthi, when a 19-year-old girl, of an upper caste was forced to commit Sati, she tried to escape and a British soldier on horseback rescued her. Thereafter, the soldier taught her English and both of them married. She was given the name Glorinda and the couple were involved in social service.

Jackson Cemetery, Madurai

Kayathar in Thoothukudi district, where Veera Pandiya Kattabomman was hung from a tamarind tree in 1799, is a popular site as the government has already installed his statue at the spot.

Has TTDC missed out some?

Apart from the Madras War Cemetery in Nandambakkam, Chennai has two similar cemeteries. “The St Mary’s Church Cemetery and St Patrick’s Cemetery are equally important from a historical perspective,” said Venkatesan. The St Mary’s Cemetery near the Central railway station is at the end of a civilian cemetery and has graves of men and women of the days of the British East India Company, who came to Indian.

On the significance of St Mary’s Church cemetery, Venkatesan said: “It is a cemetery within a cemetery.”

The St Patricks Cemetery, situated adjacent to the recently demolished Central Prison, also has graves of about a dozen persons killed in war.

Dutch Cemetery, Pulicat

Another historic spot that has not been included by TTDC in its Dark Tourism package is in Pulicat, a fishing hamlet about 50km from Chennai. It is a window to the Dutch settlement in India. “Perhaps, it has south India’s biggest cemetery built by the Dutch,” said Jeyashanthi, who was part of the team that shot a documentary on Pulicat.

“The cemetery is an amazing place that can throw light on the history of Dutch colonial era in India. The place was ruled by Cholas between the fifth and 13 century, followed by Portuguese, Dutch and British,” she pointed out.

Famous grief spots

Yogesh Kabirdoss

‘Ground Zero’ in America, marking the collapse of the twin towers, has become an essential part of the ever expanding dark tourism sector. US relaxed its travel norms after the 9/11 attacks, visitors poured in at the Ground Zero to capture the smoking remains of the WTC.

Auschwitz in Poland was listed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979; it’s mandatory for all German schoolchildren to visit during their education and it’s virtually an Israeli right-of-passage to visit this Nazi extermination camp. The Killing Fields of Pol Pot’s genocidal regime in Cambodia are drawing more and more tourists and Hiroshima in Japan (where the Allies dropped the atomic bomb that ended World War II in the east) is also on the tourist trail.

Within the United States itself there are already several tourist destinations defined by tragedy. The Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas’ former Texas Book Repository is one such place. It opened 26 years after gunman Lee Harvey Oswald shot President Kennedy from a sixth-floor window there — it has since become the city’s biggest attraction, with 450,000 people a year. Ford’s Theater, where President Lincoln was assassinated, the museum in the Lorraine Motel in Memphis where Dr Martin Luther King was shot and Pearl Harbour are all historic memorial sites.

The Dakota apartment building outside of which John Lennon, probably the world’s most famous rock star, was shot dead, and Strawberry Fields the memorial in Central Park just across the street that’s named after the Beatles classic Strawberry Fields Forever.

The prison of Alcatraz, located in the middle of San Francisco Bay in California, continues to rank among the most popular tourist destinations in the US.

Established by Napoleon in 1804, the Pere-Lachaise Cemetery in Paris where Balzac and Proust, and other French intellectuals, artists and leaders lie. But it’s Jim Morrison’s grave that draws the craziest fans and that needs a full time guard.

San Vicente Cemetery at 4,500m above sea level for the love of Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid. Though mind you, there are no graves there.

There are plenty of dark tourism sites to visit in the war-torn Baltics. In Tallinn there is Patarei prison, a former KGB detention center. The prison closed its doors in 2002 and has now been turned into a museum.

Alternatively, Estonia has the Vaivara camp in Northeast Estonia, which has become a popular tourist attraction. Established in 1943, this served as a prisoner of war camp. As with many of camps, the evidence of horrifying times can still be seen here.

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Beaches? Cruises? ‘Dark’ Tourists Prefer the Gloomy and Macabre

Travelers who use their off time to visit places like the Chernobyl nuclear plant or current conflict zones say they no longer want a sanitized version of a troubled world.

A dark forest with broken branches over moss on its floor and bare, unhealthy-looking trees in the foreground. Trees in the background have more leaves.

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North Korea. East Timor. Nagorno-Karabakh, a mountainous enclave that for decades has been a tinderbox for ethnic conflict between Armenians and Azerbaijanis.

They’re not your typical top tourist destinations.

But don’t tell that to Erik Faarlund, the editor of a photography website from Norway, who has visited all three. His next “dream” trip is to tour San Fernando in the Philippines around Easter , when people volunteer to be nailed to a cross to commemorate the suffering of Jesus Christ, a practice discouraged by the Catholic Church.

Mr. Faarlund, whose wife prefers sunning on Mediterranean beaches, said he often travels alone.

“She wonders why on earth I want to go to these places, and I wonder why on earth she goes to the places she goes to,” he said.

Mr. Faarlund, 52, has visited places that fall under a category of travel known as dark tourism , an all-encompassing term that boils down to visiting places associated with death, tragedy and the macabre.

As travel opens up, most people are using their vacation time for the typical goals: to escape reality, relax and recharge. Not so dark tourists, who use their vacation time to plunge deeper into the bleak, even violent corners of the world.

They say going to abandoned nuclear plants or countries where genocides took place is a way to understand the harsh realities of current political turmoil, climate calamities, war and the growing threat of authoritarianism.

“When the whole world is on fire and flooded and no one can afford their energy bills, lying on a beach at a five-star resort feels embarrassing,” said Jodie Joyce, who handles contracts for a genome sequencing company in England and has visited Chernobyl and North Korea .

Mr. Faarlund, who does not see his travels as dark tourism, said he wants to visit places “that function totally differently from the way things are run at home.”

Whatever their motivations, Mr. Faarlund and Ms. Joyce are hardly alone.

Eighty-two percent of American travelers said they have visited at least one dark tourism destination in their lifetime, according to a study published in September by Passport-photo.online, which surveyed more than 900 people. More than half of those surveyed said they preferred visiting “active” or former war zones. About 30 percent said that once the war in Ukraine ends, they wanted to visit the Azovstal steel plant, where Ukrainian soldiers resisted Russian forces for months .

The growing popularity of dark tourism suggests more and more people are resisting vacations that promise escapism, choosing instead to witness firsthand the sites of suffering they have only read about, said Gareth Johnson, a founder of Young Pioneer Tours , which organized trips for Ms. Joyce and Mr. Faarlund.

Tourists, he said, are tired of “getting a sanitized version of the world.”

A pastime that goes back to Gladiator Days

The term “dark tourism” was coined in 1996, by two academics from Scotland, J. John Lennon and Malcolm Foley, who wrote “Dark Tourism: The Attraction to Death and Disaster.”

But people have used their leisure time to witness horror for hundreds of years, said Craig Wight, associate professor of tourism management at Edinburgh Napier University.

“It goes back to the gladiator battles” of ancient Rome, he said. “People coming to watch public hangings. You had tourists sitting comfortably in carriages watching the Battle of Waterloo.”

Professor Wight said the modern dark tourist usually goes to a site defined by tragedy to make a connection to the place, a feeling that is difficult to achieve by just reading about it.

By that definition, anyone can be a dark tourist. A tourist who takes a weekend trip to New York City may visit Ground Zero. Visitors to Boston may drive north to Salem to learn more about the persecution of people accused of witchcraft in the 17th century. Travelers to Germany or Poland might visit a concentration camp. They might have any number of motivations, from honoring victims of genocide to getting a better understanding of history. But in general, a dark tourist is someone who makes a habit of seeking out places that are either tragic, morbid or even dangerous, whether the destinations are local or as far away as Chernobyl.

In recent years, as tour operators have sprung up worldwide promising deep dives into places known for recent tragedy, media attention has followed and so have questions about the intentions of visitors, said Dorina-Maria Buda, a professor of tourism studies at Nottingham Trent University .

Stories of people gawking at neighborhoods in New Orleans destroyed by Hurricane Katrina or posing for selfies at Dachau led to disgust and outrage .

Were people driven to visit these sites out of a “sense of voyeurism or is it a sense of sharing in the pain and showing support?” Professor Buda said.

Most dark tourists are not voyeurs who pose for photos at Auschwitz, said Sian Staudinger, who runs the Austria-based Dark Tourist Trips , which organizes itineraries in the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe and instructs travelers to follow rules like “NO SELFIES!”

“Dark tourists in general ask meaningful questions,” Ms. Staudinger said. “They don’t talk too loud. They don’t laugh. They’re not taking photos at a concentration camp.”

‘Ethically murky territory’

David Farrier , a journalist from New Zealand, spent a year documenting travels to places like Aokigahara , the so-called suicide forest in Japan, the luxury prison Pablo Escobar built for himself in Colombia and McKamey Manor in Tennessee, a notorious haunted house tour where people sign up to be buried alive, submerged in cold water until they feel like they will drown and beaten.

The journey was turned into a show, “Dark Tourist,” that streamed on Netflix in 2018 and was derided by some critics as ghoulish and “sordid.”

Mr. Farrier, 39, said he often questioned the moral implications of his trips.

“It’s very ethically murky territory,” Mr. Farrier said.

But it felt worthwhile to “roll the cameras” on places and rituals that most people want to know about but will never experience, he said.

Visiting places where terrible events unfolded was humbling and helped him confront his fear of death.

He said he felt privileged to have visited most of the places he saw, except McKamey Manor.

“That was deranged,” Mr. Farrier said.

Professor Buda said dark tourists she has interviewed have described feelings of shock and fear at seeing armed soldiers on streets of countries where there is ongoing conflict or that are run by dictatorships.

“When you’re part of a society that is by and large stable and you’ve gotten into an established routine, travel to these places leads you to sort of feel alive,” she said.

But that travel can present real danger.

In 2015, Otto Warmbier , a 21-year-old student from Ohio who traveled with Young Pioneer Tours, was arrested in North Korea after he was accused of stealing a poster off a hotel wall. He was detained for 17 months and was comatose when he was released. He died in 2017, six days after he was brought back to the United States.

The North Korean government said Mr. Warmbier died of botulism but his family said his brain was damaged after he was tortured.

Americans can no longer travel to North Korea unless their passports are validated by the State Department.

A chance to reflect

Even ghost tours — the lighter side of dark tourism — can present dilemmas for tour operators, said Andrea Janes, the owner and founder of Boroughs of the Dead: Macabre New York City Walking Tours.

In 2021, she and her staff questioned whether to restart tours so soon after the pandemic in a city where refrigerated trucks serving as makeshift morgues sat in a marine terminal for months.

They reopened and were surprised when tours booked up fast. People were particularly eager to hear the ghost stories of Roosevelt Island, the site of a shuttered 19th-century hospital where smallpox patients were treated .

“We should have seen as historians that people would want to talk about death in a time of plague,” Ms. Janes said.

Kathy Biehl, who lives in Jefferson Township, N.J., and has gone on a dozen ghost tours with Ms. Janes’s company, recalled taking the tour “Ghosts of the Titanic” along the Hudson River. It was around 2017, when headlines were dominated by President Trump’s tough stance on refugees and immigrants coming into the United States.

Those stories seemed to dovetail with the 100-year-old tales of immigrants trying to make it to New York on a doomed ship, Ms. Biehl said.

It led to “a catharsis” for many on the tour, she said. “People were on the verge of tears over immigration.”

Part of the appeal of dark tourism is its ability to help people process what is happening “as the world gets darker and gloomier,” said Jeffrey S. Podoshen , a professor of marketing at Franklin and Marshall College, who specializes in dark tourism.

“People are trying to understand dark things, trying to understand things like the realities of death, dying and violence,” he said. “They look at this type of tourism as a way to prepare themselves.”

Mr. Faarlund, the photo editor, recalled one trip with his wife and twin sons: a private tour of Cambodia that included a visit to the Killing Fields , where between 1975 and 1979 more than 2 million Cambodians were killed or died of starvation and disease under the Khmer Rouge regime.

His boys, then 14, listened intently to unsparing and brutal stories of the torture center run by the Khmer Rouge. At one point, the boys had to go outside, where they sat quietly for a long time.

“They needed a break,” Mr. Faarlund said. “It was quite mature of them.”

Afterward, they met two of the survivors of the Khmer Rouge, fragile men in their 80s and 90s. The teenagers asked if they could hug them and the men obliged, Mr. Faarlund said.

It was a moving trip that also included visits to temples, among them Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, and meals of frog, oysters and squid at a roadside restaurant.

“They loved it,” Mr. Faarlund said of his family.

Still, he can’t see them coming with him to see people re-enact the crucifixion in the Philippines.

“I don’t think they want to go with me on that one,” Mr. Faarlund said.

52 Places for a Changed World

The 2022 list highlights places around the globe where travelers can be part of the solution.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram , Twitter and Facebook . And sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to receive expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places for a Changed World for 2022.

Maria Cramer is a reporter on the Travel desk. Please send her tips, questions and complaints about traveling, especially on cruises. More about Maria Cramer

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places: Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Mumbai: Spend 36 hours in this fast-changing Indian city by exploring ancient caves, catching a concert in a former textile mill and feasting on mangoes.

Kyoto: The Japanese city’s dry gardens offer spots for quiet contemplation in an increasingly overtouristed destination.

Iceland: The country markets itself as a destination to see the northern lights. But they can be elusive, as one writer recently found .

Texas: Canoeing the Rio Grande near Big Bend National Park can be magical. But as the river dries, it’s getting harder to find where a boat will actually float .

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Dark Tourism: Changing Perception of Travelers for Indian Tourism

2018, Dark Tourism: Changing Perception of Travelers for Indian Tourism

Tourism industry in India dates back to ancient times; has undergone various phases of development since then and gained a rapid momentum and immense popularity. The new genre of tourism is "Dark Tourism"-a notion less perceived, yet brimming with curiosity and intrigue. Gone is the era where tourist's interest revolved only around destinations of romantic getaways, scenic beauty, adventure and rejuvenation. The concept of "Thana tourism" or "Phoenix Tourism" has gained rapid momentum all over the world; India still being in the "Fetal" stage of this new genre of tourism. Dark Tourism, also known as Thana Tourism involves visits to locations relating to tragedy, massacre and anguish. Thana tourists' interest depends largely upon the level of their curiosity and sense of validation to the concept of death. Human psychology plays a quintessential role in pursuing curiosity and inquisitiveness, which forms the root cause for tourists thronging towards the destinations of dark tourism. This quest for travelling to unusual places gives a tremendous adrenaline rush for tourists, creating an impact and thus attracting them to the world of "Dark Tourism-The new wanderlust". One of the earliest origins of dark tourism can be traced towards a 19 th century jailhouse in The United States of America which gained popularity owing to its distinctive architectural design and novel practice. India has innumerable unexplored potential for the growth of Dark tourism. A thorough understanding of the phenomenon of dark tourism within broader socio-cultural aspect is necessary for further exploration and exhilaration of these tourist locations. The present study focuses on the existence, acceptance and promotion of the dark destinations in India. It also throws light on the changing perception of the travelers, a remarkable shift from routine vacationing to travelling for seeking fascination of death and tragedy. The study aims to highlight the primitive stages of the dark tourism destination development in India and also the criticism and controversies involved in creating a niche in the queer area of this eccentric tourism.

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The study of this paper aims to study the various sites of dark tourism in India. Tourism in India is important for the country’s economy and its sectors growing rapidly. Tourism means the act and process of spending time away from home in pursuit of recreation, relaxation, and pleasure while making use of the commercial provision. There are many forms of tourism based on the purpose of visit. in that paper; we discussed dark tourism development and sites in India. Dark tourism (black tourism, morbid tourism)has been defined as tourism involving travel to places historically associated with death and tragedy, planning a project on dark tourism documenting the increasing popularity of morbid landmarks around the world. The main attraction to dark locations is their historical value rather than associations with death and suffering. Holocaust tourism contains aspects of both dark and heritage tourism .dark tourism is a sheer curiosity that pushes people to thread the road less travele...

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Dark tourism also known as black tourism or grief tourism is tourism involving travel to sites associated with death and tragedy. Thana tourism, derived from the Ancient Greek word “thantos” for the personification of death, is associated with dark tourism but refers more specifically to violent death; it is used in fewer contexts than the terms dark tourism and grief tourism. Travelling to places associated with death is not a new phenomenon. People have long been drawn, purposefully or otherwise, towards sites, attractions, and events linked in one way or another with death, suffering, violence, or disaster. War-related attractions, though diverse, are a subset of the totality of tourist sites associated with death and suffering. The paper aims to assess the scope of “dark tourism” in jammu and Kashmir and & the role it may play in leveraging tourism in Jammu and Kashmir, which has largely relied on pilgrimage, adventure and leisure tourism in the past. This research investigates the potential for developing this form of tourism, since Jammu and Kashmir has been undergoing death, suffering, violence, or disaster through political tension and instability since 1948 and arguably for a generation earlier. The study explores the current extent of dark tourism in Jammu and Kashmir and considerations for future of dark tourism industry in jammu and Kashmir & to take stock of dark tourism industry worldwide.

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Dark tourism is a youngest subset of tourism, introduced only in 1990s. It is a multifaceted and diverse phenomenon. Dark tourism studies carried out in the Western countries succinctly portrays dark tourism as a study of history and heritage, tourism and tragedies. Dark tourism has been identified as niche or special interest tourism. This paper highlights how dark tourism has been theoretically conceptualized in previous studies. As an umbrella concept dark tourism includes than tourism, blackspot tourism, morbid tourism, disaster tourism, conflict tourism, dissonant heritage tourism and others. This paper examines how dark tourism as a distinct form of tourism came into existence in the tourism academia and how it could be understood as a separate subset of tourism in better way. Basically, this study focuses on deathscapes, repressed sadism, commercialization of grief, commoditization of death, dartainment, blackpackers, darsumers and deathseekers capitalism. This study generate...

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Nar Aditya Rai

The paper concentrates on the development of dark tourism in contemporary society as a type of special interest tourism. The study included analysis of the meaning of dark tourism, tourist motivation for this sort of tourism, Stone' s typology of dark destination offers, and a bit is committed to the part of dark tourism in contemporary society. Likewise there are special dark tourism destinations on the planet as a set of example of this sort of tourism development. The work incorporates a reference to the advancement of dark tourism in Romania, as a destination that has generally neglected to force itself on the world tourism market on the grounds that this type of tourism promotion, similarly Nepal also fails to do the same thing in promotion at world market. In the first part unique consideration is paid to the extraordinary interest tourism, which is another improvement that drives modernized society. Latest ,modern visitors have an alternate sort of motivation when they are organizing travel and tour coordinators need to concentrate on current trends. One of the trend identifying with the improvement of dark tourism and a percentage of the nations at the national level is situated as a destination which are recognized by this sort of tourism.

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A unique and increasingly pervasive feature within the tourism landscapes in the post-modern world is the special interests of tourists in death and anything associated with death. It is often believed that those who indulge in death and disaster site tours could potentially awaken their spiritual journey. The visitor immersions, in the spaces of death, and the events that have taken place or are re-created, triggers social conscience, or some shared emotion or an experience of involvement, with the death event. Reckoning to this facet, Pashupatinath temple- a place of pilgrimage for the followers of Santana Vedic religion which shows the comprehensive aspect of Hindu death rituals, symbols and processes has been chosen. The study proposes the site as a dark tourism destination and explores the convergence of cultural heritage site, pilgrimage and death rituals in the area that is associated with its characterization- particularly with reference to the witnessing of live open pyre b...

IAEME PUBLICATION

IAEME Publication

The paper is an effort to determine the Dark Tourism capacity in India. The study is conducted in two phases: firstly, categorizing dark locations (attractions) in India, secondly, using a supply-demand approach on the preparation of vendors and stakeholders responses on one side, and the perception of visitors (tourists) on the other. The concept of Dark Tourism in India is less explored, not easy to discern, and mixed with other styles of tourism. The emphasis of the research is limited and confined to India.

Maximiliano E. Korstanje , Bintang Handayani , Stanislav Ivanov

Gazing at Death: dark tourism as an emergent horizon of Research. (Korstanje M. & Handayani, B). New York, Nova Science Publishers. This is a must-read book which starts a new discussion not only on dark tourism issues but on the role of death in modern society. A much deep-seated issue that merits to be investigated in the years to come (Abraham Abe Pizam, University of Central Florida, US) Dr. Maximiliano Korstanje is one of the great minds of our young century. You may agree or disagree with his conclusions but this book, like much of his work makes the careful reader ponder his points and consider his positions. Korstankje is more than a thinker, he is the best type of academic, one who makes us question even the simplest of assumptions. Encountering his ideas is more than a mere journey into another academic work, but a chance to come face to face with multiple questions and academic challenges. (Peter Tarlow - Texas A&M University, US) Gazing Death draws together the latest research in the field by presenting new and important insights in a well-crafted meticulously researched book. The chapters in this volume employ a multidisciplinary perspective to address the social, political, ethical, philosophical and cultural perspectives of dark tourism. It is an indispensable guide that will satisfy the novice and more experienced dark tourism scholar seeking to understand the tourism of macabre spectacles, places of disaster and sites on the darker side of life. (Demond S. Miller, Rowan University, US) “The topic of dark tourism is growing in attention globally. Dr. Korstanje has dedicated this book to understanding the phenomena of travel surrounding death, disasters and terror. This book provides a one-stop shop for understanding a number of key areas of research within dark tourism: the motivations and behaviors surrounding dark travel, smart tourism for dark sites, as well as the economic impact of dark tourism. This book fills a gap in the literature which can be used by students, academics and practitioners alike.” - Professor Dr. Lori Pennington-Gray, University of Florida, USA Gazing at Death is a must-read book, which allows a restructuration in the ways global tourism should be thought. This represents a fertile invitation to build a new theoretical framework of tourism in this new millenium. - Associate Professor Celeste Nava - University of Guanajuato, Mexico

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Dark Tourism in India by Priyanka Shetty

People travelling to places and staying outside their usual environment for leisure, business, or other purposes for more than one year is part of tourism. Service sector tourism has become one of the important sources of money. India has seen a rapid increase in tourism in the past decade in addition to specialty forms of tourism that have also emerged over time. niche tourism has grown in this sector.

According to Malcolm Foley and John Lennon, dark tourism involves travelling to places historically associated with death and suffering (1996). Individuals are drawn to dark locations for their historical value, rather than their association with death and suffering. Because of this, this type of tourism is also known as “ Grief tourism ” or “ black tourism ”. Some of the motives for visiting this place include remembering the tragedy and its consequences, interest in human psychology, desire to pay respect to the deceased, etc.

People nowadays travel between locations both domestically and internationally for a variety of reasons, including business trips, leisure, pilgrimage, meeting friends and relatives, fairs and festivals, relaxation, adventure, sports, and economy diversification. Tourism is a very dynamic industry that has to deal with ever-changing consumer demands and a constant emphasis on consumer satisfaction. Tourism creates employment, leads to infrastructure development, foreign exchange, economic diversification, cultural awareness, preservation of natural resources, and more.

A person’s choice of vacation has changed over the years, and now tourists are interested in particular interest tourism. Special interest tourism centres on viewing and experiencing something unique with a goal in addition to viewing or enjoying scenic beauty. It provides a variety of tourism activities that are tailored and specifically targets those with particular interests. It provides a wide range of experiences including rewarding, adventurous, and educational.

India’s tourism industry is an important agent in both economic and social change. The country’s rich cultural heritage and travel and tourism have always been a part of the country. In recent years the country has enjoyed a considerable surge in tourism. We have Himalayan mountains, beaches, valleys, deserts, wildlife, and forests, all of which have healing powers and provide a unique experience. According to the forecast, the sector of tourism is expected to increase by 6.9% to 32.05 lakh crore (US$460 billion) by 2028 (9.9% of GDP). In addition, jobs have been created in many sectors as a result of the increase in foreign direct investments in tourism. The “ Atithi Devo Bhava ” programme, introduced by the Government of India , teaches all the parties the value of tourists and tourist places. It teaches people to appreciate the importance of preserving nature, culture, heritage, and hospitality in particular.

Since 2002, the Indian government has launched the Incredible India campaign to promote tourism. The campaign showcased different facets of the country, including art, music, yoga, spirituality, India’s unique culture, and so on. Because India is so diverse, there are numerous options for travellers who want to visit India. There are several varieties of tourism in India, including cultural tourism, historic tourism, spiritual tourism, religious tourism, health tourism, yoga tourism, eco-tourism, and many other types of tourism. Sports tourism, village tourism, adventure tourism, and recreational tourism are just a few examples.

According to Foley and Lennon (1996) , dark tourism is a form of tourism that involves travelling to locations associated with death and disaster. People are increasingly interested in dark tourism in recent years because of their strong curiosity about death (Lennon & Foley, 2000). Dark tourism is still a fresh concept for the tourism industry. The idea behind heritage tourism is to combine history, heritage, tourism, and suffering (Niemela, 2010). Places that have endured social and political upheavals or conflicts or remember tragic historical significance and emotional resonance are considered to be part of this category. These destinations were formerly used as a location for a very violent act in a very dark period in history. Because of this, they are known as black tourism or grief tourism. Stone opened the Institute for Dark Tourism Research (iDTR) as the world’s first academic centre in this field.

Dark Tourism may also be experienced in a variety of ways, such as:

#1. Grave tourism #2. Prison and Persecution site tourism #3. Natural disaster area tourism #4. Modern Political sites #5. Industrial Disasters

In roman era, audiences took keen interest in gladiator fights and enjoyed them with full enthusiasm, which is evident from the fact that from medieval times to the nineteenth century, there used to be large gatherings whenever there was any public execution. It can also be seen from the facts that from medieval times to the nineteenth century, audiences took keen interest in public executions and enjoyed them with full enthusiasm. As Rome’s Colosseum was the first location of dark tourism for those interested in tourism linked to death and destruction, the first research on the topic was published in an international journal of science of cultural and heritage in 1996.

According to researchers, dark tourism involves psychological exploration of tourists, but pilgrimage has a sacred function. Dark tourism is commonly connected with heinous historical events and might be focused on simply obtaining social and economic status. In the present day, dark tourism has developed into one of the most desirable sorts of tourism. Auschwitz Concentration Camp, Poland, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, Ground Zero, New York City, the United States, Cu Chi Tunnels, Saigon, Vietnam, are a few of the world’s most renowned dark tourism locations.

The seven suppliers or seven foundations of dark tourism are as follows:

#1. Dark Fun Factories: These are locations that provide thrills by focusing on the superficial deaths caused by business and financial principles. They have good tourist infrastructure. For example, the Dracula Park in Romania.

#2. Dark Exhibitions: This idea provides tourists with death-related experiences but only for educational and learning purposes. There are locations, sites, and exhibits that display death and suffering.

#3. Dark Dungeons: These are the places and sites that are defined as criminal history and mistreatment. These are again places that purely educate tourists on history of destination. For example, prisons

#4. Dark Shrines: They are not so popular websites. They are located nearby to the sites of death and misery. They look very brutal and are certainly not at all eye-catching. They are visited only to pay respect to the deceased.

#5. Dark Resting Places: To pay respect to the loved ones, these are usually visited cemeteries and graveyards.

#6. Dark Conflict Sites: These are destinations that are linked to significant events in history. Battles were fought at these locations, and now they draw significant numbers of visitors. An example is the Battle of Jhansi.

#7. Dark places of mass killing: There are sites where there is suffering, death, and atrocities, and these are grouped into the darkest and lightest sites.

One can glean from this information that fears, insecurity, love, humanity, sympathy, and superiority are some of the psychological motivations that lead tourists to visit dark locations and sights.

Must Read: Unheard and Unprotected Mystery of Bijapur, Is in Need of Attention! by Navya.M.S

List of places where people go to experience the dark tourism places in India The history of India is so rich that dark tourism is sure to be popular. From natural disasters, wars, civilizations, poverty, cultural diversity, kingdoms and empires, superstitions, and freedom struggles, India has seen all sorts of unfortunate things. There is therefore a lot of potential for dark tourism in the country. There are plenty of destinations that could be marketed as dark tourist spots, particularly those that have witnessed some kind of event in the past. By drawing in large numbers of domestic and foreign travellers, these places can be made into dark places for tourists.

In India, deep tourism is focused on ghastly places.

#1. Bhangarh Fort Rajasthan-

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Om Shakti Tv (@omshaktitv)

#2. Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar-

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Col Rajvir Sharma(SSB Trainer) (@col.rajvir.sharma)

#3. Dumas Beach, Gujarat-

View this post on Instagram A post shared by shabaj_shah_ (@shabaj_shah_)

#4. Three Kings Church, Goa-

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shaharyaar.com (@shaharyaar_com)

Calangute Beach Goa: Top Attractions, Things to Do, and Best Time to Visit

#5. Roopkund, Uttarakhand –

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Himanshu Nagpal (@beingtraveler)

Must Read: 31 Best Treks in the Himalayas You Must Do in 2022

#6. Shaniwarwada, Pune-

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tushar Asodekar (@tusharasodekar)

#7. Cellular Jail, Andaman Nikobar Island-

View this post on Instagram A post shared by no one (@jani_babu_01)

#8. Tajmahal Palace Hotel Mumbai-

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mohammed Shafeeque (@shafeequealimalik)

Must Read: 3 Places in Kolkata to Scare You to the Core!

The problems that Dark Tourism in India is facing There are several locations throughout India that are considered to be negatively viewed by society. These locations are known as dark tourism destinations, and they represent significant areas of death and destruction in India’s history. The motive of tourists is to explore the psychological effects of visiting these sites, which creates a difficulty for people to accept. There is a lack of understanding and knowledge about dark tourism, and also a difficulty with regard to cultural values, ethics, and values and morals of the people of India, which has prevented it from being marketed well. Dark tourism locations are not well promoted, and there are no proper services for tourists at these places. Because they are not well advertised, they are not accessible to tourists. The Indian department of tourism has not established policies for dark tourism sites.

Conclusion The aim of the article is to discover the foundations of dark tourism. People are becoming increasingly fascinated by dark tourism, which is aiding to boost tourism and contribute to socio-economic development. This kind of tourism is often associated with other aspects. Dark tourism encompasses a variety of sites with little or no connection, which makes them popular. The report says that there is still a problem of values and ethics when it comes to promoting dark tourism in India. Graduate students and undergraduates of tourism studies can also now include dark tourism in their curriculum. It is also drawing the attention of PhD researchers. Dark tourism has become a frequent topic for magazine articles and newspaper write-ups due to its visibility. Places that are not particularly attractive to tourists because of various reasons may boost their economy through tourism by promoting dark destinations as a tourist destination. Very little literature on dark tourism is available, so a small study was done on Indian tourism.

Author Bio – Mrs. Priyanka Shetty Assistant Professor, Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth Department of Hotel Management

The article you are viewing was written by Priyanka Shetty and first appeared on International Journal of Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity .

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Must-visit dark tourism sites in India where you need more wits than money

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Photo of Must-visit dark tourism sites in India where you need more wits than money by Anshul Sharma

Most of our travel plans are all about witnessing modern marvels, taking in natural beauty, experiencing local food, culture, indulging in adventure activities, strolling past architectural wonders and what not. But if you are the one who gets excited at the very idea of exploring dark tourism sites in India without being harsh on your pocket, then this is the piece for you.

So, take a chance to experience some of the best sites for dark tourism in India that have seen the worst of mankind, and nature.

Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar

A trip to Amritsar usually means visiting the beautiful Golden Temple or witnessing the fiery Wagah Border ceremonial parade for most travellers. But if you wish to delve into the dark past of Amritsar, you must visit Jallianwala Bagh. It's the same public park where a crowd of peaceful protesters and innocent people, who gathered to celebrate Baisakhi, was sprayed with bullets by heavily armed British troops.

There is also a well in the park, now known as Martyr's Well. It's believed that many people jumped into this deep well to escape the relentless bullets, only to lose their lives by drowning or suffocating. The signs and markings in the park might just make you relive the chilling events that took place decades back.

How to get there: The nearest airport and railway station, both are in Amritsar. The site is well connected by road as well, which means taxis, autos, and private vehicles can be great options.

Best time to visit: October to December as the weather is friendlier.

Timings: 06:30 am to 7:30 pm

Entry fee: Free of cost

Kuladhara Village, Jaisalmer

The ruins that you see in this picture was once a town of 83 villages in the early 19th century. The astounding truth is, all of the 83 villages were abandoned overnight in the year 1825, without any obvious reasons. The legend says that the villagers took the extreme step because of evil demands of the then prime minister Salim Singh.

Now in ruins, the lonesome and eerie looking Kuladhara vicinity must have been a beautiful place to live a couple of centuries ago. But one thought about the fact that so many people decided to leave their homes forever in the dead of night might intrigue and scare you at the same time. Kuladhara can really be a great alternative to Bhangarh Fort.

How to get there: Nearest railway station is in Jaisalmer, about 18km from Kuladhara village. You can get taxis from the railway station to reach the village. The nearest airport, too, is in Jaisalmer.

Best time to visit: October to February as the weather stays mild during the day (08:00 am to 4:00 pm)

Timings: 24 hours

Cellular Jail, Port Blair

Established in the year 1906, Cellular Jail at Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar Islands is a huge structure with a number of individual cells built with a clear idea of torturing the prisoners while keeping them in solitary confinement.

The Cellular Jail, also formerly known as Kaala Paani, served as the perfect place by the colonial rulers to isolate, punish and torture people who were involved in carrying out struggles related to India's independence. It's the grim reminder of what cost we won our freedom at.

How to get there: The best way to reach Port Blair is by air. Daily flights connect Andaman & Nicobar Islands with almost all major Indian cities like New Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata and more.

Best time to visit: October to April

Timings: 09:00 am to 1:00 pm, and 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Entry fee: ₹30 per person approx.

Roopkund Lake, Uttarakhand

For all those who have never heard of Roopkund Lake trek before, the first impressions might be "How can something this picturesque and serene be related to Dark Tourism in India?" But when nature and man cross paths, unbelievable things happen. Also known as Skeleton Lake, it's an example of the same.

Located at an elevation of over 5,000 metres above sea level, draped in dazzling snow for a major part of the year, the frozen Roopkund Lake is home to around 200 human skeletal remains. The presence of so many skeletons in such a small area remained a mystery until scientists recently concluded that they belonged to humans from the 9th century who somehow got injured and froze to death in the lake. How they all got injured at the same time still remains a mystery though.

How to get there: The Roopkund Lake trek starts from Karnaprayag in Uttarakhand, which is connected to Rishikesh and Haridwar by road. Railway stations in Rishikesh and Kathgodam can be convenient for those travelling by train. Dehradun Airport, located at a distance of around 190km, is the nearest airport.

Best time to visit: May to June, September to October

Timings: NA

Entry fee: Nil

Gandhi Smriti, New Delhi

The place where India's most famous freedom fighter, Mahatma Gandhi, was assassinated can never be left out of any list mentioning the major dark tourism sites in India. It was the place where India's greatest independence activist spent his last days post freedom.

Formerly known as Birla House, Gandhi Smriti is a museum in the heart of Delhi where various things related to his everyday life have been preserved, including his living room. The picture above shows the paved path he last walked on before he was shot dead at 5:17 pm on January 30, 1948.

How to get there: New Delhi Railway Station and IGI Airport are entry points for those travelling into Delhi by train and flight, respectively. The site is well connected to the roads that connect state and national highways. The nearest metro stations to Gandhi Smriti are Lok Kalyan Marg Metro Station, Udyog Bhavan Metro Station

Best time to visit: Any time

Timings: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (closed on Mondays)

Kargil War Memorial, Drass

Kargil War Memorial at the foot of the Tololing Hill in Drass sector is a blunt reminder of the Indian soldiers who laid down their lives during the Indo-Pak war of 1999. Such is the mysterious gravity of the gloom here that you would just not be able to take in the other-worldly natural beauty that surrounds the memorial.

The mere task of reaching the memorial from your city would be enough to give you a hint of the grim reality the soldiers must have faced while fighting for more than 60 days during that bloody war. There is also a museum which preserves guns, kits, tools, pictures of martyred soldiers, and more. If nothing, the writing on the gate is bound to fill you with sadness, pride, and respect.

How to get there: It's at the National Highway 1-D that connects Srinagar with Leh. You can get taxis or drive yourself to the memorial if you are going to take the road. Airport in Leh is the nearest airport at 270km. Jammu Tawi Station at 236km is the nearest railway station.

Best time to visit: June to October

Timings : 07:00 am to 7:00 pm

Taj Mahal, Agra

Taj Mahal is one of the greatest wonders of the world. The UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its grandeur, beauty, marvellous architecture, and what not! But wait, India is a land of some mind-boggling contradictions and Taj Mahal is no exception.

If you are a dark tourism enthusiast, you can find a lot about Taj Mahal that has never seen the spotlight. Besides the current sorry state of Yamuna river right behind the Taj, the smoggy environment, the utter poverty, it served as the final resting place for the Emperor Shah Jahan's beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. Moreover, it is believed that Emperor Shah Jahan spent his last days in captivity by gazing at this masterpiece from a small window.

How to get there: Taj Mahal is 13, 6.5, and 3.5km from the nearest airport, railway station and bus stand in Agra, respectively.

Best time to visit: October to March

Timings: 30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes before sunset (closed on Friday for prayers)

Entry fee: ₹250 for Indian citizens & ₹1,300 for foreigners.

If not for dark tourism sites, we would never know or understand the realities of the past which gave us what we have today and took away from us what we had in the past.

Let us know if you have something to add to this in the comments section below. If have already visited some thought-provoking dark tourism site in India, share your own story here . Click on this link to watch amazing travel videos by Tripoto community on YouTube .

Need travel inspiration for the new year? Click here to go around the world in 2020!

What you should know about the rise of dark tourism

(Hint: It’s not all bad)

Abandoned amusement park in Pripyat near Chernobyl

From the Roman Colosseum, where death was a spectator sport, to Halloween’s ancient origins in a Celtic festival of the dead, people have been drawn to death and tragedy for centuries.

But it wasn’t until the 1990s that a group of academics who were studying sites associated with the assassination of JFK gave this fascination with the macabre a name: dark tourism.

In more recent years, so-called dark tourism sites such as the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City and Auschwitz-Birkenau, the former Nazi death camp in southern Poland, have noticed an increase in visitors. And since HBO aired its popular miniseries about the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster, tour operators have reported an uptick in the number of visitors to the Chernobyl exclusion zone.

So what exactly is dark tourism?

According to IUPUI associate professor of tourism Suosheng Wang, the term dark tourism describes the phenomenon of people traveling to sites of death and disaster, whether man-made or natural. It is also known as “milking the macabre,” the “dark side of tourism,” “thanatourism” and “tragedy tourism.”

Though dark tourism can seem like a particularly irksome form of voyeurism, it’s not that straightforward, Wang said.

“We cannot simply say dark tourism is a good or bad thing, which wholly depends on how dark tourism is organized and how the local communities think of developing dark tourism at dark sites,” Wang said. “On one hand, the original purpose of dark tourism sites is for visitors to memorialize the victims and receive education to ensure the ‘never again’ hope. This is why most of these sites are presented as sites of remembrance for heritage, education or history.”

On the other hand, after a disaster, dark tourism can put local people in a painful or uncomfortable situation, he said. When one’s hometown is turned into a site of tragic disaster, it serves as a constant reminder of the tragedy and can prevent one from moving beyond the disaster.

“In the transition from a place of past disaster to a place as a dark tourism destination, death is presented as entertainment,” Wang said. “Such dissonance is an integral and unavoidable characteristic of dark tourism, and the stigma of death and tragedy may be distasteful to the local residents.”

One reason Wang said we’ve seen a rise in dark tourism is because the number of disasters in the world is increasing too.

This means that developing a better understanding of dark tourism has become increasingly important as well, because it can play a crucial role in disaster recovery efforts – particularly in developing countries, where dark tourism can stimulate and empower a community in mourning, he said.

It’s complicated, however, because although dark tourism can be a much-needed driver of economic recovery for sites of past disasters, there’s a fine line to walk between memorializing the dead and exploiting human suffering for financial gain.

Wang said there are typically two kinds of dark tourism sites – commercialized and noncommercialized – and two kinds of dark tourists: schadenfreude tourists, who glean a secret pleasure from seeing others’ misfortune, and thanatopsis tourists, who are interested in contemplating the meaning of the loss of life. The schadenfreude tourists tend to be criticized for snapping selfies, staying in luxurious hotels and eating fine food near the places of past suffering, while the thanatopsis tourists tend to care more about preserving the dark tourism site as sacred and reject attempts to develop commercial activities on the site.

It is this convergence of the opposing motivations of dark tourists, mixed with the needs and cultures of the communities where the dark sites reside, that creates such an interesting backdrop for the moral quandaries raised by dark tourism.

“Critics argue that dark tourism is commodifying the sufferings of the past for the financial gains of the present,” Wang said. “The onsite interpretation of a dark site can be overshadowed by commercialized representations, and the past tragedy becomes a site of commodity consumption.”

For example, the dark attraction Auschwitz has swelled with tourist numbers and catalyzed economic activity in the region. But the souvenirs sold around the 9/11 Memorial in New York risk the kitschification of dark tourism, he said.

“Dark tourism provides a significant tourism experience while at the same time raising new anxieties and ethical dilemmas,” Wang said. “Doubtlessly, it is a challenging issue for tourism management organizations or local communities to develop dark tourism at dark sites.”

Andrea Zeek

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7 unexplored places in Chennai to surprise and wow you

Let’s surprise you with these 7 unexplored places in chennai. are you bored of visiting the cliched parks, hotels and beaches in chennai then you surely should check out these amazing places within the city. let’s unravel these amazing places….

Hidden lake

Like how Alibaba was shocked to find treasure behind the doors of the dark cave, you will be surprised to see this vast and glassy lake encircled by a large quarry mountain in Thirusulam hills which is approximately 1 km from the airport.

Even many of the locals aren’t aware of the existence of this grey beauty. It is said that the lake was formed after the quarries were abandoned. To reach the Hidden lake, you have to trek through the Thirusulam hills.

Thirusulam hills

Thirusulam hills, situated right behind Thirusulam railway station, are visible when you travel through the airport metro or in airport flyover. Considered one of the tallest hills in the city, this scenic mountain region will offer you an adventuresome hiking experience.

Tie your shoes, grab a water bottle and your best buds to walk through the hills. You will also have a breath-taking view of the Thirusulam- Pallavaram area and get to view the hidden lake.

Underwater tunnel

aquarium tunnel 1580137044LzJ edited 7 unexplored places in Chennai to surprise and wow you

For Chennaiites, the sea is something that is extremely close to their hearts. Most people would have seen various types of sea creatures in fish markets and as a tasty food in their plate.

But have you experienced walking amidst the fishes anywhere in India?

Located nearly 20 kms away from the city, a 40-minute drive will take you to this place at Injambakkam.

Not just the underwater tunnel, the aquarium with 5 aquatic zones, a touch-pool exhibit and a live feeding show will also attract your attention.

This place also houses some of the rarest and near-extinct aquatic species making it a conservation place besides being an attraction site.

Broken Bridge

Broken things can be beautiful, just like this bridge. Standing on the Adyar river and situated next to Elliot’s beach. The bridge was built across the Adyar estuary, at the rear of the Theosophical Society to help fishermen cross from Santhome Beach to Elliot’s beach over the mouth of the Adyar river.

The bridge collapsed in 1977 due to the river currents and was never reconstructed again which has made it a spectacular location. Sunrise and sunsets falling on the river below the bridge are some breathtaking views that are worth the long walk from the beach but since it is a little remote, it’s not recommended to visit after dark.

As you stand mesmerised by the serenity of the moonlight on the waves, another light far away from a tall red and white building manages to grab your attention.

Standing tall on Kamarajar Salai and facing the majestic sea, it serves as a navigational aid, warns boats of the dangerous area and also allows the visitors to seize the exquisite beauty of the merge of the land and the water.

People usually spend time at the beach and fail to experience the beauty of the sea from this place.

No other place in the city can give you an incredible view of the city and the sea like the lighthouse does.

Also, this is one of the very few lighthouses with an elevator in it. So, no worries for people who find it difficult to climb the stairs. The beauty is open to all.

Adyar Theosophical society

Situated near the banks of Adyar river, the Theosophical society formed in New York on 17 November 1875, and started at Chennai (Madras) on 3 April 1905 aims to serve humanity by cultivating an ever-deepening understanding and realization of the Ageless Wisdom, spiritual self-transformation, and the unity of all life.

Even if you are not a person who is interested in Wisdom teachings and theology, you can visit this place just to get drenched in the crisp air and tranquillity.

Located amid the concrete buildings and flyovers, this green lush location is a must-visit for all nature lovers.

The big banyan tree which is much older than the place and the white Buddhist Shrine makes the place worth the visit.

Free yourself from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm on weekdays and Saturday to experience this serenity.

Kasimedu pier beach

Among the many beaches in Chennai, this place in the north Chennai is unique on its own. Here, the sea and the land are separated by big rocks and with no waves, the water looks still, with the beautiful reflection of the boats that are lined up on the shore.

If you are not a fan of the stalls and crowd on beaches like Marina and Elliot, you can drive north and reach this place. After crossing the smell of fishes and the noises of the fish vendors, you will be welcomed by this serene beauty. After a nice walk along the beach, don’t forget to buy some fresh fish here for your lunch!

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Dark tourism: motivations and visit intentions of tourists

International Hospitality Review

ISSN : 2516-8142

Article publication date: 8 July 2021

Issue publication date: 14 June 2022

The overall purpose of this study is to utilize the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) in combination with four dark tourism constructs (dark experience, engaging entertainment, unique learning experience, and casual interest) to gain a better understanding of behaviors and intentions of tourists who have visited or plan to visit a dark tourism location.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 1,068 useable questionnaires was collected via Qualtrics Panels for analysis purposes. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was used to verify satisfactory reliability and validity regarding the measurement of model fit. With adequate model fit, structural equation modeling was employed to determine positive and negative relationships between TPB and dark tourism constructs. In all, 11 hypotheses statements were tested within this study.

Results of this study indicate that tourists are curious, interested, and intrigued by dark experiences with paranormal activity, resulting in travel choices made for themselves based on personal beliefs and preferences, with minimal outside influence from others. It was determined that dark experience was the most influential of the dark tourism constructs tested in relationship to attitudes and subjective norm.

Research limitations/implications

The data collected for this study were collected using Qualtrics Panels with self-reporting participants. The actual destination visited by survey participants was also not factored into the results of this research study.

Originality/value

This study provides a new theoretical research model that merges TPB and dark tourism constructs and established that there is a relationship between TPB constructs and dark tourism.

Dark tourism

Thanatourism
Motivations
Theory of planned behaviour

Lewis, H. , Schrier, T. and Xu, S. (2022), "Dark tourism: motivations and visit intentions of tourists", International Hospitality Review , Vol. 36 No. 1, pp. 107-123. https://doi.org/10.1108/IHR-01-2021-0004

Emerald Publishing Limited

Published in International Hospitality Review . Published by Emerald Publishing Limited. This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) licence. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this licence may be seen at http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode

Introduction

Dark tourism is defined as the act of tourists traveling to sites of death, tragedy, and suffering ( Foley and Lennon, 1996 ). This past decade marks a significant growth of dark tourism with increasing number of dark tourists ( Lennon and Foley, 2000 ; Martini and Buda, 2018 ). More than 2.1 million tourists visited Auschwitz Memorial in 2018 (visitor numbers, 2019), and 3.2 million tourists visited the Ground Zero 9/11 Memorial annually (a year in review, 2017). Despite of the increasing popularity, there is still limited understanding of dark tourism as a multi-faceted phenomenon ( Biran et al. , 2011 ) . Some research has looked into the motivations and experience of dark tourists ( Poria et al. , 2004 ; Poria et al. , 2006 ). However, most were based on conceptual frameworks and arguments with little empirical data, even less have examined tourist visit intentions to dark tourism sites ( Zhang et al. , 2016 ), let alone the association between dark tourists' motivations and visit intentions. Many scholars suggested the pressing needs for empirical research into dark tourism from tourist perspectives to understand their motivations and experiences ( Seaton and Lennon, 2004 ; Sharpley and Stone, 2009 ; Zhang et al. , 2016 ). Of the limited empirical dark tourism studies, most were case studies with historical battlefields and concentration camps being the hot spots ( Le and Pearce, 2011 ; Lennon and Foley, 1999 ; Miles, 2002 ). Still, a comprehensive understanding of dark tourists' motivations and their intentions to visit is lacking.

As such, this study was conducted to understand both the motivations and visit intentions of tourists to dark tourism destinations. Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) constructs ( attitudes, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control) and the four dark tourism dimensions (i.e. dark experience, engaging entertainment, unique learning experience, and casual interest ) were utilized to address the following objectives: (1) examine the motivations of dark tourists; (2) investigate the intentions of the dark tourists to visit a dark tourism destination in the next 12 months; and (3) explore the association between the motivations and visit intentions of dark tourists. The dark tourism dimensions utilized for this study were adapted supported by previous dark tourism studies ( Biran et al. , 2014 ; Bissell, 2009 ; Lam and Hsu, 2006 ; Molle and Bader, 2014 ). While many studies have utilized TPB in the past, this study will utilize the TPB to focus attention on why travelers are motivated to visit dark tourism locations specifically.

Literature review

Travels associated with death dates back for centuries ( Dale and Robinson, 2011 ). Early examples of dark tourism include Roman gladiator games, guided tours to watch hangings in England, and pilgrimages to medieval executions ( Stone, 2006 ). Even today, many tourists are fascinated with and thus visited sites of death and tragedy such as the John F. Kennedy's death site in Dallas, Texas, and the Ground Zero 9/11 Memorial in New York ( Foley and Lennon, 1996 ; Strange and Kempa, 2003 ). Abandoned prisons and sites of punishment and incarcerations are also popular attractions among dark tourists (e.g., Pentridge in Melbourne, Australia; Foley and Lennon, 1996 ). However, the term dark tourism did not get introduced to the research community until 1996 which ignited many later research efforts on this topic ( Light, 2017 ).

Dark tourism is defined as the act of tourists traveling to sites of death, tragedy, and suffering ( Foley and Lennon, 1996 ). Many scholars also came up with other terms and labels to describe such phenomenon including thanatourism ( Seaton, 1996 ), disaster tourism ( Rojek, 1993 ), black spot tourism ( Rojek, 1993 ), morbid tourism ( Blom, 2000 ) and even phoenix tourism ( Powell et al. , 2018 ). Mowatt and Chancellor (2011) suggested that despite of different names, at the heart of the concept is travel to places of death that are often linked to violence ( Robb, 2009 ). Many researchers use the term dark tourism and thanatourism interchangeably, while more tend to use dark tourism as an umbrella term for any form of tourism that is somehow related to death, suffering, atrocity, tragedy or crime ( Light, 2017 ). Given the standard use of the term dark tourism in the practice and scholarship of tourism, such a term will be used throughout this manuscript.

Dark tourism research in this past two decades mainly covers six themes including the discussion on definition, concepts, and typologies; the associated ethical issues; the political and ideological dimensions; the nature of demand for dark tourism locations; site management; and the methods used for research ( Light, 2017 ). The area of terminology and definitions undoubtedly dominates in the dark tourism literature ( Zhang et al. , 2016 ). While in the area of exploring the nature of demand for dark tourism locations, the relatively limited research concentrated in four aspects – both the motivations and experiences of dark tourists, the relationship between visiting and sense of identity, and new approaches to theorizing the consumption of dark tourism ( Light, 2017 ).

Research addressing dark tourists' motivations were relatively slow. Many early studies simply postulate and propose tourists' motivations to visit dark tourism sites, with a lack of empirical research to support ( Light, 2017 ). As such, many studies in the past decade examined dark tourists' motivations through different case studies, with concentration camps or historical battlefields being the hot spots ( Lennon and Foley, 1999 ; Miles, 2002 ). Research reveals that tourists visit dark tourism destinations for a wide variety of reasons, such as curiosity ( Biran et al. , 2014 ; Isaac and Cakmak, 2014 ), desire for education and learning about what happened at the site ( Kamber et al. , 2016 ; Yan et al. , 2016 ), interest in history or death ( Yankholmes and McKercher, 2015 ; Raine, 2013 ), connecting with one's personal or family heritage ( Mowatt and Chancellor, 2011 ; Le and Pearce, 2011 ). Drawing from literature, four common themes (i.e. dark experience, engaging entertainment, unique learning experience, casual interest) emerged, served as the foundational pillars for this study, and were discussed below.

The motivation construct

Dark experience.

Raine's (2013) dark tourist spectrum study of tourists visiting burial grounds and graveyards concluded that mourners and pilgrims had personal and spiritual connections to the different sites being studied. Mourners visited specific gravesites and usually would perform meditations for the dead. Pilgrims had a personal connection to specific burial sites in some way, whether it is a religious connection to the individual or they served as a personal hero ( Raine, 2013 ). Death rites are often performed as a ritual not necessarily to mark the passing of the deceased but rather to heal the wounds of families, communities, societies, and/or nations by the deceased's passing ( Bowman and Pezzullo, 2009 ).

Additionally, Raine's (2013) study discovered another subset of tourists—the morbidly curious and thrill seekers. Those classified as morbidly curious or thrill seekers were visiting burial sites to confront and experience death. Whether a mourner or pilgrim or the morbidly curious thrill seeker, the tourists had a strong connection to the dead they were there to visit which could categorize them as seeking a dark experience.

To take dark tourism to the extreme, Miller and Gonzalez (2013) completed a study on death tourism. Death tourism occurs when individuals travel to a location to end their lives, often through a means of assisted medical suicide. It was determined that this is still a taboo topic for some countries where it is not legalized, however it is gaining more publicity. It was determined that death tourism is typically the result of one of four reasons; the primary reason death tourism is planned is because of assisted suicide being illegal in the traveler's home country ( Miller and Gonzalez, 2013 ). While death tourism does not directly apply to this particular study, it is an offspring of dark tourism and is a tourist activity that is related to dark experience.

Dark Experience will have a positive relationship with Attitudes

Dark Experience will have a positive relationship with Subjective Norm

Engaging Entertainment

Engaging Entertainment will have a positive relationship with Attitudes

Engaging Entertainment will have a positive relationship with Subjective Norm

Unique learning experience

Unique Learning Experience will have a positive relationship with Attitudes

Unique Learning Experience will have a positive relationship with Subjective Norm

Casual interest

Casual Interest will have a positive relationship with Attitudes

Casual Interest will have a positive relationship with Subjective Norm

The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB)

Behavioral intention, defined as an individual's anticipated or planned future behavior ( Swan, 1981 ), has been suggested as a central factor that correlates strongly with observed behavior ( Baloglu, 2000 ). Many believed that intentions serve as an immediate antecedent to actual behavior ( Fishbein and Ajzen, 1975 ; Konu and Laukkanen, 2010 ). Fishbein and Ajzen developed the Theory of planned behavior (TPB) base on three constructs: attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) has been widely used in tourism research ( Ajzen and Driver, 1992 ; Han et al. , 2010 ; Han and Kim, 2010 ; Lam and Hsu, 2004 , 2006 ). TPB suggests that individuals are more likely to engage in behaviors that are believed to be achievable ( Armitage and Conner, 2001 ). Ajzen (1991) suggested that attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control are important to predict intention. Perceived behavioral control is what influences the tourists' intentions and their perception of their ability to perform a specific behavior.

Lam and Hsu (2004) utilized the TPB to examine motivations of travelers from mainland China to Hong Kong and found that attitude, perceived behavioral control, and past behaviors were directly related to travel intentions. In another study examining the visit intentions of Taiwanese travelers to Hong Kong, Lam and Hsu (2006) found that a positive association between visit frequency and re-visit intention.

Cheng et al. (2006) used the TPB to examine the negative word-of-mouth communication on visit intentions of Chinese consumers to high-class Chinese restaurants. It was determined from their study that the TPB constructs were positively impacted by negative word-of-mouth indicating that the TPB effectively measured consumer communication intention. Similarly, Han and Kim (2010) modified the TPB in the investigation of customers' intention to revisit environmentally friendly hotels and found that past behavior was a significant predictor of intention–the more customers stay at a green hotel, the more likely they intend to revisit. It can be concluded from previous research efforts that the TPB can be utilized to effectively measure behavioral intentions of tourists successfully.

Motivation and intentions

Attitudes will have a positive relationship with Intention

Subjective Norm will have a negative relationship with Intention

Perceived Behavioral Control will have a positive relationship with Intention

Methodology

Survey instrument.

A survey questionnaire was developed to collect information on the socio-demographic background, motivation construct, and planned behavior construct from tourists. Socio-demographic data queried were age in years (continuous), gender (3 categories, male, female and prefer not to answer), level of education (9 categories, from less than high school degree to doctoral degree), marital status (5 categories, from single to widow/widower), personal annual income (12 categories, from less than $20,000 to more than $200,000). Tourists' home residence state and country were also collected.

A dark tourism motivation construct was developed based on previous studies ( Biran et al. , 2014 ; Bissell, 2009 ; Lam and Hsu, 2006 ; Molle and Bader, 2014 ), and used to query previous visit and potential visit separately using a five-point Likert scale (“1 = extremely unimportant”; “5 = extremely important”). This motivation construct consists of 33 item statements from four dimensions ( Table 1 ) which include engaging entertainment, dark experience , unique learning experience , and casual interest . Dark experience consisted of nine statements, related to death, fascination with abnormal and/or bizarre events and destinations, and emotional experiences with a connection to death (e.g., “to travel”, “to have some entertainment”). Engaging entertainment was measured using ten statements that inquire about the personal or emotional connection to the destination they have visited or wish to visit in the future (e.g., “to witness the act of death and dying”, “to experience paranormal activity”). Unique learning experience focused on learning about the history of the destination being visited or trying something that is different and out of the ordinary (eight items, e.g., “to try something new”, “to increase knowledge”). Casual interest focuses on individuals who want to visit a dark tourism destination for the entertainment value but want to have a relaxing time while doing so (six items, “special tour promotions”, “natural scenery”).

The planned behavior construct queried on four dimensions (i.e., attitudes , subjective norms , perceived behavioral control , and behavioral intentions ) associated with visiting dark tourism destinations, with a total of 16 item statements ( Table 2 ). Five item statements were used to measure dark tourists' attitudes (e.g., “visiting a dark tourism destination is enjoyable”, “visiting a dark tourism destination is pleasant”) and behavioral intentions (e.g., “I will visit a dark tourism destination in the next 12 months”, “I would revisit the most recent dark tourism destination I visited again in the future”) respectively, using a five-point Likert scale (“1 = Strongly disagree”; “5 = Strongly agree”). Dark tourists' perceived behavioral control was measured by three item statements (e.g., “I am in control of whether or not I visit a dark tourism destination”, “If wanted, I could easily afford to visit a dark tourism destination”), using the same five-point Likert scale (“1 = Strongly disagree”; “5 = Strongly agree”). For subjective norms dimension, each of the three item statements was measured by a different five-point Likert scale. The statement that “most people I know would choose a dark tourism destination for vacation purposes” uses the scale in which “1 = strongly disagree”, “5 = strongly agree”. One item statement asks individuals to rate on whether “people who are important to me think I ____ choose a dark tourism destination to visit” “1 = definitely should not”, “5 = definitely should”). Another statement asks individuals to rate whether “people who are important to me would ___ of my visit to a dark tourism destination” “1 = definitely disapprove”, “5 = definitely approve”).

Sampling and procedure

To increase the reliability and validity of the survey, a pilot study was conducted. A small group of industry professionals from all over the country currently working at dark tourism destinations and other academic researchers were invited to critique the initial draft of the survey. Forty-one individuals took the survey instrument and provided feedback (e.g., some wording issues). After revisions from the pilot study were completed, the survey was launched, and data was collected.

Qualtrics, a web-based survey software company with access to an electronic database of survey candidates, was used to administer this questionnaire to participants. A total of 44,270 invitations were randomly sent to Qualtrics panel participants requesting participation in this study. Qualification of participants was completed by requesting all survey recipients answer the following questions: (1) Have you visited a dark tourism location within the past 24 months? and (2) Do you plan to visit a dark tourism location within the next 12 months? A statement was provided to all participants explaining what consisted of a dark tourism location to ensure participants were not taking the survey based on experiences of activities like haunted houses or haunted hayrides. Only 3,907 individuals were eligible to complete the survey, and a total of 1,068 participants did complete the survey, which yields a response rate of 27.3%. Altogether 651 out of 1,068 individuals had previously visited a dark tourism destination within the last 24 months while the remaining 417 individuals plan to visit a dark tourism destination within the next 12 months.

Data analysis included descriptive statistics, reliability tests, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and structural equation modeling (SEM). Descriptive statistics were used to outline respondents' characteristics (e.g., demographic composition). CFA was utilized to evaluate the measurement model, demonstrate adequate model fit, and ensure satisfactory levels of reliability and validity of underlying variables and their respective factors. Factor loadings greater than 0.70 indicated that the constructs are appropriately represented and considered acceptable ( Hair et al. , 2010 ). Cronbach's alphas were computed to test the internal reliability of items comprising each dimension of the dark tourism motivation construct ( dark experience , engaging entertainment , unique learning experience , casual interest ) and the planned behavior construct ( attitudes , subjective norm , perceived behavioral control ), respectively. A cutoff value of 0.7 was utilized to determine “good” reliability ( Peterson, 1994 , p. 381).

To confirm measurement model validity, the chi-squared ( x 2 ) statistic, Root-Mean-Square-Error of Approximation (RMSEA), Comparative Fit Index (CFI), and the Standardized Root Mean Square Residual (SRMR) values were reviewed. Cutoff criteria used to determine “good fit” were RMSEA score < 0.08 ( Byrne, 1998 ), CFI scores > 0.90 ( Kline, 2005 ), SRMR < 0.08 to indicate a good fit ( Hu and Bentler, 1999 ).

Overwhelmingly, many tourists who had either visited a dark tourism location or plan to visit a dark tourism destination were female (65.4%). Additionally, the majority of participants were 25–34 years of age (44.2%) with the next largest age groups being 35–44 years (21%) and 18–24 years (20.9%). Most had either a 4-years Bachelor's degree from college (30.5%) or at least some college education but did not finish their degree (25.3%). 54.5% of the survey participants were married and 37.6% were single. As for income, the largest percentage (19.5%) had an individual annual income ranging from $20,001-$40,000. A full table of demographic characteristics of the participants can be seen in Table 3 .

Partial disaggregation of measurement model

SEM was utilized to investigate the relationships among dark tourism construct, the planned behavior construct and behavioral intentions. Like the CFA testing, the SEM also uses the chi-squared ( x 2 ) , RMSEA, SRMR, and CFI to determine overall model fit and relationships for this study. After further testing for convergent and discriminant validity, it was determined that all constructs met the composite reliability 0.70 or greater standard regarding the 3-parcel hypothesized model ( Table 4 ) ( Hair et al. , 2010 ).

There are several ways to parcel variables into groupings. For purposes of this study, the variables were parceled using the item-to-construct method since the SEM model was large in size and the goal was to have parcels balanced in terms of difficulty and discrimination ( Little et al. , 2002 ). To develop the parcels, standardized regression weights were evaluated, and the three highest scores served as anchors to each of the three parcels with the highest values associated to parcel 1, next highest to parcel 2, and then the next highest to parcel 3. The remainder of variables were placed into the parcels continuing with the 4th highest value placed into the 3rd parcel and repeating the process in inverted order until all variables were assigned into parcels. Once the variables for each construct were placed into appropriate parcel groupings, averages of the questions associated to the new parceled variables were calculated prior to the CFA and SEM analysis. The attitude and behavioral intention constructs had five variable questions, while subjective norm and perceived behavioral control only had three questions. In those situations, one individual variable question served as the parcel item. Table 2 shows the variables and the parcels in which they were grouped.

Additionally, the average variance extracted was calculated and proved to be less than the composite reliability for each construct indicating convergent reliability of the constructs. The average variance extracted was greater than the 0.50 standard for Dark Experience, Engaging Entertainment, Unique Learning Experience, Attitude, and Subjective Norm constructs. Behavioral Intention (0.49) and Casual Interest (0.48) had values that were borderline acceptable regarding convergent validity. The only construct that did not meet the standards of convergent validity testing was Perceived Behavioral Control (0.23). When testing for divergent validity, all square-root of average variance extracted calculations were greater than the inter-construct correlations indicating divergent validity was present in this study. Partial disaggregation of the variables resulted in a much stronger overall model fit. The RMSEA value was 0.08 indicating a strong model fit and the CFI (0.891) value was acceptable indicating a good model fit. The SRMR value (0.06, Table 4 ) also showed a strong model fit.

Hypothesis testing

Overall, most of the relationships between the dark tourism construct and the TPB constructs were significant. Results show that dark experience has a positive significant relationship with both attitudes (0.434) regarding tourists visiting a dark tourism destination and subjective norms (0.242, Table 5 ). Casual interest has a positive significant relationship with both attitudes (0.404) and subjective norm (0.330). Both engaging entertainment (−0.080; −0.217) and unique learning experience (0.152; −0.247) are not significantly associated with neither attitudes nor subjective norms . Results show that both attitudes (0.396) and perceived behavioral control (0.716) have a significant positive relationship with behavioral intention .

SEM testing was completed on the data. In addition to the significant and insignificant relationships indicated by the SEM testing, to answer some of the specific research questions asked by this study one must review the distinct question factor loadings to get those answers. A full set of the factor loadings of survey questions asked regarding dark tourism and TPB constructs are in Table 1 . A visualization of all hypothesis testing results is in Table 5 as well as on Figure 1 .

It can be concluded from the findings of this research that dark experience has a positive relationship with attitudes regarding tourists visiting a dark tourism location, indicating that Hypothesis 1 was fully supported. Tourists seek specific characteristics when choosing to visit a dark tourism destination. Akin to findings from Bissell (2009) , the reasons for visiting: I want to try something new and out of the ordinary as well as I am fascinated with abnormal and bizarre events were strong. Alone these two variables do not constitute wanting to experience dark tourism but suggest a curiosity about dark tourism and a desire for new experiences ( Seaton and Lennon, 2004 ). Individuals answered favorably to all questions related to interest in experiencing paranormal activity. Although Sharpley (2005) suggested “fascination with death” as a potential motive for tourists to visit dark tourism destinations, questions specifically related to death (i.e., to witness the act of death and dying , to satisfy personal curiosity about how the victims died ) , reveal that fascination with death and dying was not a strong motivating factor for the tourists' who participated in this research study. The positive relationships of dark experience with attitudes ( H1 ) and subjective norm ( H2 ) , respectively, implies that tourists are seeking experiences that satisfy curiosity or they are seeking interaction with the paranormal. Tourists seek a fun and enjoyable tourist experience by visiting dark tourism destinations, and do not feel pressured by societal norms of their friends and family, which may prevent them from visiting dark tourism destinations.

The engaging entertainment dimension regarding both attitude ( H3 ) and subjective ( H4 ) was not supported in this study, which is interesting considering the questions in this dimension were developed to determine the importance of the tourists connecting with the information presented at the destination while still having an enjoyable experience.

Like Raine (2013) , this study considered the unique learning experience dimension to include individuals who are hobbyists and are typically visiting these destinations solely for educational purposes and to not engage with the destination as a dark tourism site. To present an alternative consideration to the construct of unique learning experience, Seaton (1996) determined that the more attached a person was to a destination, the less likely they would be fascinated with death, resulting in the tourists not viewing the dark tourism destination as being “dark”. This thought process may be a possibility of explanation for why the relationships were negative between unique learning experience and the TPB constructs, resulting in both Hypothesis 5 and 6 not being supported. Farmaki (2013) strengthens this argument by determining that many tourists visit museums for the purpose of education, but museums will incorporate the concept of death to enhance the tourist experience.

Results from this study also indicate that participants of this study were not traveling to dark tourism destinations for educational purposes. Additionally, results indicate that individuals who were perhaps traveling for the purposes of unique learning experience had negative feelings or experiences with subjective norms, lending to the belief that their family and friends were not supportive of their choice to visit a dark tourism destination.

Raine (2013) discovered a group of tourists she classified as sightseers and passive recreationalists. These tourists can be themed as “incidental” as they were likely not seeking a dark tourism destination related to death and burials, but instead were looking for a destination to escape from everyday life. These statements can easily be supported by this research study as Hypotheses 7 and 8 were both positively supported in relationship to casual interest and attitudes ( H7 ) and subjective norm ( H8 ). The questions asked in this study specifically relate to value of tours, special promotions, and enjoying time with friends and family.

Individuals were seeking attitudinal experiences through their visits to dark tourism destinations, supporting Hypothesis 9 . Unlike the results from Lam and Hsu (2004) , subjective norms do play a role in behavioral intentions. This study found that the influence of societal norms and pressures do influence tourists' intention to visit dark tourism destinations, lending to Hypothesis 10 not being supported as expected. Regarding perceived behavioral control, when tourists feel capable and in control of their tourism choices, it will positively impact their behavioral intention or likelihood of visiting a dark tourism destination, supporting Hypothesis 11 .

Practical implications

Practitioners working in tourism industries and communities of dark tourism destinations can greatly benefit from the results of this study. Managers of dark tourism destinations must realize that visitors are attracted to these locations for many different reasons ( Bissell, 2009 ) and not just for fascination of death or paranormal activity. While this research does not focus specifically on individual motivating factors that influence behavior to visit, overarching attributes were determined to influence behavioral intentions more than others. The significant positive relationships found in this study between dark experience, unique learning experience, and casual interest suggest dark tourism destination managers offer a variety of tours and services to visitors and should be sensitive in how they display or present information so it does not come across as being offensive to tourists in the event they have strong emotional ties to the destination or individual(s) who may have been a victim at the destination.

Due to the broad nature of this study and its data collection efforts, the dark tourism locations visited by participants varied greatly. It can be concluded from the data that the use of television and contemporary media featuring dark tourism locations does positively influence tourists' behavioral intention to visit. Variables related to dark tourism destinations featured on television shows were more strongly favored in relationship to the dark experience construct than engaging entertainment. This indicates that tourists are curious about what they have seen on television or mass media and want to experience similar. Managers of dark tourism destinations featured on television shows should effectively market their locations as such to increase interest and tourism traffic to their destination. If paranormal tours are not currently being offered this would be a recommendation (if applicable) to generate more tourism interest.

Additionally, due to the increased popularity and reliance on websites and social media platforms for information, practitioners should register their location on dark tourism websites and registries so more curious travelers can easily locate them. Utilizing TripAdvisor.com and other similar travel websites is another option for practitioners to generate tourism interest to their destination. Making information readily available and easy to locate for tourists will continue to strengthen the relationship between perceived behavioral control and behavioral intention. Additionally, considering societal norms had a positive relationship with dark tourism constructs within this study, practitioners could market their destination as being taboo to tourists wanting to satisfy their rebellious curiosity.

Limitations and future research

This study has several limitations. Since the data was collected using Qualtrics Panels, potential participants are asked to self-report and assess whether they are eligible dark tourists for this study, based on given definition of dark tourism. Such self-assessment may not always be precise. If adopting this survey method, future research may consider asking participations to provide the specific dark tourism destination type that they have visited in the past 24 months, to help further confirm their eligibility for study participation. It is also recommended that if time and resources permit, future research consider collecting data on-site at dark tourism destinations. Also, this research study did not take into consideration the type of dark tourism destination visited by the respondents. Dark tourism destinations vary in the levels of violence and death that are associated with them ( Seaton, 1996 ; Stone, 2006 ). Future research can investigate additional motivational factors of tourists to visit dark tourism destinations with varying levels of darkness associated to them.

Most of the previous studies are case studies with historical battlefields and concentration camps being the hot spot for tourist activity. It is important and yet lacking to explore the general pattern of the association between motivations and visit intentions to dark tourism sites in general. Ryan and Kohli (2006) suggested there are differences between dark tourism destinations created by natural disasters (e.g., earthquakes in Sichuan, China; Biran et al. , 2014 ) and those that were sites of death at the hand of man (e.g., Auschwitz concentration camp). Moreover, Zhang et al. (2016) were among the few that explored the associated between motivation and association, but only on college students at one specific site. Although this study is inclusive of different dark tourist groups and dark tourism sites, future research may consider factoring in such difference in dark tourism destinations while exploring dark tourist motivations and visit intensions.

Conclusions

This study serves as exploratory research examining the association between tourist motivations and visit intentions and paves the way for future research in dark tourism. This study contributes to the dark tourism literature by proposing a new theoretical framework linking and extending dark tourism motivation construct with the Planned Behavior Construct. Study results can also benefit practitioners in dark tourism sector.

Graphic representation of theoretical framework and hypothesis testing results

Factor loadings for dark tourism variables

Partial disaggregation parcel groupings of TPB variables

Demographic characteristics of survey participants

CFAs of nested models

Full-data set hypothesis testing results

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Dark Tourists: Profile, Practices, Motivations and Wellbeing

José magano.

1 Research Center in Business and Economics (CICEE), Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa, Rua Sta. Marta 47, 5.º Andar, 1150-293 Lisboa, Portugal

2 ISCET-Higher Institute of Business Sciences and Tourism, Rua de Cedofeita, 285, 4050-180 Porto, Portugal

José A. Fraiz-Brea

3 Department of Business Organization, Business Administration and Tourism Faculty, University of Vigo, 32004 Ourense, Spain

Ângela Leite

4 Center for Philosophical and Humanistic Studies, Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences, Portuguese Catholic University, Rua de Camões 60, 4710-362 Braga, Portugal

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Datasets are available upon request to the authors.

This work aims to address whether knowing what dark tourism is (or not) impacts rumination on sadness, self-hatred, hostility, psychological vulnerability, and tourist wellbeing, as well as practices and motivations for dark tourism. A quantitative approach, based on a survey of 993 respondents, reveals that women and more educated participants know more about dark tourism; people who know what dark tourism is have visited more Holocaust museums, sites of human tragedy and natural disasters, concentration camps, and prisons; show more curiosity, need to learn and understand, and need to see morbid things. A model was found showing that gender, age, know/do not know dark tourism, and motivations (curiosity, the need to learn, the need to understand, and pleasure) explained 38.1% of a dark tourism practice index. Most findings also indicate that rumination on sadness, self-hatred, hostility, and psychological vulnerability are associated with darker practices. Greater wellbeing was not found in participants who knew in advance what dark tourism was. Interestingly, participants who visit tragic human sites present higher values in hostility and tourist wellbeing than those who do not. In summary, people who visit more dark places and score higher on negative personality characteristics have higher values of tourist wellbeing.

1. Introduction

Many people are increasingly looking for new and unique touristic experiences to satisfy a wide range of motivations. That has driven the segmentation and the emergence of increasingly specific typologies, such as dark tourism, that, in contrast with mass tourism, are characterized by a high degree of diversification and individualization. Dark tourism comprises visiting real or recreated places related with death, suffering, disgrace, or the macabre [ 1 , 2 ]. From the perspective of dark tourism places, it is important to understand what drives people to visit them to design satisfying experiences. We may think of death as an obvious motivation, often part of the site’s history, but it is not always the primary or explicitly recognized motivation for a visit. Sharpley and Stone [ 3 ] admitted that the field of motivation to visit dark tourism destinations remains an understudied area, although recent literature has provided an increasing number of empirical studies about the reasons for visiting those sites [ 4 , 5 ].

This research intends to contribute to the dark tourism literature by seeking to understand whether people know what dark tourism is and identify a differentiated sociodemographic, motivational, and tourist practice profile between people who know and do not know what dark tourism is. In addition, it aims to understand if dark tourists’ motivations for visiting dark tourism destinations explain their practices. The research approach relies on empirically exploring the motivations, practices, and sociodemographic characteristics of a sample of 933 people that participated in a survey held in Portugal.

The remainder of the text is organized as follows: firstly, a brief theoretical background is put forward, focused on the dark tourism concept and dark tourists’ motivations and practices; then, the quantitative study’s applied methods and obtained results are described; finally, the results are discussed, and conclusions and implications are drawn.

2. Theoretical Background

Despite the fact that some authors consider it one of the older forms of tourism, it has gained great popularity amongst academics from the 1990s onwards [ 3 ], confirmed by the significant volume of literature published ever since [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]. However, understanding the demand for this type of tourism persists as poorly defined and theoretically fragile [ 3 , 4 , 7 , 8 ]. For a long time, places that have been the scene of wars, disasters, deaths, and atrocities have always fascinated people, motivating them to travel [ 3 , 9 ]. Sharpley and Stone [ 3 ] often use the term dark tourism as the type of tourism that encompasses traveling to sites related to death, suffering, and macabre—a globally accepted definition. However, Tarlow [ 10 ] implies the phenomenon is complex by describing it as “visits to places where noteworthy historical tragedies or deaths have occurred that continue to impact our lives”, which raises the question about the inherent motives to consume dark tourism.

2.1. Dark Tourists and Their Motivation to Dark Tourism Consumption

Stone’s (2006) idea of dark tourism goes far beyond related attractions. From this standpoint, diverse well-visited tourist sites may become places of dark tourism due to their history linked with death—e.g., suicides in the Eiffel Tower, tombs in the pyramids of Egypt, the Valley of the Kings, and the Taj Mahal, funeral art at the Cairo Museum, and terrorist attacks in Ground Zero [ 11 ]. Ashworth and Isaac [ 12 ] also suggest that all tourist places have a greater or lesser potential of being perceived as “dark.” Accordingly, the same dark tourism place can evoke different experiences in different visitors (i.e., a site one visitor sees as “dark” may not be for another); thus, the authors argue that no site is intrinsically, automatically, and universally “dark,” as, even they may be labeled as dark, they are not always perceived as such by all visitors.

Walter [ 13 ] states that most dark tourism is not specifically motivated, comprising only parallel visits inserted in a trip of a wider reach. Nonetheless, the literature indicates that tourists who visit dark places are not a homogeneous group, and neither the factors inherent to the visitation are the same. Moreover, the “darker” motivation can undertake distinctive levels of intensity. Consequently, in addition to the fascination and interest in death [ 12 , 14 , 15 ], the visit to this type of place is also motivated by personal, cultural, and psychological reasons [ 4 ] or driven by entertainment purposes [ 7 , 16 ].

The literature indicates numerous reasons to visit dark tourism sites: educational experience, desire to learn and understand past events, and historical interest [ 7 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ], as self-discovery purposes [ 17 ], identity [ 7 ], memory, remembrance, celebration, nostalgia, empathy, contemplation, and homage [ 10 , 17 , 20 ], curiosity [ 17 , 19 , 20 , 21 ], the search for novelty, authenticity, and adventure [ 2 , 20 ], convenience when visiting other places [ 19 ], and also status, prestige, affirmation, and recognition that these visits provide [ 22 ]. To a lesser extent, the literature also mentions religious and pilgrimage reasons, feelings of guilt, a search for social responsibility, or heritage experience.

The desire to learn and understand stands out as a motive associated with sites of death and/or heritage. Whereas some visitors exhibit a considerable need for emotional experience and connection to their heritage, engaging, as Slade puts it [ 23 ], in a “profound heritage experience”, and emotionally to the “dark” space influence [ 24 ], other visitors may be knowledge-seekers, who are more interested in a knowledge-enriching experience [ 25 ] than an emotional one and look for gaining a deeper understanding. Isaac et al. [ 20 ] found that memory, gaining knowledge and awareness, and exclusivity were important motivations for dark tourists; also, “(…), consuming dark tourism may allow the individual a sense of meaning and understanding of past disaster and macabre events that have perturbed life projects” [ 2 ]. Tourists’ interest in places associated with death and tragedy may also be related to educational goals [ 9 ].

Curiosity and the need to learn and understand are entwined. Dark tourism develops curiosity and satisfies the desire for knowledge of past suffering and pain [ 26 ]. Ashworth (2004) and Ashworth and Hartmann [ 27 ] suggested three main reasons for visiting dark sites: curiosity about the unusual, attraction to horror, and a desire for empathy or identification with the victims of atrocity. Yan, Zhang, Zhang, Lu and Guo [ 24 ] refer to the curious type of dark tourist who engages cognitively by learning about the issue. From another perspective, dark tourists may feel motivated by morbid tourism [ 28 ] and show interest in specific macabre exhibitions and museums [ 29 ] and fascination with evil [ 30 ], given the morbid nature of dark tourism [ 31 ]. Other authors present yet other motives: secular pilgrimage; a desire for inner purification; schadenfreude or malicious joy; “ghoulish titillation”; a search for the otherness of death; an interest in personal genealogy and family history; a search for “authentic” places in a commodified world; and a desire to encounter the pure/impure sacred [ 18 ]. Iliev [ 4 ] concludes that although tourists visit places related to death, they may not necessarily be considered dark tourists; as already acknowledged, those sites may not be experienced as “dark” by each visitor. It is, therefore, imperative that the so-called dark tourists are considered as such based on their experience.

2.2. Dark Tourist Personality

Some authors who study dark tourism have tried to relate dark tourist practice with personality characteristics, namely with the dark triad—psychoticism, narcissism, and Machiavellianism [ 16 , 32 , 33 , 34 ]. However, the nature of dark tourism, especially that related to the Holocaust, can be so complex that the personality characteristics that motivate it may be less central, so we decided to study the following characteristics: rumination in sadness, self-hatred, hostility, and psychological vulnerability.

Rumination about sadness includes “repetitive thoughts concerning one’s present distress and the circumstances surrounding the sadness” [ 35 ]. These thoughts are related to the nature of one’s negative affect, are not goal-directed nor lead to plans for solutional action [ 36 ], and are not socially shared while the rumination occurs. Thus, rumination on sadness presents a negative content, “does not facilitate problem resolution, is a solitary activity, and is intrusive if the person is pursuing either self-or situationally imposed task-oriented goals” [ 35 ].

Nolen-Hoeksema and Morrow’s [ 36 ] measure of rumination focuses on ideation, contrary to expression or disclosure, but it also includes disclosing feelings to others and emotional expressiveness as components of rumination. According to Nolen-Hoeksema and Morrow [ 36 ], ruminative responses are different from structured problem-solving because people only think or talk about how “unmotivated, sad, and lethargic they feel” (p. 569). Despite that, Nolen-Hoeksema and Morrow’s [ 36 ] stated that ruminative responses include telling others how badly one feels. Although rumination has negative consequences, disclosure may have positive effects [ 37 ]; also, some forms of emotional expressiveness, a component of disclosure, seem beneficial [ 38 ].

Self-hatred is an “enduring dysfunctional and destructive self-evaluation, characterized by attributions of undesirable and defective qualities, and failure to meet perceived standards and values leading to feelings of inadequacy, incompetency, and worthlessness” [ 39 ]. High self-hatred is related to low self-esteem, shame, self-blame or guilt, and a mental state of agitation, raising an experience of psychological and emotional turmoil [ 39 ].

According to Derogatis and Melisaratos [ 40 ], hostility captures thoughts, feelings, and actions associated with hostile behavior. Although the hostility scale measures perceived levels of expressed hostility rather than actual levels of outwardly expressed hostility, the hostility scale is significantly associated with anger [ 41 ], and high anger is related to outward, uncontrolled, and negative expressions of anger [ 42 ].

Psychological vulnerability is the “individual’s capacity to deal with mechanisms of maintaining emotional strength, in case of a pessimistic point of view, due to the lack of social support” [ 43 ]. Psychological vulnerability is a pattern of cognitive beliefs translating to “a dependence on achievement or external sources of affirmation for one’s sense of self-worth” [ 44 ]. Psychological vulnerability is negatively associated with positive affect, self-efficacy, and social support and positively associated with negative affect, perceived powerlessness, and maladaptive coping behavior [ 43 , 44 ]. Dark tourists are subjects situated in emotionally sensitive spaces [ 45 ] that can trigger their psychological vulnerability.

2.3. Research Questions

Although research on dark tourism has increased in recent years, there are not enough studies exploring if people’s knowledge of this phenomenon and their personality traits lead to distinctive dark tourists’ motivations and behaviors. Taking into account the aforementioned motivations to visit dark tourism places, the present study intends to empirically explore if dark tourists’ personality characteristics and sociodemographic variables impact such motivations and dark tourists’ practices and wellbeing (the latter, measured as a dark tourism practice index, given the diversity of known dark tourism practices). Specifically, our research questions are: Do rumination on sadness, self-hatred, hostility, and psychological vulnerability explain the practices and motivations for dark tourism and thus explain tourist wellbeing? Does knowing what dark tourism is (or not) impact rumination on sadness, self-hatred, hostility, and psychological vulnerability, as well as practices and motivations for dark tourism and tourist wellbeing?

3. Materials and Methods

Given the research questions, the aims of the present study are as follows: (1) to find the sociodemographic differences in touristic practices and motivations for dark tourism according to two groups (those who knew what dark tourism is and those who did not know); (2) to assess the fit of the rumination on the sadness scale, self-hatred scale, hostility scale, psychological vulnerability scale, and tourism wellbeing scale; (3) to determine the differences in rumination on sadness, self-hatred, hostility, psychological vulnerability, and tourism wellbeing according to two groups (those who knew what dark tourism is and those who didn’t know); (4) to find the differences in rumination on sadness, self-hatred, hostility, psychological vulnerability, and tourism wellbeing according to practices and motivations for dark tourism; and (5) to determine variables that contribute to the dark tourism practice index. Accordingly, we hypothesize:

Participants who know what dark tourism is are younger and have more education than those who do not.

Participants who know what dark tourism is are more motivated and visit more places associated with dark tourism than those who do not.

All measures show a good fit for the sample.

Differences in rumination on sadness, self-hatred, hostility, psychological vulnerability, and tourism wellbeing according to two groups (those who knew what dark tourism is and those who did not know) will be found.

Differences in rumination on sadness, self-hatred, hostility, psychological vulnerability, and tourism wellbeing according to practices and motivations for dark tourism will be found.

Gender, age, to know/know not dark tourism, and the motivations of curiosity, need to learn, need to understand, and pleasure will contribute to explaining dark tourism practice.

3.1. Procedures

All procedures followed the Declaration of Helsinki and later amendments or comparable ethical standards. The investigation protocol included informed consent, and confidentiality and anonymity of the data were guaranteed. The research protocol was applied in person to a random sample of participants between 18 October and 17 December 2021. The participants were informed about the study’s purpose and were ensured confidentiality and anonymity of the data; they also signed informed consent. The inclusion criteria consisted of being over 18 years old, Portuguese, and having touristic experiences. The respondents were approached by two researchers and five MSc students on the University’s campuses and within their informal networks, with the questionnaire being self-administered.

3.2. Instruments

The instruments that were not validated for the Portuguese population—the Rumination on Sadness Scale (RSS) and the Self-Hatred Scale (SHS)—were first translated from English to Portuguese by two bilingual translators, one from and another not from the field of psychology. Then, a third bilingual translator from the field of psychology provided a reconciliation of the two translations. Next, a native English speaker not from the psychology field independently performed the reconciled version’s back-translation. Finally, the first translator reviewed the back-translated version of the scale and compared it with the original English version to ensure linguistic and cultural equivalence consistency.

Sociodemographic questionnaire

The sociodemographic questionnaire included questions related to gender (feminine—0; masculine—1), age, education (no education–0; primary education—1; secondary education—2; higher education—3), marital status (no relationship-single, divorced, separated, widowed–0; in a relationship-boyfriends, married, de facto union—1), and employment status (inactive—unemployed, retired, on sick leave–0; active-student, employee, housewife, caregivers—1).

Questionnaire about dark tourism’s practices

The questionnaire on dark tourism practices includes a question about knowledge of dark tourism (or not). In addition, it also asked participants about their tourist practices related to dark tourism (Have you ever visited…? cemeteries; holocaust museums; sites of human tragedy; concentration camps; prisons; sites of war; sites of natural disasters; stop to see accidents). All these questions are answered dichotomously (no—0; yes—1).

Questionnaire about dark tourism´s motivations

This questionnaire includes the presentation of several reasons to visit a dark place: curiosity, the need to learn, the need to see, the need to understand, pleasure, and the need to see morbid things. All these questions are answered dichotomously (no—0; yes—1).

Rumination on Sadness Scale (RSS)

The Rumination on Sadness Scale, an individual-difference measure of rumination on sadness, was developed by Conway et al. [ 35 ] as an alternative to the Ruminative Responses Scale of the Response Styles Questionnaire (RRRSQ; [ 36 ]). It is a unifactorial scale with 13 items. Higher ratings indicate higher levels of rumination on sadness. Cronbach’s alpha, the internal reliability coefficient, was 0.91 in the original version. Since there is no Portuguese version of this scale, it will be validated in this study.

Self-Hatred Scale (SHS)

The Self-Hatred Scale was developed by Turnell et al. [ 39 ] to assess individuals’ levels of self-hatred. Since self-hatred is a significant predictor of suicidal ideation, this scale has the potential to be helpful in suicide risk assessment. Higher ratings indicate higher levels of self-hatred. Cronbach’s alpha was 0.95 in the original version. There is no Portuguese version of this scale, so it will also be validated in this study.

BSI Hostility Scale (HSS)

BSI Hostility Scale (HS) is a subscale of the Brief Symptoms Inventory [BSI; [ 40 ]], whose Portuguese version is from Canavarro [ 46 ]. BSI is a 53-item measure to identify self-reported clinically relevant psychological symptoms in adolescents and adults. The BSI covers nine symptom dimensions: Somatization, Obsession-Compulsion, Interpersonal Sensitivity, Depression, Anxiety, Hostility, Phobic Anxiety, Paranoid Ideation, and Psychoticism; and three global indices of distress: Global Severity Index, Positive Symptom Distress Index, and Positive Symptom Total. The Hostility subscale includes five items, and higher ratings indicate higher levels of hostility. In the original version, the alpha coefficients for the nine dimensions of the scale ranged from 0.64 in the Psychoticism dimension to 0.81 in the Somatization dimension. In the Portuguese version, the alpha coefficients ranged from 0.71 in the Psychoticism dimension to 0.85 in the Depression dimension.

Psychological Vulnerability Scale (PVS)

The Psychological Vulnerability Scale (PVS) was designed to obtain information about maladaptive cognitive patterns, such as dependence, perfectionism, need for external sources of approval, and generalized negative attributions. The PVS is a six-item scale with higher scores indicating greater psychological vulnerability. In the original version [ 44 ], Cronbach’s α coefficient ranged from 0.71 to 0.87 for different samples; in the Portuguese version [ 47 ], Cronbach’s α coefficient was 0.73.

Tourism Wellbeing Scale (TWS)

The Tourism Wellbeing Scale (TWS) was developed by [ 48 ] Garcês et al. (2018 [ 49 ]); it aims to evaluate tourism wellbeing in each destination, having been built from positive psychology variables, namely, wellbeing, creativity, optimism, and spirituality. It is a unifactorial scale with eight items. Higher ratings indicate higher levels of tourism wellbeing. Cronbach’s alpha was 0.97 in the original version.

3.3. Data Analysis

Prior to analysis, the normality of items was examined by skewness (SI) and kurtosis (KI) indexes; absolute values of SI less than 3 and KI less than 10 indicate a normal distribution of the data. [ 50 ]. All the instruments were subject to a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) procedure with maximum likelihood estimation (MLE). The model fit evaluation was based on test statistics and approximate fit indexes, following the thresholds presented in Kline [ 50 ]. Thus, a non-significant model chi-square statistic, χ 2 , states that the model fits the data acceptably in the population; the higher the probability related to χ 2 , the closer the fit to the perfect fit. A value of the parsimony-corrected index Steiger–Lind root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) close to 0 represents a good fit; RMSEA ≤ 0.05 may indicate a good fit, but the upper bound of the 90% confidence interval exceeding 0.10 may indicate poor fit; also, this test should be non-significant at the 0.05 level. Values of incremental fit index (IFI), Tucker–Lewis index (TLI), and the Bentler incremental comparative fit index (CFI), close to 1 (0.95 or better), are indicators of best fit; also, the standardized root mean square residual (SRMR), a statistic related to the correlation residuals (SRMR over 0.10 suggests fit problems) was used; the smallest the values, the most parsimonious is the model.

Besides goodness-of-fit index evaluation, model re-specification involved analyzing path estimates, standardized residuals of items, and modification indices for all non-estimated parameters. The modifications indices (MI) provide information about potential cross-loadings and error term correlations not specified in the model and the expected change in the chi-square value for each fixed parameter if it were to be freed. Only modifications theoretically meaningful and MI > 11 were considered. Finally, Cronbach’s alpha coefficients were calculated to ascertain the model’s reliability.

Group differences were analyzed. The independent t-test was applied to compare the means of the two groups. In addition, chi-squared was used to compare distributions’ differences and Mann–Whitney test to compare ordinal data. Three measures of the effect size, Cohen’s d, the eta squared, phi, and rank biserial correlation were used according to the variables’ measurement level; interpretation followed Cohen’s [ 51 ] guidelines; the statistical significance level was set at 0.05. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 28 and AMOS version 28.

The sample includes 993 participants, mainly female, in a romantic relationship, with secondary or university education, and active; the mean age is around 31 years. Statistically significant differences were found concerning age and education between the sample that had already heard about dark tourism and knew what it was and the sample that had not yet heard about it. Participants who had heard about dark tourism were significantly younger and more educated than those who had not ( Table 1 ).

Sample sociodemographic characteristics.

Notes: N = frequencies; % = percentage; M = mean; SD = standard deviation; χ 2 = qui-squared test; Φ = Phi size effect; t = t -test; Cohen’s d = size effect; p = p -value. In bold: statistically significant values.

Concerning the total sample and dark tourism practices, most people have visited cemeteries, and about a third of the sample stopped to see accidents. On the other hand, about a quarter of the sample already had other practices, except for a visit to concentration camps, which was only carried out by about 14% of the total sample. The same trend remains in the sample that has not yet heard about dark tourism and the sample that has. However, there are statistically significant differences between these two samples regarding practices related to dark tourism, being that the sample that has already heard about dark tourism visits many more Holocaust museums, sites of human tragedy, concentration camps, prisons, and sites of natural disasters than the sample that has not yet heard about dark tourism ( Table 2 ).

Dark tourism practices.

Notes: N = frequencies; % = percentage; χ 2 = qui-squared test; Φ = Phi size effect; p = p -value. In bold: statistically significant values.

As for the reasons behind the desire to visit dark places, curiosity stands out in the total sample, with the least chosen reason being the need to see morbid things. The same trend can be seen in the two subsamples. However, there are statistically significant differences between these two samples regarding motives to visit dark places, being that the sample that has already heard about dark tourism presents higher values in the motives related to curiosity, the need to learn and understand, and the need to see morbid things than the sample that has not yet heard about dark tourism ( Table 3 ).

Dark tourism motives.

Table 4 shows the descriptive statistics related to the items of the instruments used in this study: the rumination on sadness, tourism wellbeing, self-hatred, hostility, and psychological vulnerability. The skewness and kurtosis values are all within the normative values, ensuring the normality of the distribution, except for item SHS3 whose values are slightly above the recommended one.

Items’ frequencies.

A confirmatory factorial analysis of the rumination on sadness scale was carried out to confirm the authors’ model [χ 2 (46) = 4.121; CFI = 0.977; TLI = 0.961; IFI = 0.977; RMSEA = 0.056; PCLOSE = 0.107: SMRM = 0.028]; however, to achieve this model fit, some correlations between errors were established ( Figure 1 ).

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Model fit of Rumination on Sadness Scale.

Confirmatory factorial analysis of the self-hatred scale [χ 2 (11) = 5.118; CFI = 0.992; TLI = 0.984; IFI = 0.992; RMSEA = 0.064; PCLOSE = 0.069: SMRM = 0.015] ( Figure 2 ), hostility scale [χ 2 (2) = 4.216; CFI = 0.995; TLI = 0.976; IFI = 0.995; RMSEA = 0.057; PCLOSE = 0.317: SMRM = 0.012] ( Figure 3 ), psychological vulnerability scale [χ 2 (7) = 2.886; CFI = 0.992; TLI = 0.983; IFI = 0.992; RMSEA = 0.044; PCLOSE = 0.644; SMRM = 0.018] ( Figure 4 ), and tourism wellbeing scale [χ 2 (16) = 3.787; CFI = 0.979; TLI = 0.964; IFI = 0.980; RMSEA = 0.053; PCLOSE = 0.339: SMRM = 0.029] ( Figure 5 ) were carried out to assess the models’ adjustments. Despite finding good fits for all models, some correlations between errors were established to achieve such fits. Thus, hypothesis H3 is confirmed.

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Model fit of Self-hatred Scale.

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Model fit of Hostility Scale.

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Model fit of Psychological Vulnerability Scale.

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Model fit of Tourism Wellbeing Scale.

There are no differences in the values of rumination on sadness, self-hatred, hostility, psychological vulnerability, and tourism wellbeing concerning knowing what dark tourism is or not ( Table 5 ).

Rumination on sadness (RSS), self-hatred (SHS), hostility (HSS), psychological vulnerability (PVS), and tourism wellbeing (TWBS) frequencies and differences between those who know dark tourism and those who do not.

Notes: α = Cronbach’s alpha; M = mean; SD = standard deviation; MR–mean rank; U = Mann–Whitney test; p = p -value; r = rank-biserial correlation.

Differences were assessed regarding the values of rumination on sadness, self-hatred, hostility, psychological vulnerability, and tourism wellbeing according to dark tourism practices. Being that only statistically significant results are presented, it was found that participants who visit cemeteries have significantly lower values of self-hatred and psychological vulnerability than participants who report not visiting cemeteries ( Table 6 ). Furthermore, those who visit tragic human sites present higher values in hostility and tourism wellbeing than those who do not. Those who visit sites of war present higher values in self-hatred than those who did not. Those who visit site of natural tragedies also present higher values in hostility and tourism wellbeing. Lastly, those who stop to see accidents present higher values in rumination on sadness, self-hatred, hostility, psychological vulnerability, and tourism wellbeing than those who do not stop ( Table 6 ).

Rumination on sadness (RSS), self-hatred (SHS), hostility (HSS), psychological vulnerability (PVS) and tourism wellbeing (TWBS) frequencies and differences according to dark tourism practices.

Notes: α = Cronbach’s alpha; M = mean; SD = standard deviation; MR–mean rank; U = Mann–Whitney test; p = p -value; r = rank-biserial correlation. In bold: statistically significant values.

Differences were also assessed concerning the values of rumination on sadness, self-hatred, hostility, psychological vulnerability, and tourism wellbeing according to dark tourism motives. Those participants who identified curiosity, need to see, and need to understand as reasons to visit dark places in the context of tourism presented higher values in rumination on sadness, self-hatred, hostility, psychological vulnerability, and tourism wellbeing than those who did not identify curiosity as a motive ( Table 7 ). Concerning the motive “need to learn”, it was found to be a statistically significant difference in tourism wellbeing, being that those who identified the need to learn as a motive to visit dark places in the context of tourism present higher values in tourism wellbeing and self-hatred than those who did not. Those participants who identified the need to see as a reason to visit dark places in the context of tourism presented higher values in rumination on sadness, self-hatred, hostility, and psychological vulnerability than those who did not identify the need to see as a motive ( Table 7 ). Those participants who recognized the need to understand as a reason to visit dark places in the context of tourism present higher values in rumination on sadness, hostility, psychological vulnerability, and tourism wellbeing than those who did not identify the need to understand as a motive ( Table 7 ). Concerning the motive “pleasure”, it was found a statistically significant difference in tourism wellbeing; those who recognized pleasure as a motive to visit dark places presented higher values in tourism wellbeing than those who did not. Lastly, those participants who identified the need to see morbid things as a reason to visit dark places presented higher values in rumination on sadness, self-hatred, hostility, and psychological vulnerability than those who did not identify the need to see morbid things as a motive ( Table 7 ).

Rumination on sadness (RSS), self-hatred (SHS), hostility (HSS), psychological vulnerability (PVS), and tourism wellbeing (TWBS) frequencies and differences according to dark tourism motives.

After creating a new variable, an index about practices related to dark tourism, based on the individual items, we carried out a multiple linear regression in which the dependent variable is the index, and the independent variables are the motivations, with the intent to find the variables that explain the touristic practice. It was found that gender, age, know/know not dark tourism, and motives (curiosity, need to learn, need to understand, and pleasure) explain 38% of the touristic practice ( Table 8 ).

Variables that contribute to the dark tourism practice index.

Notes: R 2 = R squared; R 2 Adj. = R squared adjusted; B = unstandardized regression coefficients; EP B = unstandardized error of B; β = standardized regression coefficients; ** p < 0.001.

5. Discussion

The aims of the present study were to find the sociodemographic differences in touristic practices and motivations for dark tourism according to two groups (those who knew what dark tourism is and those who did not know); to determine the differences in rumination on sadness, self-hatred, hostility, psychological vulnerability, and tourism wellbeing according to two groups; to find the differences in rumination on sadness, self-hatred, hostility, psychological vulnerability, and tourism wellbeing according to practices and motivations for dark tourism; and, at last, to determine variables that contribute to a dark tourism practice index. To this end, we carried out a cross-sectional study that included questionnaires related to sociodemographic aspects, motivations to visit dark tourism places, practices of dark tourism, the rumination on the sadness scale, the self-hatred scale, the hostility scale, the psychological vulnerability scale, and the tourism wellbeing scale.

Concerning the participants’ profiles, those who had heard about dark tourism were significantly younger and more educated than those who had not. These results confirm hypothesis H1. These results corroborate those of Millán, et al. [ 52 ] who found a profile of dark tourists in Cordoba between 26 and 40 years old and having university studies. Dark tourism is a niche market [ 53 ] and also is itself a trend [ 54 ], and young people are more available and attentive to new trends [ 55 ]. In addition, more educated people seek more information and have superior technological skills [ 56 ]. Significant differences between the two samples regarding practices related to dark tourism were found, being that the sample that has already heard about dark tourism visits much more Holocaust museums, sites of human tragedy, concentration camps, prisons, and sites of natural disasters than the sample that has not yet heard about dark tourism. These results confirm hypothesis H2. According to Iliev [ 4 ], “if tourists do not experience a site as dark, then they cannot be called dark tourists”, so the author proposed a more apparent distinction of the “dark tourists” based on experience. Ashworth and Isaac (2015) also stated that any tourist site has a greater or lesser potential of being perceived as “dark.” Besides, “darkness cannot be viewed as an objective fact because it is subjectively and socially constructed since (different) people in various (cultural or social) contexts understand and experience dark tourism in different ways” [ 57 ]. In fact, we may ask “who makes the association of ‘darkness’ to a place? Is the label ‘dark tourism’ applied by those offering (and commoditizing) the visitor experience? Alternatively, is any “dark” significance to be evaluated and decided upon by the tourists themselves?” [ 58 ]. “Dark tourism consumption can no longer be derived as an ordinary activity where humans might engage in for “fun”, but rather as part of a quest for a deeper experience, especially in our inherent fear of death” [ 4 ].

The subsample that has already heard about dark tourism presents higher values in the curiosity, the need to learn and understand, and the need to see morbid things motives than the sample that has not yet heard about dark tourism. These results also confirm hypothesis H2. In fact, dark tourists are very interested in understanding historical events; they are psychologically moved by the need to be in contact with authentic experiences by looking at the other’s death as if it were their own death [ 59 ]. One of the motivations that drive dark tourists is the possibility of re-creating the same emotions victims experienced, followed by the authenticity issue [ 60 ]. “Many dark tourists are motivated by the desire and interest in cultural heritage, learning, education, understanding about what happened at the dark site” [ 4 ].

There are no differences in the values of rumination on sadness, self-hatred, hostility, psychological vulnerability, and tourism wellbeing concerning knowing what dark tourism is or not. Therefore, hypothesis H4 cannot be confirmed. These results apparently seem to contradict the relationship between the dark triad of the personality (narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy) and the practice of dark tourism [ 16 , 32 , 33 , 34 ]. That relationship, studied by those authors, reflects the practice of dark tourism and not the knowledge about it (which is the subject of our study), although there is hardly any knowledge without practice. Concerning tourism wellbeing, these results may question Kidron [ 61 ] who said that dark tourism generates wellbeing and thus assume that dark tourists show wellbeing despite dark practices. However, our results do not show greater wellbeing in the participants who knew in advance what dark tourism was in relation to the others.

Participants who visit cemeteries have significantly lower values of self-hatred and psychological vulnerability than participants who report not visiting cemeteries. Visiting a cemetery can fulfill different functions, such as visiting a dark place or the social and cultural function of honoring the dead. Probably, our results reflect this last function to the detriment of the first and this conformity to cultural and social practices is in accordance with lower values of psychopathology [ 62 ], namely rumination on sadness, self-hatred, hostility, and psychological vulnerability. This result partially confirms hypothesis 5.

Those who visit sites of war present higher levels of self-hatred than those who did not. Furthermore, those who visit natural tragedies sites present higher values in hostility and tourism wellbeing than those who do not. This result reflects the relationship of this tourist practice with the above-mentioned dark triad [ 16 , 32 , 33 , 34 ] and is in line with Kidron [ 61 ], who suggested wellbeing in dark tourists. At last, those who stop to see accidents present higher values in rumination on sadness, self-hatred, hostility, psychological vulnerability, and tourism wellbeing than those who do not stop. Again, this result reveals the relationship between psychopathology and tourist wellbeing that needs to be further explained, although some authors suggest that psychopathology leads to less tourism wellbeing [ 63 ]. This result partially confirms hypothesis 5.

Participants who identified curiosity as a reason to visit dark places in the context of tourism presented higher values in rumination on sadness, self-hatred, hostility, psychological vulnerability, and tourism wellbeing than those who did not identify curiosity as a motive. Curiosity has been a central reason pointed out in the literature for tourism in general [ 64 ] and, specifically, for dark tourism [ 15 , 17 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 65 , 66 ]. Curiosity is a complex construct, which can be seen as something positive, but it can also contain darker aspects of the personality, namely morbid curiosity, and this fact explains its relationship with, on the one hand, wellbeing, and, on the other hand, with rumination on sadness, self-hatred, hostility, and psychological vulnerability. This result partially confirms hypothesis 5.

The participants who identified the need to learn, the need to understand as motives to visit dark places in the context of tourism present higher values in tourism wellbeing and self-hatred than those who did not. The need to learn and understand are also central reasons for tourism in general and their relationship with wellbeing does not seem specific to dark tourism [ 67 ]. This result partially confirms hypothesis 5.

The participants who identified the need to see as a reason to visit dark places in the context of tourism presented higher values in rumination on sadness, self-hatred, hostility, psychological vulnerability, and tourism wellbeing. This result partially confirms hypothesis 5. Similarly to the need to learn, the need to see correlates with wellbeing but with psychopathology. Perhaps this need to learn motivation is correlated with the touristic practice of seeing morbid things [ 68 ].

The participants who recognized pleasure as a motive to visit dark places presented higher values in tourism wellbeing than those who did not. This result partially confirms hypothesis 5. Dark tourism conforms with the pleasure of tourism in general (Yanjun et al., 2015); wellbeing derives from the emotional experience of dark tourism as a motor for transforming the self [ 69 ].

The participants who identified the need to see morbid things as a drive to visit dark places presented higher values in rumination on sadness, self-hatred, hostility, and psychological vulnerability. The need to see morbid things may be a specific motivation for dark tourism [ 1 , 70 ] and not tourism in general. To that extent, the relationship between this motivation and rumination on sadness, self-hatred, hostility, and psychological vulnerability is justified. This result partially confirms Hypothesis 5.

The reasons to visit dark places-curiosity, the need to see, the need to understand, and pleasure are positively and significantly correlated with all places associated with dark tourism. Gender, age, know/know not dark tourism, and motives (curiosity, the need to learn, the need to understand, and pleasure) explained 38.1% of the practice index variance, thus confirming H6. These results mean that motivations to visit dark places are associated with the touristic activity itself and may contradict those of Buda [ 71 ], that claims more emotional and psychoanalytical explorations through the concepts of the death drive [ 71 ], desire [ 72 ], and unconsciousness and voyeurism [ 73 ]. In fact, dark tourists are not altruistic persons [ 14 , 60 ]. Moreover, Jovanovic, Mijatov, and Šuligoj [ 32 ] found that Machiavellianism was related to the preference for dark exhibitions, psychopathy to the preference for visiting conflict/battle sites, and sadism was negatively related to the preference for fun factories and dark tourism sites. However, the “darker” motivation may present different levels of intensity; besides the fascination and interest in death [ 15 ], these visits are also motivated by personal, cultural, and psychological reasons [ 4 ] and/or by entertainment purposes such as entertainment-based museums of torture [ 7 , 16 ]. One of the most curious outcomes of this study is the association of motivations to visit dark tourist sites and self-hatred; the fact that the authors have not found any study that could explain such a result suggests this association exists in the context of dark tourism and not of tourism in general. The dark nature of this type of tourism can be attractive to tourists with less positive personality traits such as self-hatred.

6. Conclusions

The results of this study add new knowledge to this area of expertise as it allows us to understand the association between motivations and practices related to dark tourism. This study also identified the main motivations to visit dark places-curiosity, the need to see, the need to understand, and pleasure, being, interestingly, all internal motivations and, thus, contradicting the literature that, in addition to these motivations, also identifies external motivations. Most findings also indicate that the rumination on sadness, self-hatred, hostility, and psychological vulnerability personality dimensions are associated with dark practices (e.g., the need to see morbid things). Lastly, people who visit more dark places and score higher on negative personality characteristics have higher values of tourism wellbeing. These findings are in line with the literature, which suggests that dark tourism generates negative and positive wellbeing (or even ambivalence). As such, dark tourists, even presenting negative personality characteristics, and also because of them, show tourism wellbeing in their practices and motivations.

The fact that this study was held in a specific sample in Portugal may be considered a limitation; future lines of research could extend it to other countries and age segments.

Funding Statement

This research received no external funding.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, J.M., J.A.F.-B. and Â.L.; methodology, J.M.; formal analysis, J.M. and Â.L.; writing—original draft preparation, J.M.; writing—review and editing, J.M., J.A.F.-B. and Â.L. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Ethical review and approval were waived for this study, as no medical research involving human subjects has been carried out, including research on identifiable human material and data, as indicated by the terms of the Declaration of Helsinki.

Informed Consent Statement

Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.

Data Availability Statement

Conflicts of interest.

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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7 Haunted Places in Chennai That You Should Know (2024)

Budget Hotels > Travel Blog > Places to Visit > 7 Haunted Places in Chennai That You Should Know (2024)

Chennai, the land known for its temples, filter coffee, Pongal, Marina Beach, and other such pleasant and soulful experiences, is no exception to the eerie quotient, urban legends, and tales from the crypt. Certain edifices, premises, streets, and beaches in the city have had their fair share of paranormal activity, or so people say. Brace yourselves and read on, because our ‘Singara Chennai’ meaning beautiful Chennai is home to many places that instantly turn it into ‘Scary Chennai’ after nightfall.

Be warned that if you ever dare to tread on these turfs of trepidation, it might as well be at your own risk, for these venues are not meant for the faint-hearted and fun seekers. Having fun will be the last thing on your mind when spook takes over. So, here’s to you, the scary, creepy list of gut-wrenching locations in Chennai that are better left unvisited.

List of Top 10 Haunted Places in Chennai:

Now, let’s delve into the list of top 10 Haunted Places in Chennai to go with your friends, along with detailed information about each place.

1. Demonte Colony

Demonte Colony

Right off St. Mary’s Road in Alwarpet, a bustling locale in Chennai, is a jilted colony with ramshackle houses and shady trees on either side. Legend has it that a wealthy Portuguese merchant experienced a demure death after his dismay over the untimely demise of his son and a cursed life with a mentally unstable wife. His ghost is said to haunt the streets, and there have been incidents where people reportedly witnessed locked doors being opened and closed mysteriously. Pet dogs entering the colony have gone missing inexplicably, and the local night guard who was appointed by the colony residents also died. It is believed that he still resides in the same horror house in Chennai and practices his antics persistently. A Tamil movie with the same name was based on the true events of this forlorn colony was released in 2015.

2. Broken Bridge in Besant Nagar

Broken Bridge in Besant Nagar

Ever heard of a broken bridge that leads to nowhere? You can find one in Adyar, an upbeat locality near the placid beaches in Chennai like Santhome Beach and Elliot’s Beach. This bridge was built to help fishermen cross over, but could not stand the test of time and turbulent waves and it broke down. It has since then been said that the bridge became the walkway to strange happenings. Fishermen proclaim that they have heard squeamish screams in the wee hours of the night that they believe to be of the woman who had been attacked and raped here. Dead bodies without any traces of accidents and identity have been recovered on numerous occasions near the bridge.

Read about a similar broken bridge in our blog on the haunted places in Goa

3. Blue Cross Road

Blue Cross Road

This road seems serene and safe during the day, but locals have asserted jaw-dropping stories of apparitions after the sun goes down. With a school on one side and an old animal welfare center on the other, this is the most unlikely place to expect paranormal presence. The number of suicides in this locality is said to have contributed to the spirit population. The dense trees on the sides of the road are witnesses to grave happenings and contribute to the eerie backdrop. Night can only energize these souls from another world, and it is the time to avoid visiting this road. Pale, white figures are reported to have darted across the streets, freaking out passers-by. People have also complained of being tightly slapped on the face out of the blue while no one was around. Creepy, isn’t it?

4. Karikattu Kuppam

Karikattu Kuppam

This hamlet on the seashore, inhabited primarily by fishermen, has been on the panic radar for years after the tsunami struck Chennai in 2014. This location has been the ‘death district’ of paranormal existence with debris and ruined houses giving people the chills. The spirits of the ill-fated and innocent victims of nature’s merciless act are believed to be roaming in this place till date. Fishermen who were spared have been evacuated because of these unfathomable horrendous sightings. You can still find toys, footwear, and clothes on the water-hit areas of this creepy hamlet. So, even if you don’t see any ghost, you would still be spooked a little.

5. Theosophical Society

Theosophical Society

A 450-year old Banyan tree is the protagonist of the spooky tales at the Theosophical Society, one of the most popular museums in Chennai that was established in 1882. This place is supposed to be a venue of full-swing paranormal operations after dusk. The forest cover in the backdrop whispers quiet nothings about the impending danger to visitors. Loud screams fill the cold air and name calls follow suit after seven in the evening. It is best left alone after dark because, according to local rumors, the tree is home to ghosts and witches. In fact, the night watchman has been instructed to drive away visitors before 7 pm to prevent any unfortunate incidents. The big Banyan tree is a wonder that deserves an Instagram post but what entails is something that raises eyebrows.

6. Madras Christian College

Madras Christian College

Colleges are fun places to be, but not this one. If local tales are to be believed, MCC has been the breeding ground of paranormal activities by a so-called rejected lover’s spirit. Yes, campuses can see broken hearts if love is not reciprocated. A young lad is said to have committed suicide when his love was rejected by the damsel of his dreams. Heber’s Hall and the zoology wings, in particular, are the favorite hotspots of the dead. Mysterious sounds, glass breaking incidents and inexplicable falling objects have been noticed by students on more occasions than one. Echoes of his footsteps have been reverberating in the campus corridors according to many students. The undeniable real-life events at MCC include the random opening of taps, clinging of utensils, and window cracking. People have even claimed of catching fever and bruises, and even hallucinations!

7. F2 at Valmiki Nagar

F2 at Valmiki Nagar

Poor lighting, narrow roads, and a poorly painted house where a woman is said to have committed suicide might make up for a good movie script, but we are talking about a supposedly real haunted house in Chennai. The melancholic mansion has been haunted for about ten years now. The lady opens the doors of the house after midnight for guests and pleasantly welcomes them home offering great hospitality. The neighbors have often noticed the doors open and close before dawn. Sobbing sounds of the girl have been heard during the night with screams. People have reported that their mobile networks are blanked out and the screens start flickering when they pass by this place. With all these paranormal activities and scary stories, this should definitely not be in the list of places to visit in Chennai , period.

8. Wipro CDC5

A technology park is the least expected in Chennai’s spook saga, especially by people who are practical thinkers and rubbish the rumors. A human figure with a shadowy existence has been spotted walking the streets of the Wipro premises, sometimes among his techie colleagues. Believe it or not, it is rumored that the Wipro campus has been built on a cemetery of the 80’s. The guards in the night have reported such encounters and have therefore asked the visitors to steer clear of the venue after dark. They have reported experiencing fever, shivers, and bodily damage post their tryst with the night trooper. Who would have ever imagined this technology giant could host such twisted dark events? No wonder, this technology park has earned a place in the list of top 10 haunted places in Chennai.

9. East Coast Road

East Coast Road

Many have termed this two-lane road as a ghost road because of its notorious inclination towards paranormal activities. Many waterparks and amusement parks in Chennai are located along ECR that connects Chennai and Puducherry. Driving enthusiasts love this road as it offers a respite from the traffic-laden roads in the city. But, the fact that this road becomes the ‘highway to hell’ at night remains intact. Many apparitions have caused the drivers, inebriated or not, to divert course and end up fatally injured and even dead. ‘Better safe than sorry’ is a signboard that would help road runners, and it is indeed better to stay away from this two-lane, trauma-inducing place at night. Specters of toddlers and young girls have been spotted crossing the road at night, confusing the drivers who end up halting or applying brakes that lead to grave accidents.

By the way, did you know that you have to take the ECR when traveling to Mahabalipuram, one of the most visited weekend getaways near Chennai ? Dare to drive?

10. Anna Flyover

Anna Flyover

This bridge in the middle of the city, leading to the pivotal Mount Road, is rich with paranormal experiences and stories. You would least expect a horror story to unravel in this area that is located near one the most visited churches in Chennai , St Thomas National Shrine. A half-constructed building facing the flyover that is desolated is rife with tales of suicides. Many passers-by have reportedly heard strange noises like cries and laughter from the flyover. Even during the hot summer nights that are sultry, people have complained of freezing-cold chills when they pass by this bridge and have been struck by fever afterward.

11. Victoria Hostel Road

Victoria Hostel Road

An area behind the most vibrant sports venue in Chennai, the Chepauk Stadium, Victoria Hostel Road is the realm of ghastly trees and silent whispers. The Victoria Hostel was built in the 1800’s to house college students. This abode of shelter turns into a blood-curdling facility after night falls. Goosebumps are guaranteed for those who dare to tread freely and unabashedly on this dark and always-damp road. People have had untoward and undesired encounters with spirits on the road, it is believed. Just so you know, the hostel has been evacuated after the outbreak of many paranormal incidents experienced by its inmates.

12. Besant Avenue Road

Besant Avenue Road

This quiet road has quite a reputation for being home to invisible entities that trouble people and throw them off of their two-wheeled rides. People have reported of having eerie and uncomfortable feelings while driving on this road and also of sudden chills taking over. This paranormal activity center works relentlessly to ensure that taxpayers aren’t able to commute on this avenue road at any cost. Many residents along this road have talked about such uncanny encounters. Though it is not known why this is happening or what leads to this sensational spirit attack, it is better left buried beneath. Incidents have been reported during the day and night, which makes this place a nuisance to the public at large.

Spook stories do not limit themselves from happening only in books and movies. The real-life encounters of the unforgiving world that lies beyond the human ability to fathom are just as unnerving. Gone are the days when spirits only haunted desolated places, forests, and hilly terrain. Today, you can find them right in the middle of a buzzing city. So, it is in your best interests to stay away from these places and visit the shopping malls, beaches, and waterfalls near Chennai . This, of course, if you really believe these legends to be true and are terrified easily. If not, then instead of sleeping soundly at your hotel in Chennai at night, step out to experience some first-class Gothica.

Apart from Chennai, there are many other cities with purportedly haunted places. Read about all these spooky spots here:

Haunted Places in Kolkata
Haunted Places in Bangalore
Haunted Places in Delhi
Haunted Places in Goa
Haunted Places in Mumbai
Haunted Places in Hyderabad
Haunted Places in Pune
Haunted Places in India

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Are these really Haunted ? 🙂

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COMMENTS

5 Best Sites for Dark Tourism in India with a deep history
2. Dumas Beach, Surat. Dumas Beach. Dumas Beach is undeniably God's playground during the day, but it transforms into the devil's playground after dark. It is one of the popular dark tourism sites in India. Every day, hordes of tourists flock to this beach, but they leave as soon as the sun goes down for their safety.
Dark Tourism in India
These are the most popular dark tourism in India sites. 1. Jalianwala Bagh, Amritsar, Punjab. History: Jallianwala Bagh, a solemn ground in Amritsar, Punjab, holds a profound place in India's struggle for independence. On April 13, 1919, during British colonial rule, a horrific massacre occurred at this very site.
Dark Tourism Spots In India For Those Who Are Seeking Some Thrill
Dark tourism is gradually becoming popular, thanks to human's need to quench their thirst for curiosity. And with the country's long, rich history, there is no scarcity of places that preserve ancient memories of tragedies. ... Kolkata to Andaman, Bangalore to Andaman, Pune to Andaman, and, Chennai to Andaman. Best time to visit: The ...
Into The Shadows: Dark Tourism Explained And 7 Indian Must-Visits
Dark tourism is a type of tourism that involves visiting places associated with death, tragedy, or suffering. These places may include former battlefields, prisons, concentration camps, disaster sites, or memorials. The primary motivation behind dark tourism is to gain insight into historical events, human suffering, and the consequences of our actions.
Dark tourism in India, list of dark tourism sites
Credit: ThinkStock Photos. Dark Tourism in India and places to visit. Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar. Even after so many years of the horrifying incident at the Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, the very ...
'Dark' tourism: walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Closer home, two of India's most popular dark tourism sites are Kuldhara and Bhangarh, both in Rajasthan. Less than 20 kilometres from Jaisalmer, Kuldhara was a prosperous village till a point ...
Heard of dark tourism? Here are 10 places to visit for it
Pompeii, Italy. Pompeii, Italy, stands as a captivating dark tourist site, frozen in time by the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The ancient city was buried under layers of ash and pumice, preserving its streets, buildings, and inhabitants in an eerie tableau.
Discover the Past: 6 Dark Tourism Sites in India with Rich Histories
It can raise awareness of historical events and promote comprehension and recall. So, get ready to book cheap flight tickets from Toronto to Hyderabad with Flyopedia and explore these 6 dark tourism sites in India with rich histories. Best Destinations for Dark Tourism in India 1. Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar
TTDC offers dark tourism packages
CHENNAI: Tourists visiting Tamil Nadu will soon have more places to see than the usual spiritual, heritage and salubrious spots. In an ambitious plan, the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corpor
Dark Tourism: Destinations of Death, Tragedy and the Macabre
170. The Aokigahara forest in Japan, known as the suicide forest, is a dark tourism destination. Ko Sasaki for The New York Times. By Maria Cramer. Oct. 28, 2022. North Korea. East Timor. Nagorno ...
Dark Tourism: Changing Perception of Travelers for Indian Tourism
Dark tourism also known as black tourism or grief tourism is tourism involving travel to sites associated with death and tragedy. Thana tourism, derived from the Ancient Greek word "thantos" for the personification of death, is associated with dark tourism but refers more specifically to violent death; it is used in fewer contexts than the terms dark tourism and grief tourism.
Tranquebar
Dark Tourism - the online travel guide to dark, unusual & weird places around the world. Dark Tourism - the guide to dark travel destinations around the world ... (235 km), as the crow flies, south of the state capital Chennai, and about 65 miles (100 km) from Pondicherry. The nearest other regional town of any significance is Karaikal, 7.5 ...
Dark Tourism: Changing Perception of Travelers for Indian Tourism
The concept of "Thana tourism" or. "Phoenix T ourism" has gained rapid momentum all over the world; India still being in the. "Fetal" stage of this new genr e of tourism. Dark T ourism ...
Dark tourism
Dark tourism (also thanatourism, black tourism, morbid tourism, or grief tourism) has been defined as tourism involving travel to places historically associated with death and tragedy. [1] More recently, it was suggested that the concept should also include reasons tourists visit that site, since the site's attributes alone may not make a ...
Dark Tourism in India by Priyanka Shetty
According to Foley and Lennon (1996), dark tourism is a form of tourism that involves travelling to locations associated with death and disaster. People are increasingly interested in dark tourism in recent years because of their strong curiosity about death (Lennon & Foley, 2000). Dark tourism is still a fresh concept for the tourism industry.
India
If you allow the the time span for dark tourism (see concept of DT) to go even further back in history, then the world-famous Taj Mahal could also count as a dark-tourism attraction. It is primarily India's No. 1 mainstream tourist sight, but given that it is also the world's best-known mausoleum (that of 17th century emperor Shah Jahan's wife Mumtaz) you could argue that it is also 'dark'.
Must-visit dark tourism sites in India where you need more ...
Gandhi Smriti, New Delhi. The place where India's most famous freedom fighter, Mahatma Gandhi, was assassinated can never be left out of any list mentioning the major dark tourism sites in India. It was the place where India's greatest independence activist spent his last days post freedom.
(PDF) Dark Tourism in India-Introduction, Places Of Interest
Chennai, is the "Dutch Cemetery " in Pulicat is a ... Dark tourism—also known as Thana tourism—is a booming section in the tourism industry, which involves visit to locations, concerning ...
What you should know about the rise of dark tourism
According to IUPUI associate professor of tourism Suosheng Wang, the term dark tourism describes the phenomenon of people traveling to sites of death and disaster, whether man-made or natural. It is also known as "milking the macabre," the "dark side of tourism," "thanatourism" and "tragedy tourism.". Though dark tourism can ...
7 unexplored places in Chennai to surprise and wow you
Hidden lake - Quarries of Thirusulam hills -unexplored places in Chennai Hidden lake. Like how Alibaba was shocked to find treasure behind the doors of the dark cave, you will be surprised to see this vast and glassy lake encircled by a large quarry mountain in Thirusulam hills which is approximately 1 km from the airport.
Dark tourism: motivations and visit intentions of tourists
Introduction. Dark tourism is defined as the act of tourists traveling to sites of death, tragedy, and suffering (Foley and Lennon, 1996).This past decade marks a significant growth of dark tourism with increasing number of dark tourists (Lennon and Foley, 2000; Martini and Buda, 2018).More than 2.1 million tourists visited Auschwitz Memorial in 2018 (visitor numbers, 2019), and 3.2 million ...
Dark Tourists: Profile, Practices, Motivations and Wellbeing
2.1. Dark Tourists and Their Motivation to Dark Tourism Consumption. Stone's (2006) idea of dark tourism goes far beyond related attractions. From this standpoint, diverse well-visited tourist sites may become places of dark tourism due to their history linked with death—e.g., suicides in the Eiffel Tower, tombs in the pyramids of Egypt, the Valley of the Kings, and the Taj Mahal, funeral ...
7 Haunted Places in Chennai That You Should Know (2024)
With all these paranormal activities and scary stories, this should definitely not be in the list of places to visit in Chennai, period. 8. Wipro CDC5. A technology park is the least expected in Chennai's spook saga, especially by people who are practical thinkers and rubbish the rumors.

5 Best Sites for Dark Tourism in India with a deep history

1. Cellular Jail, Port Blair

2. Dumas Beach, Surat

3. Dow Hill in Kurseong, Darjeeling

4. Shaniwarwada, Pune

5. Bhuj, Gujrat

More about Dark Tourism

2. Is Dark tourism scary?

3. Why dark tourism is called ‘’DARK TOURISM”

4. Why is Dark Tourism is popular?

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Dark Tourism in India | Top 11 Forbidden Wonders Destination

Why is Dark Tourism in India a Unique Experience?

Dark Tourism Sites in India:

1. Jalianwala Bagh, Amritsar, Punjab

2. Cellular Jail, Port Blair, Andaman, and Nicobar Island

3. Skeleton Lake (Roopkund), Uttarakhand

5.Agrasen Ki Baoli, Delhi

6. Kalighat Temple, Kolkata

7. Dhanushkodi, Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu

8. South Park Street Cemetery, Kolkata

9. Kuldhara Village, Rajasthan

10. Dow Hill, Kurseong, West Bengal

11.Kamakhya Temple, Assam

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These Sites In India For Dark Tourism With Their Tragic Past Are Not For The Faint Hearted

Here are our top picks of dark tourism spots in India

Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar

Kala Pani, Port Blair

Lothal, Indus Valley civilisation sites, Gujarat

Taj Palace, Mumbai

Roopkund Lake, Uttarakhand

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