Being one of the largest tourist meccas in Southeast Asia, it’s no surprise that Bangkok would be more well-known for its bustling markets than for its darker secrets. Stemming from their deep roots in Buddhism, the Thai people hold utmost respect for spirits and religiously honour superstitions derived from both Buddhism and local folklore. From a long-standing tradition of horror stories and belief in ghosts originates one of the city’s most unconventional highlights: haunted places.
Abandoned House at Thawi Watthana
Drawing distinct parallels with the Final Destination film franchise, this abandoned house is the focal point of seven boys’ fates. One night in 2015, while high on alcohol and drugs, these boys let their adrenaline convince them to embark on an unconventional expedition: Legend has it that there was an abandoned house in the Thawi Watthana district that was haunted, and they wanted to confirm it for themselves. Driving all the way down the narrow road, they noticed two abandoned houses, but before they could enter, all the lights in the house and front porch turned off. Startled and struck by dread, all of them turned to leave.
Three months of calm passed, then horror stirred into being. Two boys were fatally wounded in a motorcycle accident, and a year later, a third boy met the same fate; In the following year, two more youths were killed in an unfortunate house fire. Witnesses gave similar accounts: they saw a woman in white riding on the backs of the motorcycles in both crash accidents. Before the tragic fire, a woman in white was seen entering the house.
The most chilling realization of all was that when asked, the accounts of the surviving teenagers rang a loud warning bell: the rumoured haunted house sat at the beginning of the road they had driven down. At its end where they had seen the two abandoned houses, was supposedly empty land.
Ajarn Chuan Ashram
Skilled in sorcery and the dark arts, a monk built hundreds of statues: humans, children, monsters and mythical creatures. Many of them share one core similarity — they were made from human remains; the ash, hair, bones and skin of humans were mixed into sculpting material. Complete with a sealing ritual, the statues were crafted and placed all over the ashram (a spiritual hermitage or monastery where a religious leader lives with their disciples).
In the years following the monk’s death, the ashram was abandoned. The trees grew and vegetation sprawled out, unkempt. Without anyone to maintain them, the statues eventually broke down. If one listens well, the locals pass on whispered rumours that strange magic still lingers in the damp atmosphere of the ashram.
Be sure not to dawdle around the area past sundown, for the statues are said to come alive in the night. For some unexplained reason, it’s also impossible to steal or move any of the statues here. A group of 10 thieves tried, but left in vain.
Soi Sai Yood Bus Cemetery
A security guard followed the ringing of laughter and singing to stop in front of an empty bus — the very one that had crashed while cruising down the road with a group of teenagers inside. This was not the first time it had happened. This yard is home to buses that were wrecked during fatal accidents and is a place to dispose of retired vehicles that are out-of-service.
Strange happenings have been reportedly observed in the night: faint calls for help echo throughout the compound, and taxi drivers are bewildered when the passenger who had flagged them down is suddenly nowhere to be found. Local stories tell of cars that drive past being assaulted by bright headlights, and of hitchhikers that materialize into the air without warning. Occasionally, the deceased passengers of bus accidents are seen running out into traffic, only to disappear moments before impact.
Until now, the bus cemetery is still used to house these metal corpses. Despite the surrounding areas starting to see development, and efforts to maintain the cleanliness of the compound from time to time, a distinct haze of unrest plagues the air — where the buses rest, the spirits roam.
Wat Don Cemetery
Notoriously known as the most haunted location in all of Bangkok, the Wat Don Temple Cemetery was established in 1899 and serves as a burial ground for victims of tragic accidents. Over 10,000 tombs are scattered throughout the area, a majority of them unidentified. All around, deserted land stretches for miles and thick jungles snarl across the ground.
An unspoken rule runs among taxi drivers in the city: don’t stop here, and avoid dropping off people in the area. Local witnesses recall in hushed whispers, of seeing taxis pull away with a severely injured person in the backseat or next to the driver, some missing limbs or even a part of their head. For the drivers themselves, they would turn around after arriving at their destination, only to realize that their passenger has disappeared or is suddenly covered in blood. When they leave, it’s not uncommon to find that they’ve picked up a phantom passenger, completely unaware.
In the present, a section of the graveyard has been renovated into public parks. Locals frequently head down for a jog during cooler days, to catch a break from the hustle and bustle of city life. Have a morning stroll here if you’re up for some alone time — or not. It’s safe to say that one will never be too lonely here.
Phra Khanong and Mae Nak Shrine
The legend goes like this: on the cusp of the twentieth century, there lived on the banks of Phra Khanong canal a beautiful young woman named Mae Nak, who was deeply in love with her husband, Mak. Unfortunately, Mak was conscripted and sent to war, leaving behind a pregnant Nak. In a tragic turn of events, Mak sustained severe injuries on the battlefield. While he was recovering in Bangkok, Nak and their baby died during childbirth. When Mak returned home, he found his wife and child alive and healthy, but his neighbours kept trying to tell him that they were dead.
Nak went through great lengths to get rid of anything that would raise suspicions. The pesky neighbours were killed, and Mak remained blissfully unaware — until he witnessed Nak stretching her arm inhumanly long to pick up a lime she had dropped while cooking. Terrified, he fled and took refuge within the holy grounds of Wat Mahabut temple, where Nak could not reach him. Devastated and furious, Nak began terrorizing the people of Phra Khanong, but was eventually captured by a powerful monk who sealed her into a jar and tossed it into the canal.
At this point, the legend branches out into different versions, but in each one, Nak was released from the jar by unsuspecting individuals and recaptured by another monk who trapped her ghost in a fragment of her skull. The Mae Nak Shrine was erected at Wat Mahabut to appease Nak’s spirit, and visitors go there to pray for a smooth childbirth or to not be forced into military service.
Beneath the city’s crowded streets, towering high rises and grand temples is the realm of spirits; A fascinating world retold in whispered old wives’ tales. Wake your inner horror enthusiast – take it on a wild chase through some of Bangkok’s most haunted sites.
