Another installment in our series on abandoned places in the world.
1. Bhangarh, Rajasthan, India
Bhangarh was established in 1631 by Raja Madho Singh, younger brother of Man Singh, a general of Emperor Akbar’s army. This once populated town of 10,000 was abandoned in 1783 following a widespread famine. Local legend also states that Bhangarh was cursed by Guru Balu Nath, who originally sanctioned the fort’s construction with the condition that the palace not cast a shadow over his nearby retreat, otherwise it would fall into ruin.
2. Church of Potosi, Venezuela
The town of Potosi had been submerged in water since 1985 when the Venezuelan government built a hydroelectric dam. Yet due to an unprecedented drought in the region, Potosi and its 82-foot-tall church have reemerged.
3. Research Brain Facility, Moscow, Russia
In a “if these walls could talk scream” sort of way, urban explorers gained access into a sealed Army lab responsible for conducting experiments on human and animal brains. Located somewhere in Moscow, the lab was abandoned during Gorbachev’s leadership.
4. The Queen Chateau Soapland in Haikyo, Ibarak, Japan
Opened for only three short years between 1984 and 1987, the Queen Chateau Soapland in Ibaraki was a bath-based brothel, wherein each bedroom was equipped with a bath and shower for sex-related services.
5. Kaufhaus, Görlitz, Germany
Built between 1912 and 1913, the four-story Art Nouveau department store was designed by architect Carl Schmanns and built by August Kaempffer. Beginning in 1929, the building became part of what was then Europe’s largest department store group, Karstadt AG of Rudolph. During the communist era, the store belonged to the Centrum chain of East Germany. Since being transferred into some of Hertie’s holdings, the new owners have filed for bankruptcy and the store was subsequently closed in 2009.
For previous entries, please click here.
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