"Thai" horror tourism is all the rage now—backpackers' top picks: the Ghost Wife Temple and the Museum of Death

▲Still taking a boat ride to enjoy Bangkok’s riverside scenery? Backpackers say what they love most now are these hair-raising horror tours!(Photo provided by Xiaohu’s Dream-Net)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Visiting the Museum of Death to see the mummified remains of serial killers, or exploring the Ghost Wife Temple where "Nang Nak" is said to reside—this spine-chilling travel itinerary is sparking an alternative wave of horror tourism in Bangkok, Thailand. Many backpackers couldn’t care less about touching on taboo topics, even during the seventh lunar month. Fueled by curiosity, they flock here to experience it firsthand.

Siriraj Hospital isn’t just a medical facility—it also houses six themed museums, making it one of Bangkok’s most popular local attractions. The most famous among them isthe "Museum of Death,"which not only serves medical research purposes but also welcomes visitors. Inside, you’ll find dozens of infant corpses preserved in formaldehyde jars, severed human heads, as well as specimens of the nervous system and internal organs. Visitors need more than just courage—they need nerves of steel. Additionally, many leave offerings in front of glass jars containing unborn fetuses, hoping for their peaceful journey.

%Siriraj Hospital is not only the oldest hospital in the area but also a tourist spot.(Photo from Wikipedia)

A folk belief deeply rooted in the hearts of many Thais—theGhost Wife Temple, home to "Nang Nak,"is considered an inauspicious temple. Yet locals believe Nang Nak blesses love and fertility, drawing a constant stream of worshippers. Some even come to pray for lottery luck, as many firmly believe Nang Nak is incredibly responsive. As a result, many backpackers have added it to their horror-themed itineraries.

Another chilling horror destination is the"Bangkok Corrections Museum."From the outside, it may look serene, but inside, it displays a variety of torture devices used on prisoners in the 19th century. The walls are lined with diagrams of brutal execution methods, and mannequins are used to recreate scenes of actual punishments endured by inmates. The eerie scenes are so terrifying that even photos of them can send shivers down your spine.

▲%The prison museum (top photo), with its white walls, houses exhibits depicting one gruesome Thai punishment after another (bottom photo).(Photo fromtripadvisor)