The world is full of amazing places to visit, but some of them are more unusual than others. In this article, we will explore 10 strange tourist attractions around the world and their stories. These attractions range from museums dedicated to cats and toilets, to forests of bent trees and burning craters. Whether you are looking for a quirky adventure or a cultural experience, these attractions will surely surprise you.
1. THE CAT MUSEUM IN KUCHING:
If you are a cat lover, you will enjoy visiting the Cat Museum in Kuching, Malaysia. Kuching means "cat" in Malay, and the city is known for its feline obsession. The Cat Museum is located in the City Hall building, and it displays over 4,000 items related to cats, including paintings, sculptures, photos, stamps, and souvenirs. You can also learn about the history and folklore of cats, as well as the different breeds and types of cats around the world. The museum is free to enter, but you have to pay a small fee if you want to take photos.
2. THE TOILET MUSEUM IN DELHI:
The Toilet Museum in Delhi, India, is not your typical museum. It is a museum that showcases the history and culture of toilets, from ancient times to the present day. The museum was founded by Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, a social activist who is also the founder of Sulabh International, an organization that provides low-cost sanitation solutions to millions of people in India. The museum exhibits various types of toilets, such as flush toilets, chamber pots, bidets, and squat toilets, as well as the evolution of toilet design and technology. The museum also educates visitors about the importance of hygiene and sanitation, and the challenges faced by many people who lack access to proper toilets.
3. THE MUSEUM OF BAD ART IN BOSTON:
The Museum of Bad Art in Boston, USA, is a museum that displays the worst artworks ever created. The museum was founded in 1994 by antique dealer Scott Wilson, who found a painting of an old woman in a trash bin and decided to start a collection of bad art. The museum now has over 600 pieces of bad art, donated by artists, collectors, and thrift shops. The museum's motto is "Art too bad to be ignored", and its mission is to celebrate the beauty and humor of artistic failure. The museum has four locations in the Boston area, and admission is free.
4. THE CROOKED FOREST IN POLAND:
The Crooked Forest in Poland is a forest of mysteriously bent pine trees. The forest consists of about 400 pine trees that have a 90-degree bend at their base, forming a C-shape. The trees were planted in the 1930s, but no one knows why or how they became crooked. Some theories suggest that the trees were deliberately shaped by humans for furniture or boat making, or that they were damaged by snow, wind, or war. The forest is a popular tourist attraction, and a source of mystery and wonder.
5. THE DOOR TO HELL IN TURKMENISTAN:
The Door to Hell in Turkmenistan is a burning crater that has been on fire for decades. The crater is located in the Karakum Desert, and it measures about 70 meters in diameter and 20 meters in depth. The crater was created in 1971, when Soviet geologists were drilling for natural gas and accidentally hit an underground cavern. The gas started to leak, and the geologists decided to set it on fire, hoping that it would burn out in a few days. However, the fire has been burning ever since, creating a spectacle of flames and smoke that can be seen from miles away. The crater is also known as the Darvaza Gas Crater, and it attracts thousands of visitors every year.
6. THE WINCHESTER MYSTERY HOUSE IN CALIFORNIA:
The Winchester Mystery House in California, USA, is a haunted mansion with endless stairs and doors. The mansion was built by Sarah Winchester, the widow of William Winchester, the inventor of the Winchester rifle. Sarah believed that she was cursed by the spirits of the people killed by the Winchester rifles, and that the only way to appease them was to keep building her house. She hired workers to construct the house 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for 38 years, until her death in 1922. The result was a sprawling mansion with over 160 rooms, 2,000 doors, 10,000 windows, 47 fireplaces, 40 staircases, 13 bathrooms, and 6 kitchens. The mansion also has many bizarre features, such as stairs that lead to nowhere, doors that open to walls, windows that look into other rooms, and secret passages. The mansion is said to be haunted by Sarah and the ghosts of the Winchester victims, and it is open to the public for tours and events.
7. THE CHOCOLATE HILLS IN THE PHILIPPINES:
The Chocolate Hills in the Philippines are a landscape of thousands of brown mounds. The hills are located in the province of Bohol, and they cover an area of about 50 square kilometers. The hills vary in size and shape, but they are mostly conical and symmetrical. The hills are made of limestone, and they are covered with green grass that turns brown during the dry season, giving them the appearance of chocolate. The hills are a natural phenomenon, but their origin is still a mystery. Some legends say that the hills are the remains of a giant's tears, or the result of a battle between two giants. The hills are a popular tourist attraction, and a national geological monument.
8. THE HANGING COFFINS IN CHINA:
The Hanging Coffins in China are a tradition of placing coffins on cliff sides. The coffins are found in several provinces in China, such as Sichuan, Yunnan, Hubei, and Fujian. The coffins date back to over 2,000 years ago, and they belong to various ethnic groups, such as the Bo, the Miao, and the Naxi. The coffins are made of wood, stone, or bamboo, and they are either placed in caves, hung on wooden stakes, or wedged into rock crevices. The reason for this practice is not clear, but some possible explanations are that it was a way of honoring the dead, avoiding tomb robbers, saving land, or getting closer to heaven. The coffins are a cultural heritage, and a source of curiosity and awe.
9. THE UNDERWATER SCULPTURE PARK IN GRENADA:
The Underwater Sculpture Park in Grenada is a collection of submerged statues. The park is located off the coast of Moliniere Bay, and it covers an area of about 800 square meters. The park was created by British artist Jason deCaires Taylor, who wanted to create an artificial reef that would attract marine life and divers. The park features over 100 sculptures, made of concrete and steel, that depict various scenes and themes, such as human figures, a ring of children holding hands, a man on a bicycle, and a lost correspondent. The sculptures are also designed to promote coral growth and environmental awareness. The park is a unique attraction, and a living gallery.
10. THE CLOWN MOTEL IN NEVADA:
The Clown Motel in Nevada, USA, is a motel filled with clown memorabilia and a cemetery next door. The motel is located in the town of Tonopah, and it has been in operation since 1985. The motel has 31 rooms, each decorated with clown paintings, posters, dolls, and figurines. The motel also has a lobby that displays over 2,000 clown items, collected by the original owner, Leona Mann. The motel is adjacent to the Old Tonopah Cemetery, which dates back to the 1900s and contains over 300 graves of miners, pioneers, and residents. The motel is a destination for clown lovers, horror fans, and thrill seekers.
CONCLUSION:
These are some of the strange tourist attractions around the world and their stories. They may not be for everyone, but they are certainly worth a visit if you are looking for something different and memorable. Have you been to any of these attractions, or do you know of any other ones? Let us know in the comments below.