Nestled amongst the green hills is the red Fernhills Royal Palace Hotel, which is said to be haunted by people who have stayed there. There are many legends and even rumours that the hotel had to close for a while due to ongoing paranormal activity there.
In the southern state of Tamil Nadu in India, you will find Fernhills Royal Palace Hotel, a luxury resort with a picturesque view of the lush Nilgiri Mountains covered with blue Kurunji flowers. In the city of Ooty, known as the “Queen of Hill Resorts” in the country, you will find the city of Ooty.
Many people have reported strange sightings and supernatural phenomena that have occurred within the walls of this Swiss-style hotel, earning it a reputation as one of the most mysterious and haunted places in India.
Visiting Fernhills Royal Palace Hotel
The most celebrated ghost story told from a hotel comes from a Bollywood production. In 2002, Bollywood dance choreographer Saroj Khan traveled to Ooty to shoot the film Raaz. She and her troupe checked into the Fernhills Royal Palace Hotel, expecting a relaxing night. However, they were kept awake at night by people upstairs who were making noises of furniture being moved around, making so much noise that they couldn’t sleep.
They called the receptionist but there was no answer, as if the phone was dead. They made it through the night with the move upstairs without making any more fuss, and complained to the receptionist the next day.
The receptionist was confused and said: But there is no floor upstairs, and even took the time to show them from the outside when everyone was confused. Indeed, there was no space above them. But what then kept them awake all night?
The history of Fernhills Royal Palace Hotel
But let’s take a look at the hotel’s history to understand where the haunting rumors might be coming from. Fern Hill Hotel, formerly known as the Palace Hotel, was built in 1844 as the summer residence of the Maharaja of Mysore. The Swiss Chalet gives it an alpine feel as it sits amidst the lush greenery of cardamom and tea plantations.
The hotel initially functioned as a summer resort for British officials and their families during the rule of the British Empire, providing them with a haven from the heat of the moist plains of the Madras Presidency and the much cooler climate.
Later, in the 1920s, it was converted into a hotel and renamed the Fern Hill Hotel. Since then, the hotel has undergone several renovations and is now a luxury resort that attracts guests from all over the world.
Ghost Sightings and Paranormal Activity
The Fernhills Royal Palace Hotel has had a number of strange occurrences over the years, with guests and staff reporting hearing unexplained noises, seeing ghosts and feeling presences in their rooms.
There are several theories about the haunting of the Fernhills Royal Palace Hotel. Some believe that the hotel was built on land that was once a cemetery, which caused the spirits of the dead to haunt the hotel.
Others believe the hauntings are the result of the hotel’s gloomy history, which includes the deaths of several guests and staff members. There is also a widespread rumor that a woman committed suicide at the hotel.
Fern Hill Hotel Controversy
Despite its haunted reputation, there are those who believe the hauntings at the Fernhills Royal Palace Hotel are nothing more than a hoax. Some skeptics have noted that the hotel has a financial incentive to promote its haunted reputation, as it attracts guests and increases revenue.
When it comes to the making of Raaz and what the dance troupe experienced during that evening, it is worth noting that the film is actually a supernatural horror film and the stories about the haunted room upstairs that did not exist were meant to be part of the film's promotion.
The hotel was closed for a long time in March 2018. The official reason is that it is closed for renovation. Many claimed that it was because of the rumors of haunting that started to gather around the hotel and the numerous incidents of paranormal activity. Now it has reopened, but the question is, with or without ghosts?
References:
Fernhills Palace, Ooty – Wikipedia
Most Haunted Places in Ooty and Their Scary Stories
The Secrets Behind Raaz And More… | Bollywood – Hindustan Times
Ghostbusting Goals: Most Haunted Hotels In India
Image Source: Pixabay.com
