7 Beautiful Yet Forbidden Places On Earth - One Of Them Is In India

Somewhere off the coast of Brazil, there lies an island so dangerous that not a single human is allowed to step foot on it. Thousands of miles away in the Indian Ocean, a tribe untouched by modern civilisation guards its island from the outside world. And in the frozen north, a vault holds the world's agricultural future deep beneath layers of Arctic ice. These are the world's forbidden places - locations that have shut their doors to humanity. From snake-filled islands to secret military towns, these no-entry zones hold mysteries that have survived satellites, Google Maps, and human curiosity. You cannot visit them, but you can still journey through their stories.

Also Read: All About Lonar Crater Lake: Maharashtra's 'Otherworldly' Wonder Born From Stars

Here are 7 Beautiful Yet Forbidden Locations On Earth:

1. Brazil's Snake Island

Location: Off the coast of Sao Paulo, Brazil

Just 90 miles from the mainland, Ilha da Queimada Grande - better known as Snake Island - is one of the deadliest places on Earth. It is home to the golden lancehead viper, a venomous snake found nowhere else. With roughly one snake per square metre, the island is a slithering nightmare.

The Brazilian government has banned all visitors to protect both the snakes and curious humans. Even scientists need special permission and a medical escort. Despite the danger, Snake Island thrives as a natural sanctuary for birds and dense tropical vegetation.

How to experience it: Watch documentaries, read field reports, or view drone footage for a glimpse into its eerie ecosystem.

Also Read: "Feels Like Narnia": California's Sequoia National Park Is A Wonder Waiting To Be Explored

_{Photo Credit: Photo Credit: atlasobscura.com}

2. Area 51, USA

Location: Nevada Desert, USA

Hidden in the vast Nevada desert lies Area 51 - the epicentre of every alien conspiracy you've ever heard. Officially, it's a U.S. Air Force site testing experimental aircraft since 1955. Unofficially, it's home to decades of whispered tales about UFOs, extraterrestrial encounters, and mysterious lights in the sky.

The CIA only confirmed its existence in 2013, but the airspace remains restricted, and entry is strictly prohibited. Anyone attempting to trespass risks arrest. For those curious, the Extraterrestrial Highway and nearby Rachel, Nevada - complete with alien-themed diners - offer a tongue-in-cheek peek at the legend.

How to experience it: Sci-fi documentaries, satellite imagery, and themed attractions around Rachel keep the mystery alive.

_{Photo Credit: space.com}

3. North Sentinel Island, India

Location: Bay of Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar Islands

One of the last untouched civilisations on Earth lives on North Sentinel Island. The Sentinelese tribe has remained isolated for over 60,000 years, rejecting any contact with the outside world. Attempts to reach the island have ended in tragedy, including the 2018 death of an American missionary.

The Indian government enforces a strict no-contact policy under the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Act, 1956. Approaching within five nautical miles is prohibited. This law protects the tribe from exposure to diseases and keeps outsiders safe from their fiercely guarded territory.

How to experience it: Through documentaries, aerial photography, and satellite images of the Andaman Islands that show a world suspended in time.

Also Read: 6 Dreamy Small Towns To Include On Your Travel Bucket List

_{Photo Credit: Instagram}

4. Norway's Svalbard Global Seed Vault

Location: Spitsbergen Island, Arctic Norway

In the icy north of Norway sits one of the most secure buildings in the world - the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. Designed to preserve the planet's agricultural heritage, it stores more than 1.3 million seed samples from across the globe.

Only authorised scientists and government-approved personnel can enter. For the rest of the world, the entrance alone - a sleek, ice-covered structure emerging from the tundra - has become a symbol of hope against climate collapse or war.

How to experience it: Take a virtual tour, read about its conservation efforts, or dive into documentaries explaining how this "Doomsday Vault" protects future food security.

_{Photo Credit: time.com}

5. The Untouched Tomb Of Qin Shi Huang, China

Location: Xi'an Province, China

Beneath the city of Xi'an lies the grand tomb of Qin Shi Huang, China's first emperor - the man behind the Terracotta Army. While thousands of clay soldiers have been unearthed since 1974, the emperor's own burial chamber remains sealed.

Archaeologists fear that opening it could destroy the fragile relics within. Some ancient texts even mention rivers of mercury and hidden traps designed to protect the emperor in death. For now, it remains undisturbed - a silent world beneath the soil.

How to experience it: Visit the Terracotta Army Museum or explore documentaries and satellite imagery detailing this still-mysterious archaeological site.

_{Photo Credit: archaeologymag.com}

6. Heard Island, Australia

Location: Southern Indian Ocean

Halfway between Antarctica and Madagascar lies a world barely touched by humans. Heard Island is home to Mawson Peak, a constantly erupting volcano surrounded by glaciers and icy seas. No one lives here - and getting there requires a two-week sea voyage and special research permits.

The island is a protected nature reserve, its isolation shielding colonies of penguins and seals. It is raw, harsh, and utterly magnificent.

How to experience it: Through virtual expeditions, satellite footage, and research photography documenting this haunting wilderness.

Also Read: 7 Mysterious Places In India Where Science Fails And Stories Take Over

_{Photo Credit: antarctica.gov.au}

7. Mezhgorye, Russia

Location: Bashkortostan, Russia

Deep in the Ural Mountains lies Mezhgorye - a closed town guarded by Russian forces. It does not appear on standard maps, and its purpose remains classified. Some believe it hides nuclear facilities, missile silos, or Cold War bunkers built deep beneath the mountains.

Civilians are not permitted to enter, and very little information has ever been confirmed. Mezhgorye is, quite literally, a town that lives only in whispers.

How to experience it: Study declassified reports, read historical accounts, or view satellite maps that offer faint glimpses of its location.

_{Photo Credit: Google Image}

Why The World Keeps Its Secrets?

As mysterious as they seem, these forbidden places are not just curiosities; they are crucial to the planet's balance. Snake Island and Heard Island protect rare species from extinction. North Sentinel Island guards a culture untouched by modern disease. The Svalbard Vault safeguards humanity's future crops, while Area 51 and Mezhgorye shield national security.

Even the Tomb of Qin Shi Huang stands as a reminder that not every secret needs to be unearthed. These places exist because they must - they represent the delicate line between knowledge and respect.

The Final Word:

In a world that prides itself on knowing everything, these no-entry zones remind us that mystery still survives. Some maps remain unfinished. Some doors must stay locked. And maybe that is not a loss, but a gift - proof that wonder still exists, quietly, on the edges of the known world.