The Bedugul Taman Rekreasi Hotel was meant to be one of the most beautiful hotels in Bali.
Today, it has been abandoned and its empty rooms are said to host evil spirits and ghosts.
Let’s take a look at the most haunted hotel in Bali, often known as the “Ghost Palace Hotel” and find out what’s going on there before you plan a visit.
Where Is The Ghost Palace Hotel, Bali?
You’ll find the Ghost Palace Hotel in Bedugul which is the North of Bali. It’s not far from the famous volcano, Mount Agung, and the incredible Ulun Danu Beratan Temple (‘the floating temple”).
Address: P.I. Bedugul Taman Rekreasi Hotel Restoran, Batunya, Baturiti, Kabupaten Tabanan, Bali 82191, Indonesia
How To Get To The Ghost Hotel?
If you want to get to the abandoned ghost palace here in Bali, you’re probably going to be best off hiring a private car and driver for a day or two.
This part of the island is quite remote, so it’s important for urban explorers to have some way to get home at the end of the day and there’s not likely to be any kind of Grab or Gojek service in this part of our Indonesian island.
The good news is that hiring a driver is cheap. 500,000 IDR gets you a driver, a car and all the fuel you need for 8 hours. That’s about $35 USD or $50 AUD.
When Is The Best Time To Visit The Abandoned Ghost Palace Hotel, Bali?
There’s no bad time of year for ghost stories and abandoned places in Bali and roaming the dark corridors of this once-luxurious resort can be done as easily in the wet season as in the dry season.
This part of Bali is always a bit cooler than the beach towns and it’s going to feel pleasantly warm without being hot while you explore the Ghost Palace Hotel.
Is There An Entrance Fee For The Hotel Grounds At The Bali Ghost Hotel?
Officially? No. But you will be expected to give a little tip to the security guard as you come off the main road. As it’s under his watchful eye that you will be given access to the building.
Last time we went, the expected tip was 10,000 IDR per person (that’s about $0.70 USD or $1 AUD). So, it won’t break the bank.
The History Of The Ghost Palace Hotel, Bali
The project is masked in urban legends but the long and short of things is that this hotel was built back in the 1990s.
It was owned by a consortium of investors fronted by Tommy Suharto, the son of the former Indonesian President Suharto (though Suharto was president when Tommy was running this consortium).
Tommy is not famous for his upstanding behaviour as a citizen and in the late 90s, he was convicted of scamming $11 million in a land deal.
Then, he arranged for the murder of the judge who convicted him. In 2022, he was sentenced “to jail” for that murder.
Which saw him living in a luxury retreat and playing golf in Jakarta most days – it wasn’t exactly a prison.
And it was during this period that the consortium seems to have given up and allowed the hotel to become an abandoned building.
It’s not known who owns the hotel now but it many tourists like to visit the shell of the place among the rice fields and lush jungles of North Bali.
What To Expect At The Abandoned Ghost Palace Hotel
They say that the grounds are haunted by the souls of the workers who died while building the palace.
On our visit, there were a few times when we felt a little spooked exploring the grounds but in reality, it’s a place of empty rooms and lots of atmosphere.
The grounds are clearly maintained and aren’t terribly overgrown which makes exploring the place very easy.
The staircase that runs up to the main entrance is a gorgeous local design and is very photogenic.
The rooms themselves are in decent repair and there’s no danger of the place collapsing, but there is quite a lot of mould present, so you might want to wear a face mask if you’re sensitive to spores.
What To Do Near The Ghost Palace Hotel
There is plenty to do near the Ghost Palace Hotel, Bali and this includes:
Lake Beratan – the lake, its temples and walking routes are by far the biggest draw near the Bali Ghost Hotel.
The SILA’s Agrotourism – this is a mini theme park in the middle of the countryside and it’s great fun for families.
Bedugul Traditional Market – if you want a proper fresh market for local fruits and veggies, this is the place to go.
The Blooms Garden – The Blooms is all about getting great Instagram shots in a Balinese garden setting. It’s lots of fun.
Mount Catur – the walking trail for this mountain begins by the lake and not far at all from the Ghost Palace Hotel.
Where To Eat Near The Ghost Palace Hotel
There are some surprisingly good places to eat near to the Ghost Hotel too and they include:
Saras – Saras makes some of the best sambal matah on the island and prides itself on local dishes done well.
Rumah Makan Taman Sari – a popular 3-level restaurant that serves Balinese food to hungry travellers.
Bali Strawberry Farm & Resto – if you love strawberries, you’ll love this place which grows its own strawberries and makes them into delightful dishes.
The Lost Cafe – this is a lovely spot for coffee and some breakfast. Their homemade pastries are amazing!
House of Tundra – a minimalist cafe setting with gorgeous views out of the back. The cakes are top-notch.
Where To Stay Near The Ghost Palace Hotel
There are also some excellent accommodations in this area and they’re very good value for money:
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Bali Tree House Pelangi – this is a very attractive tree house homestay with gorgeous views out of the local countryside. It’s very quiet and laidback and there’s not a lot to do at night, but for many tourists, that’s its appeal.
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House of Grace – this is a very nice lodge-style accommodation which is popular with locals as well as tourists. It’s perfect for a retreat or meeting venue.
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Green Ponci Presents Sunrise View Suites – they’ve got hot water, working Wi-Fi and comfortable rooms at this relatively new hotel which also provides magical views of the countryside.
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Umah Lumbung Bedugul – this is a charming hotel right next to the Bali Botanical Garden and if you want to enjoy the park during your stay, it’s the best place to choose.
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CLV Hotel & Villa – this place has definitely seen better days but at roughly $20 USD or $30 AUD, what you go get are spectacular views of the lake and the surrounding area.
FAQs
Why Is The Hotel In Bali Abandoned?
The Bali Ghost Hotel, PI Bedugul Taman Rekreasi, is abandoned due to a complex history of corruption and political problems within Indonesia.
It was never fully completed before the project was abandoned.
Who Is The Owner Of The Abandoned Hotel In Bali?
The current ownership of the Bali Ghost Palace is not known. The asset originally belonged to a consortium headed up by the Suharto family but this consortium would have been dissolved at some point.
Why Was the New Kuta Hotel Abandoned?
The New Kuta Hotel was subject to some controversy when a video appeared of it being abandoned online.
However, the owners quickly released a statement saying it hadn’t been abandoned and was being renovated.
This turns out to have been 100% true and you can now stay in the New Kuta Hotel by LORIN after it reopened.
What Hotel Do The G20 Stay At In Bali?
At the last G20 summit in 2022, the guests stayed at the Apurva Kempinski Hotel in Nusa Dua. You can rent a room in that hotel for around 7 million IDR per night (that’s around $435 USD or $700 AUD per night).
Which Hotel Did The Kardashians Stay At In Bali?
The Kardashians opted to stay at a private resort called the Soori Resort Hotel. The room rate at this hotel starts at 22 million IDR per night (that’s about $1300 USD or $2200 AUD per night).
How To Book A Good Hotel In Bali
If you want to avoid staying in an abandoned ghost hotel, then you can book with confidence through the Bali Res Centre.
That’s a locally owned travel service that specializes in great deals for accommodation and flights to and from Bali.
Final Thoughts On The Ghost Palace Hotel, Bali
The abandoned Ghost Palace Hotel is an interesting part of Bali’s history and makes for a fascinating stop in the Bedugul area.
Given there’s so much to do in this part of Bali, we can highly recommend including it on your holiday itinerary.
Read more: Taman Festival, Bali: The Ghost Town Of An Abandoned Theme Park
