5 Scariest Horror Stories from Indonesia
1. Angga, 30, Yogyakarta – The Forest of Whispers
Profile: Angga is a local tour guide from Yogyakarta, Indonesia. He has always been skeptical about supernatural stories but believes in respecting local customs. His story takes place in the famous Kaliurang, a forested area near Mount Merapi.
Story:
It was late in the evening, around 9 PM, when I received a call from a family who needed help finding their way back to the village after a hike. They were not familiar with the forest trails, and being a guide, I immediately agreed to assist them. The forest near Kaliurang is known for its beauty, but it has an eerie reputation. I didn’t think much of it at first, thinking it was just a regular evening hike.
We walked through the dense trees, and the night seemed unusually silent. Not a single animal could be heard. The family kept close to me, and I noticed their nervous glances at every rustling noise. It was then that I heard it – a soft whisper, like someone was calling my name, though there was no one around. I turned around but saw nothing. I tried to shake it off as my mind playing tricks on me, but it kept happening. The whisper grew louder, almost as if it was right next to me.
I told the family to stay close, trying to remain calm. But then, one of the children cried out, pointing to something in the distance. A figure, cloaked in white, was walking through the trees. I could make out its features – pale skin, black hair, and an expressionless face. My heart raced as I remembered the local stories of “Pocong,” a ghost said to be wrapped in a white burial shroud.
The figure slowly started to move toward us. I called for the family to run, and we did, not daring to look back. As we reached the edge of the forest, the whispers stopped, but the feeling of being watched didn’t leave us until we were safely back at the village.
2. Nurul, 45, Aceh – The Haunted Beach House
Profile: Nurul is a teacher in Aceh, known for her calm demeanor and faith. She grew up in a coastal village near the famous Lampuuk Beach, where her family owned a beach house. Her story takes place in the house her family has owned for generations.
Story:
I had always loved spending time at our beach house. The sound of the waves, the breeze, and the quiet serenity of the place were perfect for me. However, one weekend, I decided to bring some of my friends along for a relaxing getaway. We had planned to spend the entire weekend there, but little did we know, the house had its own plans.
On the first night, everything seemed fine. We sat around, chatting and laughing, but as the clock struck midnight, strange things started happening. The lights flickered on and off, and a heavy, oppressive feeling filled the room. I tried to rationalize it – maybe it was the old wiring, or the humidity in the air.
But then, the sound of footsteps began. It was faint at first, like someone was walking around the house, but no one was there. My friends were becoming restless, and I could tell they were starting to feel it too. We all heard the footsteps getting closer and closer. Suddenly, the door to the attic opened on its own. I froze. No one had been near it, and we hadn’t used it in years.
I approached the door, and the smell of decay hit me, though it had been sealed for years. We gathered our courage and went up to the attic. The floorboards creaked under our weight. As I walked towards the far corner, I saw it – a figure sitting with its back to us. Its long, disheveled hair and tattered clothes sent chills down my spine. It turned around slowly, its face pale and hollow, eyes staring straight through us. I screamed, and we all ran out of the house, not daring to look back.
That night, I learned that the house had once been the site of a tragic event. A young woman had drowned in the sea and was believed to have returned to the house in search of peace. The house, I later discovered, had never been quite the same since.
3. Riko, 25, Bali – The Spirit of the Temple
Profile: Riko is a young student in Bali, originally from a village near Ubud. He is passionate about photography and often explores the island’s temples and historical sites. His experience took place during one of his night photo expeditions.
Story:
It was a hot night in Bali, and I was determined to get some good shots of the Tanah Lot temple during the twilight hours. I had heard that the temple was known for being haunted, but I dismissed it as superstition. I arrived around 11 PM, after most tourists had left.
The temple stood in the distance, illuminated by the moonlight. It was hauntingly beautiful, and I began to set up my camera. I could feel the presence of something strange, but I chalked it up to the eerie atmosphere of the night. As I snapped my photos, I noticed a shadow moving near the temple grounds. I thought it was just a trick of the light, but the figure kept getting closer.
I turned my camera’s flashlight towards it. What I saw made my heart stop – a tall, thin figure draped in traditional Balinese clothing, with an eerie, hollow face. The spirit glided silently towards me, its movements unnatural. I tried to run, but my legs wouldn’t move. It was as if the air had thickened around me, suffocating me.
With every step I took, the figure grew closer. Suddenly, I heard a loud voice in my ear, whispering in Balinese, “Go back. Leave this place.” The voice was not human, and it carried with it a chilling authority. I snapped out of my trance and fled, not stopping until I was safely back at the hotel.
Later, I learned from a local elder that the temple was home to a powerful spirit protector, known for guarding the sacred grounds. The spirit I encountered was believed to be one of the temple’s guardians, protecting the sacred place from intruders.
4. Eka, 35, Surabaya – The Woman in the Mirror
Profile: Eka is a nurse from Surabaya, working at a local hospital. She is a pragmatic woman who never gave much thought to supernatural occurrences. However, one fateful night changed her perception forever.
Story:
It was a quiet night shift at the hospital, and I was assigned to the emergency ward. The hospital had recently undergone renovations, and some of the older rooms were still unused. One of the rooms had an antique mirror that was rumored to have been placed there long ago by the former owners of the building.
As I walked past the room, I noticed the mirror reflecting something odd. At first, I thought it was just a trick of the light, but when I looked closer, I saw a woman standing in the reflection. She had long black hair and a white dress, and she was staring straight at me. I froze. There was no one in the room.
I immediately turned and ran down the hallway, but as I looked back, I saw the reflection of the woman still staring at me. My heart raced as I tried to shake off the fear, but the image lingered in my mind.
Later that night, I learned that the room had once been the site of a tragic suicide. A woman had taken her life in that very room, and her spirit was said to haunt the area. I could never look at the mirror the same way again. I avoided that room for the rest of my shift, and to this day, I cannot walk past it without feeling the chill of her gaze.
5. Deni, 40, Jakarta – The Ghost in the Old Hotel
Profile: Deni is a businessman who frequently travels across Indonesia for work. His story occurred during a stay at a century-old hotel in the heart of Jakarta.
Story:
I had been traveling for business and arrived in Jakarta late one night. I booked a room in an old hotel near the city center. The place was charming, with vintage decor and an air of nostalgia. But the moment I stepped into my room, I felt a heaviness in the air. I dismissed it as the exhaustion from my travels.
That night, I went to bed early. But around 2 AM, I was awoken by the sound of footsteps. I opened my eyes, thinking it was the hotel staff, but the footsteps were too slow, too deliberate. I got up to check, but no one was in the hallway.
As I lay back down, the temperature in the room dropped. I could see my breath in the air. A cold hand brushed against my cheek, and I froze in terror. I turned to see a woman in a long white gown standing at the foot of my bed. Her face was pale, with hollow eyes, and she was staring at me without saying a word.
I screamed, but the figure disappeared. I didn’t sleep the rest of the night and left the hotel at dawn. Later, I found out that the hotel had been built on the site of an old mansion where a woman had died under mysterious circumstances. Her ghost was said to haunt the hotel, seeking revenge on those who stayed in her room.
