Introduction
Ever since Stranger Things released, the world has been chasing that Hawkins vibe – foggy streets, flickering lights, dense forests, and the feel that something might crawl out of the shadows at any moment. This series provided viewers with much more than just Demogorgons, telekinesis and psychic powers from Eleven, and Mind Flayers-it also established a whole new aesthetic. The combination of nostalgia for small-town America, 1980s mystery, supernatural danger, and the friendship connections found in the midst of chaotic experiences shaped our perspectives on traveling to spooky locations.
It is not just the monsters that hooked viewers – it is the atmosphere.
- The empty roads that feel too quiet.
- The woods that seem to breathe.
- The abandoned structures that whisper stories.
- That classic Stranger Things silence that somehow feels louder than noise.
All over the globe, including in India, there are real locations where you can experience those intense feelings that draw fans to the show, such as:
- the intrigue that makes Dustin’s curiosity spike
- the thrill that would make Steve grab his nail-bat
- the uneasy quiet Eleven senses before something strange happens
- the wonder that turns every mystery into a Mike-and-Will adventure
These eerie landscapes offer more than stunning visuals; they also provide a powerful source of nostalgia, suspense, and unbridled adventure that can transport fans back into the world of Stranger Things. The same combination of emotions that made the show so successful is present in off-the-beaten-path locations across the globe, whether it’s a ghost village deep within the forest, a haunted woodlands, or deserted industrial buildings.
IN SHORT
If you love Stranger Things, there are real places around the world-and in India-that evoke the same spooky, cinematic energy. These locations share:
- Abandoned or forgotten landscapes
- Disturbing legends or paranormal claims
- Dense forests, fog, tunnels, and empty structures
- Vibes similar to Hawkins Lab, the Upside Down, and the show’s supernatural setting
In this part of the guide, you will explore:
- What makes a place feel like Stranger Things
- Kuldhara Village – one of India’s most mysterious abandoned settlements
- Lambi Dehar Mines – an eerie hillside location resembling Hawkins Lab’s secrecy
Each destination includes traveller insights, visual cues, and reasons why they mirror the show’s atmosphere.
What Makes a Place Feel Like Stranger Things?
A real-world place feels like Stranger Things when it carries the same blend of mystery, subtle horror, and “something is not right here” energy. It is not only about abandoned structures-it is about ambience.
Key Elements That Create the Stranger Things Vibe
- Isolation and silence – Small towns, empty villages, or remote hills that instantly feel unsettling.
- Abandoned architecture – Mines, derelict buildings, ghost villages, or underground areas.
- Fog, forests, and dim lighting – Natural elements that create the perfect eerie canvas.
- Folklore and legends – Stories of disappearances, curses, hauntings, or unexplained phenomena.
- Cold, industrial energy – Structures that resemble Hawkins National Laboratory: secretive, abandoned, or heavily guarded in the past.
- “Upside Down” resemblance – Overgrown vegetation, twisted pathways, or places where nature feels unnatural.
Emotional Triggers Similar to the Show
- A sense of being watched
- Sudden quietness
- Atmospheric tension
- Visual cues like cracked walls, rusting machinery, or unlit corridors
Why Travellers Love These Places
- They offer cinematic adventure beyond traditional tourism.
- They appeal to fans of dark tourism, paranormal experiences, and offbeat travel.
- They create opportunities for incredible photo shoots and storytelling.
Stranger Things-like locations combine nostalgia, mystery, and adrenaline-making them perfect for explorers seeking something beyond the typical “beautiful place”.
1. Kuldhara Village, Rajasthan – The Real-Life Upside Down
Kuldhara is often described as one of India’s eeriest abandoned sites, and for good reason. Walking through its deserted lanes feels like stepping into the Upside Down-silent, frozen in time, and charged with an invisible tension.
Why It Feels Like Stranger Things
- Abandoned overnight – Just like Hawkins’ sudden chaos, the entire Paliwal Brahmin community vanished in one night.
- Desolate architecture – Crumbling havelis, broken walls, and empty pathways create a post-apocalyptic aesthetic.
- Absolute silence – The village remains untouched, giving it a haunting “another dimension” vibe.
- Local myths – Residents believe the village is cursed, adding a supernatural layer similar to Hawkins’ whispers.
Visual Similarities
- Vast barren surroundings resembling the Upside Down’s empty landscapes
- Lack of human activity
- Wind sweeping through narrow lanes, creating eerie sound patterns
Ideal For
- Fans of mystery and dark tourism
- Photographers looking for cinematic, dystopian frames
- Travellers exploring haunted or abandoned destinations
Kuldhara’s stillness and visuals make it one of the closest real-life parallels to Stranger Things’s most terrifying dimension.
2. Lambi Dehar Mines, Mussoorie – The Hawkins Lab Energy
Located in the hills of Mussoorie, the abandoned Lambi Dehar Mines carry an unsettling mix of industrial silence and paranormal mystery-very similar to the dark aura surrounding Hawkins National Laboratory.
Why It Feels Like Hawkins Lab
- Industrial ruins – Old mining tunnels, rusted machinery, and derelict structures create a sinister scientific-facility vibe.
- History of tragedy – Thousands of miners reportedly died due to unsafe working conditions, embedding a sense of sorrow and disturbance.
- Restricted areas – Some parts remain inaccessible, enhancing the feeling of secrecy.
- Frequent paranormal claims – Locals report strange noises, screams, and unexplained shadows after dark.
Atmospheric Elements
- Thick forests surrounding the site
- Fog rolling down the hills, reducing visibility
- A strange, metallic smell around certain tunnels
- Complete absence of daily human movement
Ideal For
- Adventure travellers
- Dark tourism enthusiasts
- Fans looking to experience the unsettling Hawkins Lab aesthetic firsthand
Lambi Dehar Mines blends industrial dread, paranormal rumours, and natural eeriness-making it feel straight out of a Stranger Things subplot.
3. Dow Hill, Kurseong – Mirkwood Forest in India
Dow Hill in Kurseong is one of India’s most unsettling forest regions, known for phantom sightings, unexplained footsteps, and a deep silence that feels engineered. With mist-covered pine trees, narrow trails, and a chilling emptiness, it strongly resembles the “Mirkwood” forest sequences in Stranger Things-especially the scenes where Will Byers disappears.
Why It Feels Like Stranger Things
- Perpetual fog creates low visibility similar to the Hawkins woods.
- Death Road, the stretch between Dow Hill Road and the Victoria Boys’ School, is known for shadowy figures appearing and disappearing.
- Headless boy apparition reported by locals adds an uncanny, glitch-like presence-more creature anomaly than ghost.
- Dense, symmetrical pine forests give the same atmospheric dread as the chase scenes in the show.
Atmospheric Elements
- Tall pines that block sunlight even during the day
- Forest trails that echo with unknown footsteps
- Sudden temperature drops in the middle of a walk
- Complete silence except for the wind
Ideal For
- Dark-tourism travellers
- Paranormal enthusiasts
- Anyone who wants to experience the “lost in the woods with something watching” sensation
Dow Hill feels less like a haunted forest and more like a crossover zone-a place where reality feels thin, and something else might be lurking just behind the trees.
4. Dumas Beach, Gujarat – The Mind Flayer’s Realm
Dumas Beach is famous for its black sand, eerie ocean winds, and stories of whispers in the night. Once a cremation ground, the beach carries an unsettling energy that mirrors the dark, particle-filled environment controlled by the Mind Flayer in Stranger Things.
Why It Feels Like Stranger Things
- Black sand grains resemble the swirling black particles associated with the Shadow Monster.
- Whispers heard at night by visitors give the illusion of telepathic communication-one of the Mind Flayer’s signature abilities.
- Tourists reportedly disappearing after dark has added to the beach’s chilling mythology.
- Sudden strong winds make the entire landscape feel unstable and alive.
Atmospheric Elements
- A vast, silent coastline with minimal lighting
- Smoke-like mist rising from the seawater
- Stray dogs who reportedly behave strangely at night
- A heavy sense of being watched
Ideal For
- Night-time exploration enthusiasts
- Horror fans
- Travellers who prefer eerie natural landscapes
Dumas Beach is not just spooky-it is visually surreal and emotionally unnerving, making it one of India’s strongest real-world parallels to the Mind Flayer’s dark realm.
5 Morgan House, Kalimpong – The Creel House Parallel
Morgan House, a British-era mansion built in the 1930s, sits on a hill surrounded by dense greenery. While beautiful from afar, its silent corridors, creaking floors, and colonial gloom evoke the psychological dread of the Creel House from Stranger Things Season 4.
Why It Feels Like Stranger Things
- Old colonial architecture mirrors the retro, haunted aesthetic of the Creel home.
- Reports of high-heel footsteps echoing at night feel like the auditory hallucinations Vecna uses to communicate.
- Dimly lit hallways and antique furniture amplify that “the house is watching you” sensation.
- Long periods of vacancy contribute to the feeling of a trapped energy lingering inside.
Atmospheric Elements
- Wooden staircases that creak without warning
- Rooms that stay colder than others
- A lingering musty scent, hinting at the past
- Surrounding thick forest that blocks external noise
Ideal For
- Haunted-house lovers
- Fans of gothic architecture
- Paranormal-curious travellers
Morgan House blends beauty and fear effortlessly-an elegant structure with a sinister aura that perfectly mirrors the Creel House’s psychological horror.
6. Jatinga, Assam – The Hive Mind Phenomenon
Jatinga is globally known for its baffling “bird mystery,” where dozens of birds descend in a trance during monsoon nights. They appear disoriented, fly low, and collide with houses or trees. Scientists haven’t fully decoded the phenomenon, giving this place an uncanny Stranger Things “Hive Mind” energy.
Why It Feels Like Stranger Things
- Birds behave unnaturally, as if coordinated by an unseen force-similar to the Mind Flayer controlling rats and humans.
- Occurs only in a specific 1.5 km strip, almost like an invisible field or magnetic zone.
- Happens during foggy, low-light nights, enhancing the surreal, cinematic effect.
- Locals describe birds not reacting even when approached, as though in a trance.
Atmospheric Elements
- Mist-covered valley
- Low visibility during monsoon
- Sudden drops in bird flight paths
- Forested hills echoing with night calls
Ideal For
- Wildlife enthusiasts
- Mystery lovers
- Travellers interested in science-meets-supernatural locations
Jatinga feels like a field experiment gone wrong-a place where nature briefly loses control, mimicking the eerie Hive Mind behaviour from Season 3.
7. Mukesh Mills, Mumbai – The Russian Base Industrial Horror
Mukesh Mills is one of Mumbai’s most iconic abandoned industrial sites. Built in the 1870s and destroyed by multiple fires, the mill’s ruins now serve as a hotspot for horror films and paranormal tales. Its rusted machinery and long, empty corridors evoke the same industrial dread as the secret Russian base beneath Starcourt Mall.
Why It Feels Like Stranger Things
- Massive, hollow factory buildings resemble the cold, concrete geometry of the Russian base.
- Rusted pipes and broken generators amplify the sense of a malfunctioning experimental facility.
- Film crews refusing to shoot at night add legitimacy to its haunted reputation.
- A strong feeling of surveillance-many report feeling watched even when alone.
Atmospheric Elements
- Echoing footsteps inside empty warehouses
- Flickering light through broken windows
- Machinery coated in rust and grime
- Damp, metallic smell hanging in the air
Ideal For
- Fans of industrial horror
- Bollywood-history enthusiasts
- Explorers who enjoy abandoned architecture
Mukesh Mills is the perfect Indian equivalent of a secret, failed experiment site-dark, industrial, and disturbingly silent, making it one of the most spine-chilling Stranger Things-style places in the country.
Travel Tips: How to Safely Explore Haunted & Mysterious Places
Exploring haunted or mysterious places can be exciting, but it requires careful planning and safety awareness. These locations often have limited lighting, uneven paths, abandoned structures, or isolated environments-making preparation essential.
Follow These Key Guidelines
- Go in groups: Avoid visiting isolated or haunted areas alone. Companions help with safety and navigation.
- Avoid late nights: Most paranormal hotspots become riskier after dark due to low visibility and wildlife activity.
- Hire local guides: In remote villages, forests, or abandoned zones, a guide ensures you stay on safe paths.
- Check weather conditions: Fog, rain, and storms can drastically change the terrain, especially in forests and beaches.
- Carry essentials:
- Flashlight
- Power bank
- Water
- First-aid kit
- Fully charged phone
- Follow local restrictions: Some locations restrict photography or night entry for safety reasons.
- Respect local beliefs: Haunted places often hold cultural or historical significance. Approach with sensitivity.
Exploring these sites can be thrilling-but safety should always come first to ensure the experience remains memorable for the right reasons.
Glossary
Upside Down: A dark alternate dimension in Stranger Things, filled with decay, spores, and shadowy creatures.
Hawkins Lab: A government-run laboratory in the show known for secret experiments related to psychic powers, portals, and interdimensional entities.
Mirkwood: The name the kids give to the eerie forest in Hawkins where multiple supernatural events occur.
Mind Flayer: The main antagonist in Stranger Things-an enormous shadow creature that controls living beings through a hive mind.
Hive Mind: A shared consciousness where multiple organisms or entities behave as one, often controlled by a stronger central intelligence.
Ghost Town: An abandoned settlement where buildings remain but population has disappeared.
Paranormal Places: Locations associated with supernatural occurrences, unexplained phenomena, or folklore-driven mysteries.
FAQs
1. Which is the most haunted place in India?
Kuldhara Village, Bhangarh Fort, and Dow Hill are commonly considered among the most haunted, with strong paranormal folklore and reported sightings.
2. Are these Stranger Things-style locations safe to visit?
Most of them are safe during the daytime. Avoid isolated sections at night and follow local guidelines to stay secure.
3. Can travellers stay near these haunted places?
Yes. Places like Kalimpong (near Morgan House), Kurseong (near Dow Hill), and Mussoorie (near Lambi Dehar Mines) offer hotels and homestays.
4. Why do birds behave strangely in Jatinga?
Scientists believe fog, disorientation, and light sources confuse birds during monsoon nights, but the exact cause remains partly unexplained.
5. Is Dumas Beach really dangerous after sunset?
Locals advise against night visits due to strong winds, uneven terrain, and low visibility, which have led to accidental mishaps.
6. Are there any abandoned industrial sites in India like Hawkins Lab?
Yes. Mukesh Mills in Mumbai and certain old factories in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu offer an industrial-horror aesthetic similar to the show.
7. Are guided haunted tours available in India?
Some regions like Rajasthan, Goa, and Maharashtra offer heritage and ghost-walk-style tours, usually conducted by local operators or tourism boards.
Final Thoughts
India is home to many places that combine an aura of ominous past, or something unknown in nature with the mystery of atmospheric distortion. With these elements in common with the Stranger Things universe, it makes sense why India has an abundance of places like these, from ghost towns that have been preserved in time to abandoned industrial sites and even dusty beaches. These locations have the same feeling of “something is hiding in plain sight” that so many people have associated with the Netflix show.
For some, such as paranormal enthusiasts or Stranger Things fans, these locations provide incredible photographic opportunities, and for many others they will be places where incredible stories can be told. As a visitor to these incredible places, please make sure to do so respecting local culture and maintaining personal safety and responsibility.
If you’d like to learn more about other offbeat locations or are thinking about planning a unique-themed vacation, The Tarzan Way can assist you in discovering new and exciting adventures throughout India using their travel expertise and AI-based planners.
