Ras Al Khaimah - "You name it, and every spooky connotation you could think of popped up when I typed 'Al Qasimi Palace'," KT reporter Kelly Clarke.
Published: Sun 21 Aug 2016, 4:33 PM
Updated: Mon 22 Aug 2016, 8:46 AM
Whether a fan of the unknown or not, work with me here. Close your eyes and envision your idea of a typical haunted palace. It most likely sits up on a hill somewhere, peering down at all that is around it, right? And of course, it would stereotypically be decked out with eerie portraits and etchings on the wall too, right? Now, how would you feel if I tell you this very palace exists - and right on your very own doorstep? Well it's true.
And I know that because I've seen it with my own eyes. But not only seen it, I've been in it. The place I'm talking about is Al Qasimi Palace, and its location is Ras Al Khaimah.
I first came to know about the palace back in 2013, when a friend drove by it and pointed it out. It just sat there, above a small hilltop, staring down at me. We didn't go in, but I was told it was abandoned back in the 1980's after the owners allegedly up and left after just one night in the place. The reason: "supernatural experiences".
With my curiosity peaked, I wanted to find out more. 'Haunted', 'supernatural', 'mysterious occurrences', 'faces appearing in windows'. You name it, and every spooky connotation you could think of popped up when I typed 'Al Qasimi Palace' into the search engine.
Knowing the place was abandoned, I vowed to return to it one day, this time with the aim of going inside. Now, fast-forward to present day. And I'm happy - if not a little freaked out - to say I've stayed true to that vow. My visit As I pull up to the palace with a friend in tow (this is not a place to visit alone), my first thought is: what an odd looking place. Aside from the wear and tear after more than 20 years of abandonment, what is odd about this palace is its unusual architecture.
Windows of all sizes are scattered about the walls, with no uniform in the design. It all adds to the creepy backstory. My second thought is: How do I get in? As I peer through the padlocked gate, my nose senses we're not alone. There's food cooking, so I call out. Within a minute, a disheveled-looking man appears from a shabby building attached to the gate - it's the old watchman's quarters.
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He is one of two watchmen looking after the grounds. When I asked if we can enter, he says yes. I was expecting to barter a little harder to try and make my way in, but no bartering was had. As he unlocks the gate, I'm finally in.
Making my way up the creepy walkway, I ask the watchman if he'll be joining us inside. He shakes his head. It's a no. That spikes my curiosity some more. Has he had a supernatural experience? Either way, I enter through the basement. Immediately my eyes are drawn to a wall. It is stained in blood-red paint, with the word "go" written across it. It's the not-so-warm welcome I was expecting. I head towards a staircase at the back, and gaze up at the three floors above.
It's stifling hot and the beads of sweat all add to my anticipation. From old furniture covered in decades-old dust, to spectacular mosaics covering the walls and ceilings, the palace is every bit as beautiful as it is eerie. Dusty chandeliers hang in nearly every room, and brightly coloured wall murals impart a creepy charm to the place. One is of a woman, and although beautiful, having her eyes follow me around the room sends a shiver down my spine. Each of the three floors has its own appeal - albeit slightly offset by the palace's deadly silence. As I stand in one room, I hear a creaking. It's coming from a padlocked door in the corner.
As I approach it, the padlock moves slightly. I whip out my phone to video it and after a few seconds it moves again. It's official. I've just lay witness to my first supernatural experience and I'm elated, not scared. As I call my friend over to look, he soon alerts me to the fact that it's actually a draft from the broken-out window which is causing the door to move.
Slightly gutted, I make a vow to myself. I have video evidence, and when I show it to people, I'll casually forget to mention the draft part. (It was a ghost, definitely a ghost).
As I make my way from room to room, the beauty of the building continues to awe. It's a stark contrast from its ugly exterior and it makes me feel at ease. What does interest me though is seeing the odd room, padlocked.
Does something more sinister lie beneath? Many people say that one can witness the faces of children standing at the windows of this palace. Maybe these are the rooms they're peering from.
As I exit back through the basement, I turn to the watchman and ask if he's experienced any unusual goings on. His response leaves me all the more curious: "I once heard the sound of a child laughing," he tells me.
What they say about Al Qasimi Palace:
- Dh500m is reportedly how much it cost to build the palace
- It was built in the 1980s and is about 28-years-old
- Location: Shaikh Rashid Bin Said Road, Ras al Khaimah
kelly@khaleejtimes.com
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