What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of Chernobyl? A dilapidated city of the former Soviet Union which witnessed the worst nuclear disaster in the world’s history.
On 26th April, 1986, Reactor No. 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded causing huge fire.
What followed was a never seen before damage to life and property. Soon after the explosion, orders were given to evacuate Pripyat, the town nearest to the Reactor No. 4 at Chernobyl.
Founded in the 1970s as a home for power-plant employees and their families, Pripyat lies abandoned even after 33 years of the accident.
While it is still a ghost town, the only thing that has changed is that it is attracting a large number of tourists.
The main tourist attraction is the exclusion zone that was imposed in the area spanning over 30 km around the damaged reactor and later expanded to cover more affected areas.
In 2011, the Ukrainian government opened the Exclusion Zone to tourists over the age of 18.
You need to obtain permits to visit this exclusion zone, which can be obtained from several registered tour operators. Applications should be sent in at least 10 days prior to taking the tour.
Despite being one of the most radioactive places on Earth, some 72,000 people visited the region, last year.
Tourists are curious to know how life in Chernobyl was back then.
This is an image from a kindergarten in Chernobyl.
Images from Pripyat Middle School.
This is how the abandoned libraries look now.
The fairgrounds.
An abandoned house.
The power plant that remains.
Some more pictures from the city that still lies in ruins.
There are several areas that are marked as radioactive or forbidden entry zones. You should not attempt to enter these zones if you visit the city.