May 28, 2006 04:48 PM
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(Updated May 28, 2006 04:48 PM)
“If there is heaven on earth, it is here, it is here!” You can stand anywhere in Switzerland and click a perfect postcard picture. Its beautiful all around and it actually makes you feel jealous, makes you feel that God has been so unfair in putting all His beauty in one entire country!
Really, we may have seen scores of Hindi movies and seen our Bollywood stars gyrating to inane songs in the beauty of the Swiss Alps but nothing prepares you for the real thing. The well manicured lawns all over the country, the crystal clear flowing and gurgling rivers, the countless cows grazing with the bells around their necks making delightful sounds and the soaring Swiss mountains, all make for a wonderful Swiss experience.
Switzerland is the most tourist friendly country in the entire of Europe. The entire country is geared to meet the needs of the tourists. The best way to travel in Siwtzerland is undoubtedly by their famed Swiss trains. You can buy a Swiss pass from the Switzerland tourism office in India itself. And when at any station, please do notice the huge station clocks, they are genuine Omega’s and Rolex’s!!
We travelled to Switzerland in the winter, mid October and hence were geared for the cold. We had booked for a chalet over the internet with a Swiss family. The family lived in the ground floor and we were given the upper floor. It was a fully furnished one bedroom, hall and kitchen space. The kitchen had all the swanky modern gadgets and great utensils. There was also great crockery for a complete sit down formal meal. There was a balcony too which opened out into the entire Alps. Imagine getting up in the morning and having the morning cup of masala chai (made from Indian tea in Swiss kitchen) watching the tallest peak of Europe – Jungfraujoch! It was priceless.
We had based ourselves in Wengen, a small and quaint village , it is the last station on the northern tip of the Swiss trains. The population of village was less than the population of the cows. And yes, Wengen does not allow cars to ply on its road, so you can see how laid back and really quaint it really was. Mind you, when we say Swiss village, it is nothing like any Indian village, infact it is more modern than our cities.
Switzerland is a small country so, if one has the energy, it is best to base oneself in one place and then leave every morning for sightseeing. If you need people around you, its best to stay in Interlaken and if you like quite and solitude and more cows than people, head to places like Wengen, Spietz , Murren or Grindelwald.
The places not be missed are Interlaken, the Trummelbach falls, Murren, Schaffausen for the Rhine falls, Montreux, cruise on the River Thun, the capital of Switzerland –Berne, do take the Golden Panorama Train from Interlaken to Zermatt to see the Matterhorn, in Geneva don’t miss going to the United Nations office tour, Lucerne is one the most beautiful towns of Switzerland.
There are three main “tourist” peaks in Switzerland, its best to do just one as the view from the top is all the same. And seeing one peak itself is quite costly enough! We did the Jungfraujoch as it is the highest peak of the Alps in Europe. We hiked back in snow from half way from Jungfrau and it was an out-of-the –world experience but mind you, if not properly equipped and if without a map, please do not venture into this. When it snows, all looks the same and it is very easy to get completely lost and unlike India, it is very difficult to come across people walking by.
Switzerland is indeed all that we see and much more. To see the magic of God’s creation and the unparalleled beauty of Mother Nature, a visit to Switzerland is a must.
