Back in 1995, all of us college friends saw "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge" and could not help falling in love with the movie, the songs, Shahrukh and of course the lovely Europe and Switzerland locations. While I continued watching more and more of Shahrukh's films, the opportunity to visit Switzerland knocked my door after almost 20 years. I visited Switzerland with family from 13th to 17th October 2014.
It was a great fun to create the whole plan ourselves with the help of Google Maps, Trip Adviser, lots of Swiss travel guide sites and talking to friends who have been there. The plan is a reusable component, and I can share it, if any of you decide to travel to Switzerland!
An early morning flight took us to Zurich and we traveled to Zurich HB from the airport via train.
We took the Zurich Classic Trolley Combo Tour to go around the Zurich City, which is “Switzerland's Mumbai, the most important business location. There was an informative commentary via earphones in English in the trolley. We adored the wonderful crystal clear shining blue Lake Zurich with its famous fountains.
That followed with the St. Peter's Church with Europe's largest clock face, Fraumünster Church with its famous Chagall windows and the Guild Halls that has a plaque commemorating Winston Churchill, where he famously stated, "Europe, Arise!
We saw Café Odeon known as a historic meeting place of artistes, and revolutionaries through the world wars. The tour ended on a high note, with visiting Mount Uetliberg, 871 meters (2,850ft) above the city that offered us an astonishing panorama view of the city along with the lake and Alps ranges.
The next day morning we traveled to Lucerne, the Swiss city I loved the most. After a great journey from Zurich to Lucerne via train, we almost immediately left for Mount Pilatus. To reach the mountain top, we had to take a Pilatus Railway, which is world's steepest Cogwheel Railway from Alpnachstad.
It was an awesome snow clad mountain. This was first experience in snow for my kids, so they were enthralled to see the snow. We had fun playing in the snow on the sunny day, and also made a snowman!
After the mountain top trip, we went around the Lucerne city on foot. It was great fun roaming around the city with the long canal, with a large number of lovely foot bridges. One of the most famous bridges was the Chapel Bridge, a wooden bridge with paintings inside, and fully covered in beautiful flowers from outside.
We savored jumbo ice creams sitting by the lake in the main city, as evening dawned upon the snowy mountains and lovely city. The serene and peaceful evening by the lake would always remain etched in my mind.
Mount Titlis, the place for eternal snow, was our destination for the third day and that was undoubtedly the most exciting journey. From the Engelberg station, we rode in three different cable cars, including one 360 degree revolving above glaciers, with a breathtaking view and sense of adventure. Once we reached the top, we were greeted with Snowfall, again a first for my kids. It was such a thrilling experience.
We tried skiing (and fell many times!), admired all the skiers, took the Titlis Cliff Walk (the highest elevation suspension bridge in Europe), enjoyed the ice sculptures in the ice cave and rode the Ice Flyer.
A Swedish fellow traveler, who knew about Shahrukh Khan, could sing first full line of "Tujhe Dekha to yeh jaana…" and the big portrait of Kajol and Shahrukh at the top was an icing on the cake
completing the DDLJ link with Switzerland.
On fourth day, we travelled to Interlaken by Lucerne Interlaken Express. We could not take our eyes off as the train rode through the pristine lush green scenes and more than five magnificent
lakes. Interlaken is a small town with a countryside look, complete with Swiss cows grazing with the famous cow bells hanging around their necks. Top of Europe, Jungfrau needed a travel in 3 different trains from Interlaken. The trains offered a close view to the snowy mountains as we climbed the top.
The Train Conductor somehow knew a bit of Hindi, when he chose to tell my kids "Dheere Dheere" as they ran back towards the train after glancing from a view point! In fact, the stall vendors saying
"Dhanyawad / Alvida", omnipresence of Indian carts / restaurant in these places, tell the tale of
Indian tourists' love with Switzerland.
The top of Europe had a nice snow covered plateau with Swiss flag, and a view of the observatory which served as the lab of the villain in Krish 3.On the last day, we traveled back to Zurich, and to Rhine Falls from there. Rhine Falls is the largest plain waterfall in Europe. The enormity of the milk white water raging across the fall made it a great sight, and the various view-points that we climbed up and down provided spectacular view of the grand falls.
That was the last point before we had to embark on our return journey from this Dreamland. Even when I am back to the everyday routine, the vivid memories of the Swiss Bliss are fresh on my mind.
It was a great fun to create the whole plan ourselves with the help of Google Maps, Trip Adviser, lots of Swiss travel guide sites and talking to friends who have been there. The plan is a reusable component, and I can share it, if any of you decide to travel to Switzerland!
An early morning flight took us to Zurich and we traveled to Zurich HB from the airport via train.
We took the Zurich Classic Trolley Combo Tour to go around the Zurich City, which is “Switzerland's Mumbai, the most important business location. There was an informative commentary via earphones in English in the trolley. We adored the wonderful crystal clear shining blue Lake Zurich with its famous fountains.
That followed with the St. Peter's Church with Europe's largest clock face, Fraumünster Church with its famous Chagall windows and the Guild Halls that has a plaque commemorating Winston Churchill, where he famously stated, "Europe, Arise!
We saw Café Odeon known as a historic meeting place of artistes, and revolutionaries through the world wars. The tour ended on a high note, with visiting Mount Uetliberg, 871 meters (2,850ft) above the city that offered us an astonishing panorama view of the city along with the lake and Alps ranges.
The next day morning we traveled to Lucerne, the Swiss city I loved the most. After a great journey from Zurich to Lucerne via train, we almost immediately left for Mount Pilatus. To reach the mountain top, we had to take a Pilatus Railway, which is world's steepest Cogwheel Railway from Alpnachstad.
It was an awesome snow clad mountain. This was first experience in snow for my kids, so they were enthralled to see the snow. We had fun playing in the snow on the sunny day, and also made a snowman!
After the mountain top trip, we went around the Lucerne city on foot. It was great fun roaming around the city with the long canal, with a large number of lovely foot bridges. One of the most famous bridges was the Chapel Bridge, a wooden bridge with paintings inside, and fully covered in beautiful flowers from outside.
We savored jumbo ice creams sitting by the lake in the main city, as evening dawned upon the snowy mountains and lovely city. The serene and peaceful evening by the lake would always remain etched in my mind.
Mount Titlis, the place for eternal snow, was our destination for the third day and that was undoubtedly the most exciting journey. From the Engelberg station, we rode in three different cable cars, including one 360 degree revolving above glaciers, with a breathtaking view and sense of adventure. Once we reached the top, we were greeted with Snowfall, again a first for my kids. It was such a thrilling experience.
We tried skiing (and fell many times!), admired all the skiers, took the Titlis Cliff Walk (the highest elevation suspension bridge in Europe), enjoyed the ice sculptures in the ice cave and rode the Ice Flyer.
A Swedish fellow traveler, who knew about Shahrukh Khan, could sing first full line of "Tujhe Dekha to yeh jaana…" and the big portrait of Kajol and Shahrukh at the top was an icing on the cake
completing the DDLJ link with Switzerland.
On fourth day, we travelled to Interlaken by Lucerne Interlaken Express. We could not take our eyes off as the train rode through the pristine lush green scenes and more than five magnificent
lakes. Interlaken is a small town with a countryside look, complete with Swiss cows grazing with the famous cow bells hanging around their necks. Top of Europe, Jungfrau needed a travel in 3 different trains from Interlaken. The trains offered a close view to the snowy mountains as we climbed the top.
The Train Conductor somehow knew a bit of Hindi, when he chose to tell my kids "Dheere Dheere" as they ran back towards the train after glancing from a view point! In fact, the stall vendors saying
"Dhanyawad / Alvida", omnipresence of Indian carts / restaurant in these places, tell the tale of
Indian tourists' love with Switzerland.
The top of Europe had a nice snow covered plateau with Swiss flag, and a view of the observatory which served as the lab of the villain in Krish 3.On the last day, we traveled back to Zurich, and to Rhine Falls from there. Rhine Falls is the largest plain waterfall in Europe. The enormity of the milk white water raging across the fall made it a great sight, and the various view-points that we climbed up and down provided spectacular view of the grand falls.
That was the last point before we had to embark on our return journey from this Dreamland. Even when I am back to the everyday routine, the vivid memories of the Swiss Bliss are fresh on my mind.
hi...yashasree.....very detailed explanation of your visit, would love if you can share your plan with me as we are planning to go this june... k.you.gd@gmail.com
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