Switzerland 2011_6 temp 11/07/2011 17:29 Page 1
July 2011
Switzerland: The Paradise on Earth The idea of Swiss holiday for the British Asians has obviously been derived from Bollywood glitz and glamour. It is often synonymous with film scenes by the veteran directors Yash Chopra or David Dhawan, but Switzerland definitely has much more to offer than just a romantic holiday or trees to dance around. In fact if you could travel through only one European country, probably it will only be Switzerland- a combination of Italy, France and Germany- all three destinations into one! People who have been reading our columns off late would by now know that the country has some fantastic scenic beauties and mixing expansive greenery, slick cities and and buckets of fresh air. It is a stylish tourist destination that offers countless outdoor adventures and contemporary urban breaks. The top ski resorts in Sw itzerland include Zermatt, Verbier and celebritystudded St Moritz, while white-capped mountain peaks set against blue skies make a wonderful backdrop for summertime hiking. Cities The ancient capital Berne provides superb opportunities for sightseeing, shopping and traditional folk entertainment, while Zürich leads the
way in arts, design and nightlife; from opera and world-class theatre to stylish bars and nightclubs. The Swiss cities have historic city centres and picturesque lakesides but also offer exciting modern architecture, controversial exhibitions and trendy nightlife. Compact in size Swiss cities nevertheless offer visitors an exciting array of the arts, first-class culinary delights, excellent shopping and the beauty of nature with crystal clear lakes and rivers. No wonder that year after year Zuri ch and Geneva – Switzerland’s largest two cities are to be found in the top 5 cities with the best quality of life. Small, mountainous and wealthy, Switzerland is renowned for its enviable quality of life in a country that ticks along like clockwork. Its products are coveted the world over, from delicious cheese and chocolate to luxurious watches whose timekeeping is as sharp as a Swiss Army Knife; another p opular export from this sophisticated Alpine nation. Lakes Switzerland offers diversity which is not only derived by a country which has four official languages and cultures (German, French, Italian and Romansh) but also by an ever changing countryside of spectacular
mountain panoramas, alpine peaks glittering with snow, gushing waterfalls in hidden valleys, crystal clear lakes, vineyards and lush alpine meadows. By the way - most lakes and rivers are so clean that you can take a refreshing dip in the heat of summer - even in bigger cities such as Zürich or Geneva! Switzerland is the land of public transport and a tourist’s dream to travel around in. Wherever you want to go there is a train, a bus, a boat, a funicular, a gondola or a mountain railway that can get you there – and all this with a connected timetable and on time. And best of all children under the age of 16 years travel for free on almost everything even to the highest mountain tops provided their parents hold one of the fabulous Swiss Travel System tickets. Scenic rail Many scenic journeys are simply made because of the spectacular scenery. The Glacier Express, The Bernia Express, Wilhelm Tell Express, Golden Pass Line and Chocolate Train are probably Europe’s best-known services designed for tourists.The last stretch of the Bernina Express line has even been appointed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. With an area of 41,285 sq km,
Switzerland is the most mountainous nation in Europe. It has a railway network that is the envy of the world. No holiday to Switzerland would be complete without at least one mountain excursion and you don’t even need to be a mountaineer! Mountains You can conquer mountain tops without breaking into a sweat, have a bird’s eye view into the valley below, play in snow and ice even in the summer time. The Swiss have perfected the art of transporting visitors to their beloved mountain peaks. Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe, Mount Titlis,Mount Pilatus, Gornergrat, Schilthorn – Piz Gloria are some fantastic mountain destinations. The Jungfrau Railway celebrates its centenary in 2012. Europe’s highest altitude mountain railway is today still hailed as an international masterpiece of railway technology and every year attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world. Taking a set of gondolas from the green valley floor, past gushing waterfalls to the very top of Schilthorn – Piz Gloria is indeed a unique experience. At the top a revolving restaurant, sun terrace and souvenir shop let you relax and enjoy the 360 degree view to your heart’s content.