As we entered Switzerland the first major landscape change which we noticed were the Swiss Alps covered in snow, transforming an ordinary drive into a breathtakingly beautiful one. As we drove towards the Rhine Falls, a feeling of anticipation hung in the air. Switzerland had of course been glorified countless times in various Bollywood movies and we were finally going to see if the myths about its beauty were indeed true. Rhine falls is the largest waterfall in Europe, and second largest in the world coming after the Niagara Falls in USA.
Our first sight of the Rhine Falls was one which certainly left us captivated. We stood on a jetty of sorts and watched as the water came crashing down with a force which seemed supernatural. Next, we got on a boat which took us to the heart of the falls. Here again there was a wooden platform with a series of steps going up to various levels where artificial viewing galleries had been created. Here again the infrastructural advancements of European countries to capitalise on the tourism industry left us spellbound. As we went up the first flight of stairs, we arrived at a viewing gallery which placed us horizontally in front of the waterfall. The gallery also offered scenic views of the lake which met with the waterfall and of the various settlements on the other side. We could hear the thundering roar of the water as it gushed down with immense force as the cool spray from the waterfall washed over us.
We then climbed the second flight of stairs which led us to a viewing gallery located exactly on top of the waterfall, where one got the feeling that he was hovering over the falls itself. We watched as the water gushed towards the end and cascaded down with shattering force, creating a mystical combination of colors.
We then climbed the second flight of stairs which led us to a viewing gallery located exactly on top of the waterfall, where one got the feeling that he was hovering over the falls itself. We watched as the water gushed towards the end and cascaded down with shattering force, creating a mystical combination of colors.
As we stood there we noticed an old quaint stone bridge passing over the falls and suddenly a train zoomed past on the bridge; it left us wondering about the beautiful view the passengers in the train would be enjoying. As we stood there watching the water crash down, we were transported into a different world altogether… However our dream soon ended as we had to descend in order to catch our boat back to the main jetty.
However, on reaching the main jetty we met with another surprise. There was a tiny stall selling all kinds of Indian street food possible from vadapav to idlisambar. The masala chai seemed to be a favorite as orders for it kept flowing. The salesman attracted the crowds by shouting ‘Garamagaram chai sirf do rupai me!’ at the top of his voice. What he meant of course was two euros, of course, however the desi touch certainly had people flocking at his stall. For a moment I felt amazed and proud, especially as I noticed a number of foreigners trying vadapav and samosa with great enthusiasm.
After treating our taste buds to some steaming hot, extremely overpriced desi chai, we left Rhine Falls with images that would be stored in our memory forever.
Stay tuned as I explore more of Switzerland, Italy, France and a lot more. Till then; Sayonara and keep exploring!
- Subin Mitra
Stay tuned as I explore more of Switzerland, Italy, France and a lot more. Till then; Sayonara and keep exploring!
- Subin Mitra