From the magical Alpine town of INTERLAKEN, we traveled by train to ZERMATT, which is at the foot of the celebrated Alpine mountain MATTERHORN.
Zermatt lies at the foot of the Matterhorn. The town’s touristic development is closely linked to what is one of the world’s most famous mountains. The vacation destination is a car-free zone, has preserved its original character and offers nearly unlimited possibilities as far as excursions are concerned. The location of Zermatt at the foot of the Matterhorn and in the middle of an enormous hiking and ski region makes it one of the world’s most attractive vacation villages. The ski region encompasses 54 mountain railways and lifts. The region called “Matterhorn glacier paradise” is Europe’s largest and highest lying summer skiing region. Numerous national ski teams train here in the summer.
Zermatt is a delightful little town with hotels, restaurants and shops designed like Swiss Chalets which lend it a distinct character to be explored by foot, bike, or horse drawn carriage since this is strictly an auto-free zone. Hikers, skiers, and sight-seers like us converge here from every corner of the Planet to ride or hike up to the iconic MATTERHORN.
The cog wheel railway operates between Zermatt and the 3089-metre-high GORNERGRAT. The GORNERGRAT BAHN (Train) was the world’s first fully electrified cog railway. Today it is a modern, eco-friendly railway, equipped with a regenerative braking system that generates electricity on the descent and so saves energy. Europe’s highest open-air cog railway brings passengers direct from Zermatt station (1,620 m) to the summit of the Gornergrat, 365 days a year. The ride takes 33 minutes and requires a vertical climb of 1,469 m. The line leads over dramatic bridges, through galleries and tunnels, across forests of larch and Swiss stone pine, and past rocky ravines and mountain lakes, and also offers a fascinating panoramic vista of the MATTERHORN (4478 metres) and summits of the Swiss, Italian and French Alps..
From ZERMATT, we took the de-luxe GLACIER EXPRESS to the celebrated sky resort of ST. MORITZ, which like GSTAAD, happens to be the playground of the rich and the famous and really comes alive in Winter – St. Moritz and Gstaad are like the Lake Tahoe and Whistler of Switzerland, and attracts world class skiers from all over Europe and the rest of the world.
The Glacier Express which offers panoramic views of the Swiss country side truly brought to life the Swiss Chalets enveloped by the Alpine mountains and valleys etched in my mind’s eye from my childhood, and was a spectacular, spiritual experience that will stay with us forever!
We took in the panoramic views in St. Moritz, its leaning tower, its spectacular shopping malls, and the luxurious mansion of steel baron Laxmi Mittal, (one of the 10 richest men on the Forbes 100), before heading back to ZURICH for the last leg of our Swiss Expedition.
The GORNERGRAT BAHN (Train) was the world’s first fully electrified cog railway. Today it is a modern, eco-friendly railway, equipped with a regenerative braking system that generates electricity on the descent and so saves energy. Europe’s highest open-air cog railway brings passengers direct from Zermatt station (1,620 m) to the summit of the Gornergrat, 365 days a year. The ride takes 33 minutes and requires a vertical climb of 1,469 m. The line leads over dramatic bridges, through galleries and tunnels, across forests of larch and Swiss stone pine, and past rocky ravines and mountain lakes, and also offers a fascinating panoramic vista of the MATTERHORN (4478 metres) and summits of the Swiss, Italian and French Alps.
The HOTEL BAHNOF in close proximity to the ZERMATT Train Station is a compelling showcase of the ‘Swiss Chalet’ style of architecture!
Zermatt is a car-free zone, has preserved its original character and offers nearly unlimited possibilities as far as excursions are concerned. This is the main street offering some fantastic shopping opportunities with the verdant Alpine mountains as backdrop, and attracts visitors from all over the Globe!
Zermatt boasts of some incredible Swiss Chalet architecture which lends to its unique personality and character, as personified by this 5 star hotel facade, which will have you stop in your tracks to take a good look, and admire the beauty!
Zermatt lies at the foot of the Matterhorn. The town’s touristic development is closely linked to what is one of the world’s most famous mountains. The vacation destination is a car-free zone, has preserved its original character and offers nearly unlimited possibilities as far as excursions are concerned. It also manifests both 5 star hotels as well as de-luxe boutiques offering just about any luxury good you can think of….at astronomical prices compared to what we pay for, in the US of A!
This dignified and sartorially elegant gentleman, attired in his traditional Swiss regalia, was kind enough to pose for a portrait – God bless him!
Contrasting facades of the Swiss Chalet style providing a very interesting vignette captured for posterity!
Zermatt is a car-free zone, has preserved its original character and offers nearly unlimited possibilities as far as excursions are concerned. This is the main street offering some fantastic shopping opportunities with the verdant Alpine mountains as backdrop, and attracts visitors from all over the Globe!
Another beautifully orchestrated hotel facade that contributes to the unspeakable beauty of this quintessentially Swiss Town at the foot of the Matterhorn!
Nope, not the hot dog vendors from the ‘Big Apple’, but Zermatt’s very own sausage vendor offering delicious freshly made sausages on the main street – his spiced pork sausages were delectable to say the least, and washed down really well with the locally made apple juice with cider and fizz which was delicious!
Given the world cup fever that was ubiquitous across Switzerland, Zermatt was no exception! Here was a local cafe and bar (Harri’s Sky Bar) offering up free viewing for the tourists, triggering brisk business in the process!
Only in Switzerland will you find such novel ways of sculpting wood – from building houses to these adorable, eco-friendly pots for the flowers which lend to the character of the Alpine landscape of Zermatt!
Main Street Zermatt with a Swiss Chalet styled Hotel with houses on the slopes of the mountain range, making for a picturesque backdrop!
Zermatt is “the place to chill and relax” before embarking on the hard work of hiking, trekking, or climbing the Matterhorn – the chillaxed spirit has not been lost on our adorable canine friend who appears to be taking a cue from his masters!
Beautiful flower beds that embellish the fronts of the Swiss Chalet styled houses and hotels – a hallmark of Zermatt and Switzerland!
Every major Swiss city and town has opulent stores offering astronomically prices Swiss precision watches, often with novel displays like this one from Rolex of Geneva!
Hotels in Zermatt perched on the mountains with a cross overlooking them, which made for an interesting picture-scape, and lends to the unique character of this magnificent little Alpine town!
Blown away with the rustic beauty, simplicity, and the novelty of this wooden flower pots – gotta look for one of these in good ol’ Dallas!
The GORNERGRAT BAHN (Train) was the world’s first fully electrified cog railway. Today it is a modern, eco-friendly railway, equipped with a regenerative braking system that generates electricity on the descent and so saves energy. Europe’s highest open-air cog railway brings passengers direct from Zermatt station (1,620 m) to the summit of the Gornergrat, 365 days a year. The ride takes 33 minutes and requires a vertical climb of 1,469 m. The line leads over dramatic bridges, through galleries and tunnels, across forests of larch and Swiss stone pine, and past rocky ravines and mountain lakes, and also offers a fascinating panoramic vista of the MATTERHORN (4478 metres) and summits of the Swiss, Italian and French Alps.
The Gornergrat Railway Station at 10,132 feet above sea level – a feat of Swiss Engineering acumen!
The Matterhorn is a mountain of the Alps, straddling the main watershed and border between Switzerland and Italy. It is a large, near-symmetrical pyramidal peak in the extended Monte Rosa area of the Pennine Alps, whose summit is 4,478 metres (14,692 ft) high, making it one of the highest summits in the Alps and Europe. The mountain overlooks the Swiss town of Zermatt, in the canton of Valais, to the north-east and the Italian town of Breuil-Cervinia in the Aosta Valley to the south. Just east of the Matterhorn is Theodul Pass, the main passage between the two valleys on its north and south sides, and a trade route since the Roman Era! To say it is overwhelming and ethereal in its beauty and appeal would be an understatement!
The customary portrait with the Matterhorn as the magnificent backdrop!
We connected with this very friendly Japanese couple and their adorable child – a doll who gladly posed for this photo, and offered me an opportunity to practice my rudimentary Japanese with them – that they were kind enough to indulge!
The Matterhorn is a mountain of the Alps, straddling the main watershed and border between Switzerland and Italy. It is a large, near-symmetrical pyramidal peak in the extended Monte Rosa area of the Pennine Alps, whose summit is 4,478 metres (14,692 ft) high, making it one of the highest summits in the Alps and Europe. The mountain overlooks the Swiss town of Zermatt, in the canton of Valais, to the north-east and the Italian town of Breuil-Cervinia in the Aosta Valley to the south. Just east of the Matterhorn is Theodul Pass, the main passage between the two valleys on its north and south sides, and a trade route since the Roman Era! To say it is overwhelming and ethereal in its beauty and appeal would be an understatement!
The Matterhorn observatory overlooking the Gonergrat Rail Station – imposing and formidable!
The Shutterbug-Blogger-DJ-Explorer,
an aspiring Musician with wind swept hair,
merrily strumming his ‘Air-Guitar’,
inspired by the iconic Matterhorn as the Swiss Alpine backdrop spectacular,
so painstakingly crafted by Mother Nature!
Howzat for a “Poetic” caption?!
That cup of Cappuccino is really special and unforgettable for Sanchita De, given this unbelievable and happening open air cafe ambiance at the top of the Swiss Alps, with the Matterhorn as the surreal backdrop!
The Matterhorn is a mountain of the Alps, straddling the main watershed and border between Switzerland and Italy. It is a large, near-symmetrical pyramidal peak in the extended Monte Rosa area of the Pennine Alps, whose summit is 4,478 metres (14,692 ft) high, making it one of the highest summits in the Alps and Europe. The mountain overlooks the Swiss town of Zermatt, in the canton of Valais, to the north-east and the Italian town of Breuil-Cervinia in the Aosta Valley to the south. Just east of the Matterhorn is Theodul Pass, the main passage between the two valleys on its north and south sides, and a trade route since the Roman Era! To say it is overwhelming and ethereal in its beauty and appeal would be an understatement!
Sanchita De in a state of euphoria given the surreal Alpine ambiance and backdrop, and some really friendly fellow tourists from Japan for company and conversation! We had to keep her from breaking into song and dance right there!
The majesty of the Matterhorn against the Gonergrat Railway station in the foreground. Sometimes referred to as “the Mountain of Mountains”, the Matterhorn has become an iconic emblem of the Swiss Alps and of the Alps in general. Since the end of the 19th century, when railways were built in the area, the mountain has attracted increasing numbers of visitors and climbers. Each year, numerous mountaineers try to climb the Matterhorn from the Hörnli Hut via the northeast Hörnli ridge, the most popular route to the summit. Many trekkers also undertake the 10-day-long circuit around the mountain.
Mom and her lassie in a state of bliss given the surreal Alpine ambiance and backdrop, and some really friendly fellow tourists from Japan for company!
Local Swiss artist offering his hand painted vignettes to the tourists, and generating a lot of curiosity and excitement!
A molten pool of limpid blue water triggered by a Glacier on the MATTERHORN – looked virtually like a landing pad for an UFO!
From ZERMATT, we took the de-luxe GLACIER EXPRESS to the celebrated sky resort of ST. MORITZ, which like GSTAAD, happens to be the playground of the rich and the famous and really comes alive in Winter – St. Moritz and Gstaad are like the Lake Tahoe and Whistler of Switzerland, and attracts world class skiers from all over Europe and the rest of the world. The GLACIER EXPRESS offering panoramic vistas was an unforgettable experience and is highly recommended both in Summer and Winter with very disparate, but equally fascinating and surreal experiences.
My fellow companions on the GLACIER EXPRESS in a state of contentment following the sumptuous lunch served on the train. Believe it or not, given the hundreds of thousands of visitors of Indian origin who visit Switzerland each year, we ordered and ate freshly made CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA and VEG. JAL FREZI with a KASHMIRI SAFFRON PILAF made by a Tamil Sri Lankan chef on the Glacier Express, while taking in the panoramic views – howzat!
From ZERMATT, we took the de-luxe GLACIER EXPRESS to the celebrated sky resort of ST. MORITZ, which like GSTAAD, happens to be the playground of the rich and the famous and really comes alive in Winter – St. Moritz and Gstaad are like the Lake Tahoe and Whistler of Switzerland, and attracts world class skiers from all over Europe and the rest of the world. The GLACIER EXPRESS offering panoramic vistas was an unforgettable experience and is highly recommended both in Summer and Winter with very disparate, but equally fascinating and surreal experiences.
Amazing, panoramic, picturesque vistas of the Swiss Alpine landscape, as seen from the Glacier Express – from Zermatt to St. Moritz!
Amazing, panoramic, picturesque vistas of the Swiss Alpine landscape, as seen from the Glacier Express – from Zermatt to St. Moritz!
Amazing, panoramic, picturesque vistas of the Swiss Alpine landscape, as seen from the Glacier Express – from Zermatt to St. Moritz!
Amazing, panoramic, picturesque vistas of the Swiss Alpine landscape, as seen from the Glacier Express – from Zermatt to St. Moritz!
Panoramic perspective of the mountains, valleys and the lakes at St. Moritz – a world class ski resort and the ‘playground of the rich and famous’ in Switzerland.
Birds’s eye view of the city of St. Moritz, which attracts skiers from all over the world in winter.
Panoramic perspective of the mountains, valleys and the lakes at St. Moritz – a world class ski resort and the ‘playground of the rich and famous’ in Switzerland.
The celebrated Leaning Tower of St. Moritz flanked by a cathedral.
The St. Moritz villa of Laxmi Narayan Mittal, the global steel baron who ranks in the Top 10 in the Forbes 100 listing of millionaires.
A panoramic picture scape of the beautiful and opulent city of St. Moritz at dawn.