Mount Jungfraujoch - 23rd June

Top of Europe

Today we woke up very early to move towards our next destination, Interlaken (which means “between two lakes”). I immediately peered out the window to check the weather, concerned about our trip to Mt. Jungfrau. To me, it seemed like a perfect day. Santanu was a bit hesitant, as it was cloudy and gloomy all the way down from Mt. Rigi. He mentioned it appeared nice at the bottom of the mountain, but nothing was promised at the top. Since the journey to Interlaken takes around three hours by train, we left Zurich around 7 AM, leaving our host still sleeping.

At Interlaken, we already had a booking for an apartment hotel that was cheap, cozy, and had all kitchen amenities in the room, meaning we could cook our own food if we wanted. We first went to our apartment hotel to keep our luggage, then headed to Mount Jungfrau, the top of Europe.

In Switzerland, prices are always astronomical, and the ticket to Jungfrau was no exception. As always, we carried a “take-away” lunch before boarding the train. After reaching Lauterbrunnen from Interlaken, we changed to a cog-wheel train to reach Kleine-Scheidegg, a tiny, isolated resort surrounded by vertiginous scenery. As we ascended, the villages below became barely visible. The presence of snow gradually increased, while the temperature gradually decreased.

From Kleine-Scheidegg, we changed to the Jungfraubahn, another train that tunnels straight into the rock of the Eiger. It stopped briefly for a panoramic picture, looking at the glacier from a rock window. This ride up is on the world’s longest existing cog-rail and quite extraordinary. It is among the most fascinating scenery we have ever seen.

There were several things to visit, like the ice palace and the breathtaking panoramic view from the Sphinx Observation Terrace, overlooking the Aletsch Glacier (Europe’s longest glacier). After getting down from the train, we first went to the Swiss Sphinx. It was the highest point of the whole place. We went outside onto the observation deck and relished the views. As parts of the observation deck extended past the building, the floor beneath us was made of metal grates. Looking down made me feel giddy, but Santanu was bold enough to take me around the whole building. The day was bright and sunny, perfect for taking pictures, so we took plenty of photos throughout the whole trip.

From there, we went to the ice palace, which consisted of an underground ice sculpture exhibition. Everything was made of ice—the ceilings, the walls, and even the floors. It was something truly amazing. From there, we went to the snow where one can slide or perform James Bond stunts on a ropeway.

The trip to Mt. Jungfrau will undoubtedly remain among the first things we think back on. What a difference some nice weather made for us that day. After spending a few hours, we descended via Grindelwald to Interlaken.

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An early start With breathtaking views, an ice palace, and perfect weather, this day remains a cherished memory.