Mount Jungfraujoch - 23rd June

Top of Europe

Today we woke up very early as to move towards our next destination

Interlaken (means between two lakes). I immediately peered out the

window to check out what the weather was like. I was very concerned

about our trip to Mt. Jungfrau. But to me it seems to be a perfect day.

Santanu was bit hesitant as it was cloudy & gloomy all the way while

coming down from Mt. Rigi. He rather mentioned it appeared to be nice

down at the bottom of the mountain, nothing was promised way up top.

Since, the journey to Interlaken takes around 3 hours by train so we

left Zurich around 7AM leaving our host still sleeping.

Anywayz, at Interlaken we already had a booking for an apartment hotel

which was cheap, cozy with all kitchen amenities in the room; that means

we can cook our own food if we want. So, we first went to our

apartment-hotel to keep our luggage .Then headed to Mount Jungfrau- top

of Europe.

In Switzerland prices are always astronomical so ticket to Jungfrau was

no exception. Like always we carried “take-away” lunch before boarding

the train. After reaching Lauterbrunnen from Interlaken we were to

change and take cog-wheel train to reach to Kleine-Scheidegg a tiny,

isolated resort surrounded by vertiginous scenery. In a short time, as

we ascended, the villages below were barely visible. The presence of

snow gradually increased, while the temperature gradually decreased.

From Kleine-Scheidegg we changed to the Jungfraubahn, another train,

which tunnels straight into the rock of the Eiger. Stopping briefly for

panoramic picture; looking at glacier from a rock window to say in

simple words. This ride up is by world’s longest existing cog-rail and

quite extraordinary. I assume it is among the most fascinating scenery

in the world we have ever seen.

There were several things to visit like ice palace and experience 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 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 up of metal grates.

Looking down, it was making me feel giddy Santanu was bold enough to

take me around the whole building. Day was really bright and sunny as if

meant for taking pictures so throughout whole trip we took plenty of

photos.

From there we went to ice palace. This consisted of basically an

underground ice sculpture exhibition. Everything was ice; the ceilings,

the walls and even the floors. Something really amazing. From there we

went to snow where one can slide or do James Bond stuns 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 few hours we descended via Grindelwald to

Interlaken.