All
of us were happy, but feeling sad too. Sad, because we were bidding adieu to the
fascinating and nostalgic vibes of Italy; and happy, as we were finally heading
towards the place most of us dream about- Switzerland. Switzerland (German: Schweiz)
involves diverse landscapes. The Swiss Alps host many glaciers, from which
originate several major rivers, which ultimately drain to form lakes.
Switzerland has more than 1500 lakes, predominantly glacial in nature. We had
been in Europe just for four days, but every one of us by then was quite used
to the beautiful surroundings, and hungrily searching for more prettiness. Although
the backgrounds were as pretty as every day, the magnificent lakes made our journey
a different experience. The expanse of the calm waters narrated tranquillity. The
long tunnels again welcomed and amazed us with their vast dimensions and
equally meticulous settings. The ride became interesting when the coach touched
the curvy roads of the mountains. Intermittent drizzling was a bonus. We could
now see the farms and the cottages more clearly as we passed through small
towns, probably the countryside. Sprawling and lush green farm, cattle
engrossed in grazing, a decent cottage in the centre, children playing in the
yard - what more could one wish for! As our eyes got glued to the windows, the
serenity could be perceived even from a distance.
“We have almost reached Swiss Miniatur,
it’s a miniature park”, our tour manager announced as our coach passed by Lake Lugano.
“Are we here to see something called miniature?”, some of us reacted
with a bit of dissatisfaction. We followed the tour manager and what we saw was
just beyond my capacity to express it. Swiss Miniatur is Switzerland’s largest
open-air miniature museum, located in Melide, on the shores of Lake Lugano. The
park is surrounded by majestic mountains and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. ‘Can
any miniature park be so amazing?’ was my obvious reaction, with an awestruck
face. Over 130 models of aristocratic houses, churches, castles, monuments,
offices, and other interesting buildings in Switzerland can be viewed on a smaller scale, on an area of more than 13,500 square meters. A network of
nearly 3.5 kilometers of miniature railway wends its way through the park with
18 trains running on tracks, crossing bridges, and stopping at stations. Boats
ply the lakes, cable cars climb and descend mountains, and cars run along the
motorways. Surrounded by 15,000 types of flowers and over 1,500 trees,
Switzerland can be explored in fast motion. Every little thing looked so real. It
was raining all the while, but we explored the area with umbrellas open. The
amusement in our hungry eyes and the excitement on our faces could be compared
with the one seen among children. Just that we could not yell with ecstasy, as
the children around were doing. It was like reliving one’s childhood. We
thanked our tour manager for the lovely miniature treat as he took us for a
continental lunch which was arranged at a restaurant inside the premises of
Swiss Miniatur. Along with the amusement, I noticed an interesting but funny
thing in the park. Many coins were seen at the bottom of a miniature canal. Europeans
seemed really crazy about throwing coins and making a wish.
As per the itinerary, we were supposed to spend
some time at Lake Lugano and then proceed to our hotel. But we still had some
extra time on our hands. Our tour manager suggested a place if all of us
agreed. Our hungry minds did not hesitate at all, and we decided to go for it.
Negotiating twists and turns, through picturesque countryside, we finally
reached a place called Liechtenstein. We boarded an electric tram which was a
replica of a train. As the tram started moving, a commentary in the background
began to narrate the history and other details of the place. Situated in the Rhine valley, surrounded by mountains, it is Europe's fourth-smallest
country, with an area of just over 150 square kilometers and a population of
around 40000. Houses or offices, every structure looked so appealing, neat, and
delightful. Tiny lanes, beautiful flowers, neatly mowed lawns gave a charming
look to the city. The smallest planter was so well-kept. Although equipped with
all the modern facilities, the vintage set-up of the houses was preserved. While
embracing modernity, enough pains were taken to preserve the cultural heritage.
Peculiar designs of windows, venetian blinds, and unique colours were
captivating. Although colourful, the settings were sober, soothing yet elegant. The entire place seemed classy, but even then appeared humble. Each corner,
every setting was so precisely done, that at one point of time I felt as if I was
passing through a model toy town meant for a leisure tour. I was amazed to see
such grace and elegance. I tried so hard, but could not stop myself envying the
people of Switzerland for being able to stay in such a heavenly place. We
finally gathered at a square in Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein. It was tough
to choose whether to drink the beauty hungrily or capture it on my camera. I
finally decided to just watch and stock the grandeur in my memories.
People who have visited Switzerland along
with other countries state that there is no place as beautiful as Switzerland. Nature
probably bestows its entire benevolence on such beautiful places. Geography
plays a major role indeed, but human efforts are also crucial in conserving the
beautiful gift of nature. Along with the sincere efforts to keep the emissions
at the lowest, the dedication to maintain all kinds of connectivity, means of
transport, public utility amenities, and cleanliness was outstanding. Every
little structure was preserved, even a small planter. Each setting was looked
after with great amiability, almost being cherished. I have read countless
mentions of Switzerland, both short and long. Every such write-up appeared as a
dream, sometimes even a fairy-tale. Almost every one among my acquaintances who
visited there was of the opinion that the place could be described neither in
words nor by means of any artwork. I had to believe them, when I visited
there myself. Amazed by the beauty, I was completely absorbed by the
exquisiteness of Switzerland. As we boarded our coach for the onward journey,
all of us were filled with admiration and a great sense of satisfaction, and were
speechless. The memories of the day which had begun to flock to my mind
reminded me of a famous Persian verse, supposedly written by Ameer Khusrau.
गर फ़िर्दौस बर रूए ज़मीं अस्त,
If there is a
paradise on earth,
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