Sights and Insights: ON OUR JOURNEY TO MT.TITLIS

Titlis Glacier

View of Titlis from above

We stayed at Banklialps in Engelberg for two days. On the first day we saw the Trummelbach Waterfalls, a unique thundering waterfall naturally formed below the rocky cliffs and made us feel the mighty and magnificent thrilling force of water. The same day we had the thrilling journey to Jungfrau mountain to experience the pure virgin-like touch of ice-world with artistic ice-palace and refreshed ourselves there with hot cups of coffee and scintillating Swiss chocolates. The next day we went on another adventure to view the snowy hill, Mt.Titlis and explore more miracles of this Alpine region. Engelberg is just at the foot of this mount at a distance of 5.4 Kms, a matter of ten minutes to reach the Mount Titlis, which is in the Urner Alps of Switzerland is located between the two cantons (regions) of Obwalden and Berne.

Titlis Rotair

Ice Flier

View of Titlis from Rotaire

Mount Titlis Station

The first ascent of Titlis (3238 meters or 10,263 feet high) was made in 1435 by Ignaz Herz and J.E.Waser along with two other men. In March 1967 the cable car to Mt.Titlis was inaugurated. On Jan. 21.1904 the first ski-ascent was made by Joseph Kuster and Willi Amrhein. Due credit we must give to Swiss engineers and workers who toiled hard to set up this cable car arrangement and facilitated so many tourists to reach this summit of 10,600 feet high above the sea level, and enjoy the breath-taking view of valleys, lakes and snow-white glaciers from a high altitude.

We have to reach Mt.Titlis in three stages. In the first stage the cable car takes passengers from Engelberg to Gerschnialp (1262 meters high) in twenty minutes. In each cage there is accommodation for six people. During this ride one can see the distant view of Engelberg town with green slopes, cottages and cattle grazing freely with tinkling Swiss bells around their necks. From Trubsee Lake Station we have to go in a bigger cable car, each carrying about sixty people. In five minutes we can reach Stand located at a height of 2428 meters. From Stand there is a rotating cable car called Titlis Rotaire whose base rotates 360 degrees to give you a complete view of the glacier and mountain valleys on all sides. It takes just five minutes to reach the Titlis Mountain Station located at a height of 3020 meters above sea level. The topmost station in the whole of Europe looks quite ultra-modern with all facilities and comforts with flight of steps up to fourth level.

Soon after we got down we rushed to the photo shop located on the fourth floor so that we may have our photos taken early without standing in queue and waiting for our turn. As soon as we entered the photo studio we saw an array of clothes, boots, head gears and socks connected with mountain-climbing and native Swiss tradition. A row of photos are displayed showing people dressed as Swiss musicians, farmers and hunters with the backdrop of bluish Titlis Mountain range. Three ladies helped us in getting dressed as a Swiss musician holding a long brass Alp-horn and another person a in the guise of a hunter with a gun held aslant on his shoulder accompanied by two of our ladies dressed in traditional Swiss gowns and broad-brimmed hats. Though at first we felt a little bit nervous to get dressed in a strange attire, our helpers encouraged us to assume right posture facing the camera, by saying "Cheers, Cheers" again.

Tourists in Swiss native dress

Photo Shop at Titlis

Later we climbed into the lift and went up to the snow park upon the glacier. As we entered we saw the life-size portraits of the most popular and romantic Indian film actors, Sharukh Khan and Kajol as shown in the Hindi film "Dil Wala Le Jayenge Dulhania " (Briefly called DDL). We learnt that many Hindi films are shot in Swiss mountain regions which serve as an apt romantic landscape for many movies. At the far end of the glacier a huge mass of snow is seen in the shape of the Buddha seated in meditation, lending an aura of purity to this white glacier. A surprising coincidence indeed !