A view of Interlaken

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boasted beautiful boardwalks; idyllic

was the word that repeatedly came to
mind. I debated camping for the night in
one of these towns but, keen to stick to
my itinerary, I decided to drive on.
@rishadmehta @GulPanag
@CN_Traveller_IN Drive the Furka Pass.
its where Bonds famous Goldfinger
chase happened (64) Fab 2 drive!

As I approached the mountains, the

countryside changed dramatically, the
flat meadows of the lake giving way
to narrow valleys. My Twitter friend
Rishad Mehta had suggested I take
the less-used and more challenging
route via the Grimsel and Furka Passes
(which is about 8,000ft above sea level).
He was spot on.
The sheer grandeur of the Swiss
Alps was breathtaking. The myriad

hues of auburn, green and brown were

beautiful, as were the distant snowcapped peaks. I was glad Id chosen to
drive through here; there was no better
way to experience Switzerlands natural
beauty. The climb to Grimsel Pass was
almost like a roller coaster. Though
the road was narrow, with treacherous
curves, driving here was sheer joy.
It was dark by the time I reached the
other side of the Alps. My excitement
mounted as I got closer to Interlaken.
After a quick dinner of grilled chicken
at Des Alpes, I turned in for the night.
It had been a long day, one that in
hindsight I should have spilt into two.

gateway to the Alps and sits on a valley

floor with dense forest on one side and
rising snow-covered mountains on the
other. Skiers and adventure-seekers
use Interlaken as a base to explore the
picturesque countryside around it. But
to appreciate its true beauty, you must
see it from the skies. Since I paraglide
back home in India, I didnt want to miss
the opportunity to try it here.
The adrenaline rush of jumping off a
mountain can only be rivalled by seeing
the land zip past thousands of feet below.
In the 10-minute flight that landed
me in the town park, I was able to see
Interlaken in a way very few people do.

Days 3 & 4 Interlaken

@CN_Traveller_IN
@GulPanag CNT reader Vivek Rao
says: Go to Murren & Grindelwald from
Interlaken, for amazing Alpine villages
with a view of Jungfrau

Nestled between Lakes Thun and

Brienz, Interlaken is a small town
overlooking the mighty peaks of
Jungfrau and Matterhorn. Its the

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