Mountains are one of the earth’s greatest awe-inspiring wonders! The UN observes International Mountain day each year on December 11, to raise awareness about the importance of reducing our carbon footprint and to save these treasures from the threat of climate change and overexploitation. Bringing together nature’s beauty, serenity, harmony, and romance, these natural treasures host about half of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. When talking about magnificent peaks, Switzerland is one of the first names that comes to mind. Indeed the fabled land is almost synonymous with snow-peaked ascents and alpine scenery. The Swiss have always been sensitive towards their environment. Their understanding of the need to conserve and protect their natural resources including their many pristine mountains reflects in their practices across sectors including Tourism. With some of the most beautiful and accessible mountain tops in the world – Switzerland is a paradise for both experienced and aspiring peak baggers.
Here’s a glimpse of 5 majestic mountain peaks that Switzerland proudly promotes and protects!
MATTERHORN
One of the world’s most photographed mountains, Matterhorn’s unique beauty is inspiring and deservedly so. For mountaineers, it is a rather popular and challenging undertaking as it doesn’t offer alternatives to get to the top besides climbing. The closest one can get to this majestic mount without climbing is to take Europe’s highest-altitude cable car that brings you to Klein Matterhorn aka the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. With alluring views of around a dozen glaciers and some 40 mountain peak, the glacier paradise is a mecca for ski lovers and only 7 km away from the Mighty Matterhorn
PILATUS
According to legend, the magnificent Pilatus is named after the Roman prefect Pontius Pilate whose dead body was discarded into a lake on top of the mountain. A true, spiky Alpine mountain Lucerne’s Pilatus mountain (2,118m above sea level) Is A 30 minutes trip through the Pilatus railway with the steepest cogwheel ever known and boasts some of the most spectacular views in Switzerland. Located in the center of Switzerland the mountain is part of three cantons: Obwalden, Nidwalden, and Luzern. From the summit, you can see across the Central Swiss Alps and the Jura all the way to France and the Black Forest in Germany!
JUNGFRAU
The view of the Jungfrau is already impressive, even from the valley below. The steep north face that rises 3,000 meters from the valley below is particularly eye-catching! At 4,158 meters above sea level, Jungfrau is the Bernese Alps’ third-highest peak, and the most popular amongst Indian travelers so much so that Jungfraoch even has an Indian restaurant and several signs and directions in Hindi. You might recognize some of the surreal scenery in Jungfraujoch from Hindi films – the sight of undulating peaks, glaciers that sparkle with all their might, a massive Ice Palace gallery, and a magnificent Sphinx Meteorological Station will sweep you off your feet!
TITLIS
It is difficult to not get blinded by the beauty of Mount Titlis, Central Switzerland’s tallest mountain. Roughly 3238 m above sea level, the journey to the Titlis is truly an adventure in itself. Apart from being as close as one can get to the astonishing peaks of Monch, Eiger, and Jungfrau the perennial Snow-capped peaks of Titlis is where a lot of Indians come to get their first snow experience and take away with them the memory of a lifetime. The journey to Titlis begins with the TITLIS Xpress gondola to the middle station, then continues in the TITLIS Rotair, the world’s first revolving cable car, all the way to the top. Bollywood is also omnipresent in Titlis with an elaborate photo studio which contains life-sized cut-outs of Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan from ‘Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge’
PIZ BERNINA
One of the highest mountains and peaks in the eastern Alps, Piz Bernina is often called the “Mount Everest” of the Engadin. located within the Engadin region of the Graubünden canton, Piz Bernina stands out due to its almost freestanding nature and as a result, also offers unique far-reaching views from its summit. This mountain is considered to be a pretty tricky and exhausting climb.
