Ronak Gupta, co-founder and CEO at Routofy, considers technology his first love and diligently explores all new apps. A graduate from IIT Delhi, he was amongst the 30 students selected from a batch of 800 for the prestigious foreign exchange programme at INSA, Toulouse, France. He has explored more than 15 countries on his travels. He gets his adrenaline rushes through adventure sports, be it rafting in Rishikesh,camping in Kasol or scuba diving at Côte d’Azur in Nice. Here he talks about his hot fav destination Switzerland.
Undoubtedly Switzerland. The country has so much to offer - food and wine, chocolate delicacies, sports & adventure as well as romantic getaways. My excursion there made me appreciate why the destination possesses such popularity and bumped it right at the top of my list. I personally love the various winter sports one can indulge in when holidaying in Switzerland.
I visited the country a couple of years ago but I long to go there once again. Even though it’s been a while, the memories are so fresh, it only feels like yesterday. I have plans of revisiting Switzerland in 2016.
You could be on a family vacation, an adventure holiday, a food trail or a romantic getaway – Switzerland is a one-stop shop for all. While we have all heard of the amazing natural beauty of the land and even appreciated pictures of the same, its true magnificence only sinks in after you visit it. It was love at first sight for me. I spent the initial few days of my visit immersing myself in the one-of-their-kind chocolate delights and cuckoo clocks. Once I moved beyond it, I was enthralled by the sublime experiences this land of four languages has to offer. The Roman architecture of Bern and the modern rooftops in Zurich are a constant reminder of how much the country has progressed over the years. A boat ride to Lake Geneva’s southern shore, a train ride to Jungfraujoch and a trip to Mount Titlis gives you an opportunity to experience the hallucinating landscapes of the area.
I am a winter sports person and the country had the very best to offer to a fanatic like myself. The winter ski resorts are a true paradise, but my personal favourite was Gstaad. I could ski, go on a winter hiking trail or simply go for a walk; the ambience and winter air of Gstaad never failed to surprise me.
Switzerland is one of the most exciting destinations around the globe. Anyone and everyone who has heard of the place dreams of visiting the destination at least once in their lifetime. And the obsession does not lessen after a single time; I am a testament of how Switzerland can fast become a favourite. The scenic beauty of the country engulfs you from the first moment itself. When I first went there, it was like revisiting the picturesque village paintings we view and draw as kids; it is complete with mountains, a fresh stream, green pastures and an envious villa. It almost feels unfair to pack so much beauty in one country.
The biggest highlight for me was the ride to Gstaad in the Swiss Panoromic Express. These train rides are famous and a must-do according to me. The most beautiful corners of the country can be explored through these premium panorama trains. You get sucked into the natural scenery and your awe never really ends. In Gstaad, you can ski your heart out while the valley offers you the best stay, food and shopping. The mountain slopes and hiking trials are a good break if you get tired of skiing.
Another personal favourite is dining on the banks of Kapellbrucks Bridge in Lucerne. Now this is a city right out of the storybook images of a Swiss town; lakes and mountains are present in abundance here. And if you do take a trip to this city, you must dine along one of the banks of Kapellbrucks.
For anyone who wants to dabble in winter sports, I would definitely vouch for a trip to Engelberg, the gateway to Mount Titllis, where you can indulge yourself in skiing. In fact, pick any destination in the country and you will not be disappointed.
I am an enormous foodie and I like to explore the culinary offerings of any destination. Switzerland has many great food outlets, but Hotel Balances stands out as the one place I’d like to revisit. It has great ambience, awesome food and a waterfront location, all of which together make it an exceptional place.
Switzerland has many luxurious properties and some of the most beautiful boutique hotels one can choose form, depending on what you want to experience. There are some budget hotels which are equally nice and some hostels for backpackers as well.
My personal favourite was Hotel GarniHostatt in Engelberg. Its impeccable service is what incredibly impressed me and it’s truly a ‘gem in the snow’.
There is nothing really that strikes me as negative about the place, except maybe the language barrier that some tourists could face. It’s an amazing country with amazing people, culture and food to experience. And if you know German, you can actually get a first-hand experience of how locals stay.
I think every destination is unique in its own way and has something different to offer. The one key thing that I feel people can learn from Swiz locals is the tourist-friendly nature and great hospitality that each of them offers. The warmth in the people there is remarkable.
There are so many memories from my trip but the one that has stayed with me is also the one closest to me. I was extensively travelling through the country and due to constraint of time had to use multi modes of transportation to get from one place to the other. While I was travelling back from Gstaad, I missed my transfer and in turn, missed all further connections. Even though I am an avid traveller, something like this can totally throw you off. It was then that I really conceived the need for an app or service where I could change my travel itinerary in one click. But nevertheless, a local caught my worried look, walked up to me and enquired what had happened and if he could help. He was a true saviour. He actually took the pain of redoing my entire travel planning and I ended up taking a route only locals could suggest.
I would consider myself to be a bit of both. I like to plan well but solve the challenges that come while travelling impulsively with my instinct. Planning well has its own set of benefits, but being impulsive in travel can be thrilling.
Like everyone when travelling through any new country, I look for experiences that will last with me for long. I am a sporty guy and thus, adventurous trips attract me more and destinations that have adventure to offer are always at the top of my mind. Having said that, I also believe that adventure can come at any point, even while you’re shopping or sightseeing.
By Sharmila Chand
