Switzerland huh? Don’t forget your chiffon saris.” Thanks to Yash Chopra and his heroines in nine yards of gossamer on snowy peaks (how do they do it?), I had to face this quip every time I told someone of my destination. No, I did not pack chiffon saris, even though May is the official start to summer. Instead, I prudently packed pullovers and jackets for my blockbuster Yash Chopraesque holiday.

While Chopra may have a lot to thank Switzerland for, the reverse is also true. For thanks to him and countless other Bollywood directors, Switzerland attracts a large number of Indian tourists—from honeymooning pairs to older couples on their second innings to young families with bawling kids.

We, however, wanted to keep away from the big cities. So we chose to go to Interlaken, a sleepy town that serves as a base for Jungfrau and other surrounding spots, and Lucerne. These smaller canal towns are where one finds the real Switzerland, calm and placid, far from the crowds.

Interlaken is a big draw because of its proximity to Jungfrau. It lies between two lakes, Lake Brienz and Lake Thun and hence the name. Despite the tourists it attracts, there are hardly any big hotel chains. What one finds instead are chalets converted to small, warm family-run establishments. Our hotel, Hotel Swiss Chalet, overlooked misty, snow-clad mountains.

On the first day of our trip, we took a train to Jungfrau. In May, this is the place for adventure—hiking trails, treks and sleigh rides. But it rained all morning at Interlaken and soon the mountains were swathed in white. In the relentless snow shower, all we could manage was to step out into the terrace for a brief photo-op, till we were driven out by the icy cold winds. A walk around the Ice Palace, full of ice sculptures in animal and human shapes, is also recommended. My favourite: Mickey Mouse in ice wearing red shades. And last but not least, on top of the peak, a Bollywood restaurant (no missing out on this one).

... contd.