BY SHRADDHA V.PANDIT,
(OS,ENGG.DEPT.WESTERN RAILWAY,
AVID TRAVELLER & BUDDING WRITER FROM VADODARA)
MUMBAI | 15 JULY 2025
In Norway one can findĀ many Segway driven by commuters. Seeing few parked on road side, my hands were itching to ride one. In all these countries, residents and tourists alike were seen using these two-wheeled vehicles. They are eco-friendly, easy to handle, occupy less space, and are convenient mode of transport that saves walking time and energy. The only condition is that the roads need to be flat and smooth, which is bit difficult back home .After breakfast, while strolling around the hotel, we found a metro station nearby. A small pathway led to it. 3-4 of us leisurely took walk in the woods, inhaling fresh air. This air free of any pollutants, rejuvenates one, person doesnāt feel tired even after long walks.
We were supposed to visit Myrdal ,a mountain railway station where the Bergen Line and the FlĆ„m Line connect. It serves as a junction for tourists using the FlĆ„m Railway, which is a scenic train ride from Myrdal to FlĆ„m.Beautiful green-carriageĀ with wooden seats covered by leather cushion .This journey was incredibly picturesque, passing through hills, small tunnels, and winding railway tracks. As we moved towards Myrdal, ascending higher, the surrounding green grassy and colorful floral slopes began to be covered in white powdery snow. Small hills lay under a pristine white blanket, with chocolate colour toy size houses and colourful cars scattered here and there. On one side, there are white mountain cliffs and streams flowing from high up; on the other side, the valley too had trees and shrubs hidden under the snowĀ . The pristine white surroundings, delightful cool air, and hot tea/coffee…made my day!!!āā . We got off at Myrdal for a short photo stop. The return journey was about to begin immediately. On reaching FlĆ„m, we took another train for Geilo. This journey was even more scenic, with many waterfalls that reminded me of āKhandala Ghatā, in Maharashtra, except here snow was prominent which we don’t get to see there. Near one of the waterfalls, a beautiful girl was dancing to the tune of a melodious song & there’s a photo stop on the spot. The temperature outside must have been 5-6 degrees Celsius.Ā Shivering though, everyone rushed to capture that picturesque scene in cameras . In these European countries, wherever you look, nature’s bounty can be observed in various forms ,which is well preserved…Blessed land…
- On reaching Geilo, we proceeded to the completely wooden structureāBardola Lodgeā. Here, pair of a man & a woman was ready to welcome us and serve Norwegian food. This pair was handling everything from front desk to kitchen, soĀ process took a bit more time, but their eagerness to serve us was very heart warming. The dĆ©cor was mostlyĀ Victorian ,taxidermy animal heads, carved wooden furnitureĀ etc.Ā Some people stay here for months hunting mountaineering, ,skiing.KitchenĀ faciility was provided inside room also. The friendly receptionist who welcomed us (I forgot his name) has been working here for 20 years, he said, “I Consider this as my home.” I said,”May you also have a lodge like this of your own,” to which he thanked me and said, “May your words come true”Ā .
- Most famous wonder of Norway was yet to be viewedāThe Fjords ā the narrow inlets where seawater penetrates through ice cliffs!!!!. We were going to visit the most famous Sognefjord by ferry boat . While waiting to board the ferry from Gudvangen,all were treated with delicious ice cream. While in queue, light rain and cold wind turned us into ice cream ourselves.We didn’t have the courage to go to the upper open deck of the ferry, but the outside view wouldn’t let us stay inside. We went out ten times, trying to soak in the view, lock in heart, and then rushed back inside to thaw ourselves a little.I sincerely wished this journey would never end, but all good things do come to an end, don’t they?
Ferry drops you at Gudvangen ,Ā and one can enjoy Norwegian quisine. We were served hot soup, which helped dispel the cold a bit. These locals serving the food were smart; now they are used to groups of Indian women traveling their country. Some were clickingĀ photos with them, which is impossible in India (a photo with a waiter)Amidst laughter, the meal was over, and the bus set off for Bergen to rest at the hotel for the night.
Today was the third and last day in Norway. In the morning, we got ready and headed for Mount FlĆøyen near city of Bergen.āFlĆøibanenā the funicular hoisted us up to the top of the mountain in just 6 minutes.Once on top you get superb view of Bergen city on the foot hills,nearbyislands,fjords& mountains surrounding Bergen. FlĆøyen is a great destination for hiking, mountain biking and soft adventures. Mountain bikes are available on rent.People were flocking withĀ children, who explored FlĆøysletten playground, the Troll forest. Canoe paddling at the lake āSkomakerdiketā & zip line park is also available for enthusiasts. At FlĆøistuencafĆØ they have local food such as āFlĆøyenbollen”, the cinnamon-bun as well asĀ organic soup āFlĆøyensuppen”. There is a large statue of a most famous entity of Norway- āTroll” with a long nose and large round eyes. In some folklore, these trolls are a bit slow-witted but funny, while in others, they are very fearsome, cave dwelling, and dislike humans. Some consider their presence as a protector of the home and a symbol of prosperity. I took a photo with him, pulling his ears. After walking around a bit in woods, we started return journey down.
Bryggen, along the old wharf, is an important landmark ofĀ Bergentown ,trading empire of medieval era. About 150 years ago, many fires have damaged these characteristic wooden houses of Bryggen. Due to which new construction of wooden houses was stopped. Rebuilding of damaged structures is done in same old patterns and methods, thus they areĀ preserved which wereĀ once very common Ā in Northern Europe. We took heritage walk among these approx. 60 buildings remains of the bygone townscape.
- There was some special sea farer day celebration, hence many old sail ships and small boats were gathered near wharf waters. The locals of Bergen were enthusiastically dancing, singing, and playing musical instruments. Festivities in the air, food stalls were set up; it was such lively atmosphere, we were soaking in all, strolling around the wharf.For lunch we enjoyed hearty Indian meal at Maharaja.Now it was time to say goodbye to Raymond. Here bus drivers are called as- Captain with respect. He had provided excellent cooperation throughout the journey so far.
- Soon we headed to the airport for flight from Bergen to Stockholm, the capital of Sweden. It was a short flight. All formalities were quickly completed, and the tiny plane took off soon. On reaching hotel ,tired after long day hot bath is very relaxing. As the next day in Stockholm was scheduled to start a bit late, after breakfast, we ventured out to explore nearby area. These countries have very efficient & cheap public transport systemāTrams. They move with speed of 20-30 km ph, smoothly all over city, very convenient for commuters. We were near Sikla Kaj station. Being morning rush hour, many people were waiting. A quaint blue tram came around a beautiful bend and departed with passengers. No chaos, no commotion, everything was disciplined, quiet, clean, and perfectly organized. Once again, I was reminded of the public transport mess in our country and huge population making it even complicated.
- Anyway, today, as planned, we were going to take old City tour by bus. Majestic Gothic and Neo Classic buildings Ā planned townships ages ago and well maintenedĀ till date look very charming !! We passed from in front of entrance of building, where the Nobel Prize ceremony takes place. How many dignified people’s feet must have touched this place. Stockholm city boasts one spherical structure referred as āThe Globeā. This large sphere of concrete and steel is offering two specially designed glass gondolas running along two parallel rails. Viewers get spectacular panoramic view of Stockholm and its surroundings as the glass gondola slowly inches upwards and reaches at apex .It was truly mesmerizing experience up in the sky!!!!!
Another venue worth visiting nearby is Vaxholm town centre having Pastel-coloured wooden houses. Municipaliy of Vaxholm owns a collection of islands. Norrhamnen,theharbour,with line of fishing cottages from where one can visit the island to experience 16th-century Vaxholm Fortress. It can be reached within few minutes by small ferry. Fortress was built to defend Stockholm, now houses a museum where tourists can get to know the history. Museum has preserved guns and other defence weapons, means of communications, spirit cellar etc. All the items inside are preserved so meticulously that they look as if they could be used even today. In one room, there was a box containing various wigs and other items. Our group’s fun-loving Anu put one of them on her head, waved a magic wand, and transformed us into some kind of animals. When we went to the basement, it felt so cold, and a shiver ran down my spine.Very quickly I came out. While waiting for ferry on the shore, there came one bus boat, drove straight into the water from the road, and elegantly sailed offā¦ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā One super cool treat was waiting for us in this cold weather!! ICEBAR inside ICEHOTEL is the worldās first permanent icebar, rebuilt yearly with new theme. The interior is carved out of 40 tons of natural ice by sculptors fromĀ ICEHOTEL.We were offered drink of our choice in glasses craved out of ice itself, which was complete novelty for us!!!! DJ was playing music, making us dance & try to generate heat out of movement. Couldnāt stand the North pole likeĀ atmosphere more than 15-20 minutes. But it was worth the experienceā¦Next time with more preparation may enjoy better.
StockholmāsĀ Town Hall, which currently houses government offices was next in our itinerary. Our guide Christian, was a very witty fellow and had visited India many years ago. He said he knew one song very well that we would sing after our tour ended:”Pardesi Pardesi Jaana Nahin MujheChhod Ke” . He briefly and humorously shared important information and we moved on. People were working in the offices, so we had to move around quietly.
Visit to the Royal Palace of Sweden — Guards were standing on both sides at the entrance; they reportedly have a continuous 2-hour duty without even blinking. The current king, Carl Gustaf XVI, married Silvia, a German interpreter he met during the Munich Olympics. They have 3 children. All the functioning areas within the palace and allowed for tourists are enchanting ,the intricate carvings on the walls, the various statues and paintings on the staircase, pillars and ceilings, areĀ incredibly beautiful, something you could keep gaping at for hours š. When we came out, preparations for a “Changing of Guards” ceremony, similar to Buckingham Palace, were underway. But upon learning it would only take place after half an hour, we had to leave for the next destination.
We were going to the Vasa Ship Museum. It is a maritime museum in Sweden, located on the island of DjurgĆ„rden, The museum displays the only almost fully intact 17th-century ship that has ever been salvaged which Ā sank on her maiden voyage in 1628. The Vasa Museum opened in 1990. The warship Vasa was built in the 17th century under the orders of King Gustav II. The construction of 4 ships was underway for the war against Denmark, and Vasa was considered the most important among them. A lot of intricate carvings, depicting scenes from the Bible and other mythological tales, were carvedĀ inside& outside the ship.Alas,during construction, there were frequent changes in the main design,an increase in the size of the upper part, and a sudden order to build two decks instead of one. The sudden death of chief engineer before building was complete, left many flaws. Due to shortage ofĀ time, the ship set sail without proper testing. It hadn’t gone far when a light breeze toppled the vessel even before the sails opened completely on 11 Aug.1628.. Water rapidly entered through the lower gun ports, and it sank to the seabed just 32 miles away from port . 333 years later, in 1956, a marine researcher discovered the ship. It was brought out of the water, cleaned, restored, and is now available for public viewing in a dedicated place. You can walk around all four sides on three levels and meticulously observe the beautiful craftsmanship on the ship . It was an amazing and unique experience.
Time to leave Sweden for our next destination-Tallinn- Capital city of Estonia.Ā Anastasia ,our new guide was ready with flag to lead us. We were going to walk around this medieval part of Tallinn city .The 13th-14th-century architecture is very well preserved and feast for eyes.All these alleys have cobbled streets, built with flat,smooth stones of various size and shapes This was the style of that era, which looksĀ useful and beautiful even in present days. However, cars are generally not driven on this surface. Anastasia stood in front of each building and systematically unfolded its history. Curveous roads, a church in the middle of square, some houses, cafes. Estonia is a major producer of Amber,a reddish-yellow gemstone. This country was ruled alternately for short periods by Germany, Sweden, and Denmark. In the 19th century, it was also under Russian control. After the Perestroika of 1990, when the USSR disintegrated, this country became independent. Since then, this tiny country with a population of only 1.6-1.7 million has been thriving, extremely beautiful, progressive, and eager to welcome tourists.
It was so very exciting and enchanting experience to visit all these cities of Scandinavia that one may feel like spending rest of life in there. But one has to be practical and return to duties back home. Anyway, this travel bug will keep wiggling! After a few months, again I’ll be ready to go somewhere.Ā I thanked God for no mishaps during whole journey and also prayed to give another opportunity to travel with my friends in different continents
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