Its that week of the year when Mumbai’s theater Maratha Mandir is celebrating 1000 Weeks of Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Twitteratti is buzzing with DDLJ hashtags, cinema freaks are going berserk about the romantic charms of the movie and I am reminded of my DDLJ moments in the pastoral beauty of Swiss Alps.
The movie had released way back on October 20, 1995 (India). Lets see what has happened since then. Shahrukh Khan and Kajol, the actors of the movie who had missed their train to Zurich and eventually had fallen in love over their month long European vacation have become super stars. The Yash Raj films who had wooed the hearts of millions have become a big and reliable name in Hindi cinema and Switzerland has not ceased to buzz with Indian crowd. No doubt Switzerland Tourism has also done their best to woo us for more. At 11000 feet, I was simply amazed to find a Bollywood restaurant at the top of Europe, Jungfrau. It was Mr. Raj Kapoor who was first one to shoot his movie in Switzerland and later Mr. Yash Chopra’s movies showed that he was absolutely in fascination of Swiss beauty. Jungfrau Railways paid a tribute to his work by naming a train after him too.
DDLJ will always be a special movie for everyone. I bet there is anyone in my generation who hasn’t learnt romance from DDLJ. In 2012, 6 months old in a love marriage, when my hubby mentioned Switzerland in our Europe itinerary, I clearly remember I had told him that he is the ‘Raj’ of my life. 🙂 My friends and family know that I have been a Shahrukh Khan loyal forever. In that year, I simply got lucky and visited Europe twice. The blissful Switzerland trip was romantically destined for me in the summers!
After spending 3 days in Paris, we were headed to Switzerland. I had almost gone dizzy in love at the sight of the romantically beautiful Paris from the top of Eiffel Tower but in Switzerland I almost cried in love. Nature’s beauty is at its best and one is left awestruck admiring snow-capped mountains, beautiful Swiss cottages lush green Alpine meadows and the dotted villages which give the finest sights of nature. Once we landed in Zurich, I really went crazy. I even told hubby that I want to do everything that Kajol did right from missing train, singing songs to dancing in the background of snow capped alps, grandiose castle and Romanesque architecture.
Hubby did his best and took me around the beautiful locales which included Lucerne, Zurich, Basel, Berne, Interlaken, Louterbrunen ,Jungrau, Mt. Titlis, Engelberg. To explore Switzerland we had bought a 3 day Swiss Pass. Trains are the lifeline of Switzerland. They are absolutely beautiful and they take you around to every nook and corner even to the highest spot in Europe, Jungfrau. The train ticket to Jungfrau had to be brought separately by us. Train route to Jungfrau is absolutely gorgeous ( Interlaken West – Interlaken Ost – Grindelwall – Klein Schnidegg – Jungfrau – Louterbrunen – Interlaken Ost – Interlaken West).
I absolutely lived my swiss dream exploring mountains, snow and greenery and clicking some exotic postcard pictures. There were moments when I would simply stand in the middle of the road and stand- stare awestruck at the Swiss beauty.
But on the last day, I did get to live my DDLJ not so great moment too as both of us got so engrossed in picking souvenirs (Swiss Bells ) at the airport, that we just missed the announcements and missed our flight back to Paris. However, Hubby behaved like the most sober man and acted calm and cool. I expected him to panic but he simply said why did you have to live your DDLJ moment in such an expensive manner?
I can never forget to thank Hubby who makes my trips possible.
More on DDLJ, I would like to tell the classic Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (DDLJ) had scenes from quaint village of Montbovon which lies along the uphill journey from Montreux to Gstaadin, there are songs in the film which were shot in and around Saanen. Also there is a DDLJ poster of Shahrukh Khan & Kajol atop Mt. Titlis.
Mt. Titlis
Happy Traveling!!!
Oh what a beautiful and exciting account of your sojourn to the exotic Swiss locales. It rekindled some lovely memories including a trip to Mont. Blanc.
Here’s wishing you and your hubby a merry month of December 🙂
Cheers
Lovely post M. i just relived my Swiss trip this year…. 🙂
Beaitiful post with lovely captures and narrative! Wishing you more trips, Manjulika!
Awesome :). Have been to all the places you mentioned in Switzerland. And I can surely vouch for the fact that each of them is amazingly beautiful :D.
Lucky you to dream the tale of perfect love on celluloid and in the Swiss land. DDLJ, the most beautiful movie on love and romance. You re-lived it:)
Sounds so romantic, swooning!