The Castle Trip

We had 2 days of spare time, in our Munich Trip as the Training got over on Thursday, and we had planned to come back on Sunday. So it was planned, by Sandhya & Manu to visit the castles on day one ( Friday) & Salz burg on Day 2 i.e Saturday.

The Castle Trip :

The castle was in Fussen, for which we had take train from Munich to a junction and then change the train and head to Fussen. The interesting thing was we changed the train within 3 minutes at the junction. The trains were calm as usual with less people on it. There were many tourists mostly Chinese on the way. It was a pleasant trip and we landed on Fussen.

We had to take the bus from there, and went in reached the destination standing in Indian style(not on foot-board !!!). The Neuschwanstein Castle & Hohenschwangau castle are the twin castles standing on top of the small mountain across. They looked beautiful and majestic.

We went to the ticket section and got to know its mandatory to ticket the 'guide' without which we are not allowed. So we paid entry cum guide fee of 17 Euro per head and they gave the tickets and the time at which we should be present.

Hohenschwangau Castle :

We got a road map which indicated we need to walk for 20 minutes to reach the castle from our place. So we started walking to be on time. There was a light drizzle & cold air breezing around keeping us cool throughout the day. The atmosphere was pleasant to have a walk.

The horse which carried the tourists to the castle were amazing. It reminded me of the horses used by the cursed kings who hunt for Frodo & his ring. They were big and black, scary unlike the brown and little horses I had seen till then.

We had walk up a small hill to reach to the castle. The castle was of Yellowish shade, and dint appear as castle at first site, as we expected something more interesting. The time of entry was 1.10 and we reached well before it.

I went to swipe the ticket and get in as we had reached by 1.00. It dint allow !!! and the gate keeper informed me "You have to wait till 1.10, as you are early". That was the first time in my life I was humiliated because I was early."

Then we took some photo graphs around. We decided to take the group photo of all 4 of us. There were a couple of European girls whom I asked to take the photo and gave my camera. They clicked I suppose and I immediately said "Bantha", and took the camera, checked it and said " Banthu bidu". The way I expressed was very natural, but I dint realize they were Europeans and I don't even know them. These words somehow became the talking point for all the 3. They called them 'my friends', and every song I said, every expression I gave on that day, they related to "my friends".

After the 'mahurtha' the gate keeper allowed us in to the castle. We went inside the castle and we got the information that we will get a guide. After some time a lady came and gave us a handheld device similar to our scientific calci we had in our college days and said its your 'guide'. She took our entire group (about 15 people) to the next hall. The 'guide' would have to be activated by that lady in every room and we have to listen to it like a transistor. We were really disappointed with as we had paid about 9 Euro for this unlike India where we hesitate to pay 20 Rs for the entrance of a palace.

The castle had many rooms and each had just couple of beautiful artifacts. They were good, but we felt it was not enough. We were not allowed to take photographs as well inside which was another setback. The trip was about 45 minutes in that castle and then we left.

From outside the castle there view was very beautiful. We took many photos, and the highlight of the session was Raghu's 'Raj kapoor' style photos with an umbrella.

Neuschwanstein Castle:

Then we set out to go to the remaining Neuschwanstein Castle, which I still cant pronounce properly. This appeared more majestic and it was in bright white. It again reminded me of the castle of 'Gondor'. There some more photos which were being sold of the winter time where there is snow, which was very beautiful. Again in the backdrop greenery it looked good. We started walking again, to this castle. Stopped at a church in between, which was a simple but of medieval architecture. Made few stops in between to do shopping but dint buy any.

We reached the castle from where we saw a bridge far away, took some snaps and waited for the time to get in. Here we were taken by another guide. The new guide was a tall handsome person, who spoke elegantly both in English & German ( I hope!!). The better thing being it was not another transistor.

Some history :

This palace was built by Lord Ludwig II. The artifacts were much beautiful than the first palace.Ludwig was a great patron of Opera. He has built and dedicated so many things in the palace to opera characters. He got engaged with a princess, but later broke the engagement. He spent so much on these lavishing palace that the people around him declared him 'mentally ill' and removed him from the throne. The illness certificate was given by a psychiatrist without meeting him. Soon after both the doctor and the patient (Ludwig) died after some time mysteriously.

The palace was full of drawings & most of the arts had some sort of 'swan' as it was his favourite animal ( bird ?) . Its also said there was a chariot(boat?) which the big swans dragged, with the king on it. We saw all the rooms,which I am not good at explaining, of which the hall where the opera was performed was the biggest and most beautiful. Even today some time of the year opera is being performed. We thought they robbed the king of the throne, declared mentally ill, but now they are making well enough money because of him.

We walked down the hill not taking the usual road but between the trees in the pedestrian path..

We never felt tired or bored in the entire trip, even though we walked enough for the day. The big trees, sun no-where around, rain in the air, cool breeze ( Mungaru Male setup!!!) was the highlight of this trip.

Finally we left the castle town and were thinking of going to a lake nearby. But Raghu had to leave for India the next day, so we cancelled the lake trip again (Sorry Sandhya !!!).

This day trip I remembered even today for 'Banta, Bantu bidu' ( my friends), King Ludwig's 'madness', guilty for being early, and the LOR's reminiscence in the castle, and all the fun/laugh we had far from our home and us being one family !!!