2024 - What an Incredible Year for Indian Chess!

What a year 2024 has been for Indian Chess! 

Being closely associated with the field by virtue of working as a Gurgaon based online Chess coach for beginners, advanced beginners and intermediate level players, I am absolutely delighted with how the country's top players have performed this year!

At the start of the year, as per the January 2024 FIDE ratings, India had a good presence in the world rankings, with Vishwanathan Anand at no. 11, R Praggnanandhaa at no. 13, Vidit Gujrathi at no. 14, Arjun Erigaisi at no. 17, D Gukesh at no. 25, P Harikrishna at no. 33, S L Narayanan at no. 42, Nihal Sarin at no. 43, Aravindh Chidambaram at no. 73, Raunak Sadhwani at no. 83, and Abhimanyu Puranik at no. 96. That was certainly impressive, but it didn't fully give a glimpse of what was to come up as the year went along.

Let's look at some of the biggest events that shaped Indian Chess in the course of the year.

The Chess Olympiad

The Indian victory in both the open section and the women’s section at the 45^th Chess Olympiad in Budapest was nothing short of being spectacular. The event was a truly global one, with more than 180 nations participating and sending their top 5 players for Chess’s most important team event. 

In the Open section, D Gukesh, R Praggnanadhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, Vidit Gujrathi and P Harikrishna won the title scoring 21 points out of a total of 22 points from 11 rounds. Second placed USA managed just 17 points, showing the margin of India’s victory. Defending champions Uzbekistan finished third, also with 17 points. Going into the tournament, India was seeded second behind the USA.

Besides team glory, individual glory was also there in abundance. Gukesh won the Gold Medal on the 1^st board, scoring 9 points from 10 rounds. His victories included a stunning win over world no. 3, Fabiano Caruana, from USA. Arjun Erigaisi won the Gold Medal on the 3^rd board, with a score of 10 points from 11 rounds. At the end of the tournament, Arjun Erigaisi and Gukesh were up to world no. 3 and world no. 5 as per the live ratings (they were ranked world no. 4 and world no. 7 respectively as per the September FIDE ratings before the Olympiad).

In the women’s section, D Harika, R Vaishali, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agrawal and Tania Sachdev came first, with 19 points. This was a much closer contest, with Kazakhstan finishing second with 18 points and USA third with 17 points. Divya Deshmukh won the individual Gold Medal on board 3, and Vantika won the individual Gold Medal on board 4.

What was particularly impressive was that both the men’s team and the women’s team were very young, and that bodes very well for the future of Indian Chess. In the open section, Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa and Arjun are 18, 19 and 21 respectively. In the women’s section, Divya, Vantika and Vaishali are 18, 21 and 23 respectively. The other players on the teams also contributed very significantly, with their abundant experience.

Let’s take a quick look at the history of this prestigious tournament. The 1^st official Chess Olympiad was held in London in 1927. Since then, it has largely been an event that has taken place once in 2 years, barring disruptions during World War II and the Corona Virus pandemic (when it was held online). The current tournament was the 45^th in the series. The Soviet Union won this tournament a staggering 18 times! After the Soviet Union split up, Russia won the Chess Olympiad a further 6 times. In the open category, the statistics for gold medal winners are: Soviet Union – 18, USA – 6, Russia – 6, Hungary – 3, Armenia – 3, Ukraine – 2, China – 2, Yugoslavia- 1, Poland – 1, Germany – 1 and Uzbekistan – 1. India has now joined this elite list. The women’s event began in 1957. The Gold medal winners in 30 editions of this section have been: USSR – 11, China – 6, Georgia – 4, Russia – 3, Hungary -2, Ukraine – 2, Israel – 1, and now India – 1. In the open section, the most successful players of all time have been Tigran Petrosian (Soviet Union) and Vasily Smyslov (Soviet Union), both of whom have won 9 individual Gold medals, followed closely by Garry Kasparov (Soviet Union, then Russia) and Mikhail Tal (Soviet Union), who have both won 8. In the women’s event, the most successful players ever have been Nona Gaprindashvili (Soviet Union, then Georgia), with 11 individual Gold medals, and Maia Chiburdanidze (Soviet Union, then Georgia), who won 9 individual Gold medals.

The World Chess Championship

Gukesh won the right to challenge the World Champion, Ding Liren of China, by winning the Candidates Tournament in Toronto in April 2024. Qualifying for the competitive Candidates Tournament was itself an achievement, and Gukesh succeeded in coming first amongst a field of 8 players, with no fewer than 3 of them being Indians! Gukesh finished the tournament with 9 / 14; Hikaru Nakamura, Ian Nepomniachtchi and Fabiano Caruano got 8 / 14; Praggnanandhaa got 7 / 14; Vidit got 6 / 14; Alireza Firouzja got 5 / 14; and Nijat Abasov got 3.5 / 14.

In December 2024, the much awaited World Championship was held in Singapore, and Gukesh beat Ding Liren 7.5 – 6.5 to become the World Chess Champion. The enormity of the result cannot be stated enough. With the win, Gukesh – aged just 18 – became the youngest ever World Chess Champion, the 18^th undisputed World Chess Champion, and the 2^nd Indian World Chess Champion after his mentor, the legendary Vishwanathan Anand!

With his victory, Gukesh joins a very short and elite list of World Chess Champions. The World Chess Champions through history have been: 1. Wilhelm Steinitz (1886 – 1894), 2. Emanuel Lasker (1894 – 1921), 3. Jose Raul Capablanca (1921 – 1927), 4. Aleksander Alekhine (1927 – 1935, 1937 – 1946), 5. Max Euwe (1935 – 1937), 6.  Mikhail Botvinnik (1948 – 1957, 1958 – 1960, 1961 – 1963), 7. Vasily Smyslov (1957 – 1958), 8. Mikhali Tal (1960 – 1961), 9. Tigran Petrosian (1963 – 1969), 10. Boris Spassky (1969 – 1972), 11. Bobby Fischer (1972 – 1975), 12. Anatoly Karpov (1975 – 1985), 13. Garry Kasparov (1985 – 2000), 14. Vladimir Kramnik (2000 – 2007), 15. Vishwanathan Anand (2007 – 2013), 16. Magnus Carlsen (2013 – 2023), 17. Ding Liren (2023- 2024), 18. D Gukesh (2024 onwards). 

Going into the match, Gukesh was the challenger and yet he was the favourite to win the title. Defending champion, Ding Liren had not had a good year at all by his previous exalted standards. Gukesh’s rating was 2,783 and he was no. 5 in the world rankings. In contrast, Ding’s rating was just 2,728 and he was just no. 23 in the world rankings. Despite all this, all experts were sure that it was a folly to write-off Ding, given what a dangerous player he has been over the past few years. Every player goes through a peak and a slump, and neither of these is usually a permanent state. So just going by Ding’s relatively poor record over the past year was not an indication of his deadly potential.

The format of the tournament was such that there were 14 classical games, and in case of a tie, there was going to be a faster format to determine the winner. In the classical format, if either player reached 7.5 points, he would be declared the winner.

Ding started the tournament with a win in Game 1, and that too, with the black pieces. White is generally believed to have a slight advantage because he can decide which opening he wants to play. Gukesh bounced back with a win in Game 3. Then Gukesh won again in Game 11 following a blunder from Ding, but Ding came back strongly in Game 12 to equalize the score at 6 – 6. Game 13 was a draw, so going into Game 14, both players were tied at  6.5 points each. It all came down to the last game. Here Ding had the advantage of the white pieces. As had been the case in most games, both players played with a near perfect accuracy, and as the game went into the endgame, a draw seemed like a foregone conclusion. Then out of the blue, Ding made a blunder that allowed Gukesh to exchange a rook and a bishop, and the resulting endgame had him being up 2 pawns to 1, with a clear victory. Ding immediately saw his mistake and resigned, giving Gukesh the title! It had appeared through the tournament that Ding was quite content with draws in most games, because he knew the odds would be in his favour in the rapid format of the game in case the tournament went down to the wire. Gukesh, on the other hand, gave the impression of trying to push hard for a victory even when there was no clear victory in sight, and his positive approach finally paid off!

There was criticism from greats like Magnus Carlsen (the reigning world no. 1, who refused to defend his World Championship title in 2022, but remains unquestionably the world’s top rated player) and Vladimir Kramnik, who openly said that the quality of games was not befitting of a World Championship. Ding's blunder in Game 14 only strengthened the criticism. There was also a feeling that though both players played incredibly accurately through most of the tournament, their game was a bit mechanical and it was like that of a computer engine. Anand was however very quick to come to Gukesh’s defence and he said criticism comes with the territory, so Gukesh should ignore the criticism. Gukesh won fair and square, after a tremendous year, a win in the highly competitive Candidates Tournament, and then a huge battle in the World Championship itself.

Besides the tournament victory, what endeared Gukesh to a lot of people was his humility. He acknowledged Ding's fighting spirit and praised him generously. He also openly said that just because he was the World Champion, it didn't mean he was the world's best player, because that slot was undeniably occupied by Magnus Carlsen. This showed humility and maturity well beyond his young age! It's so easy for a youngster to taste early success and become arrogant, but there wasn't a trace of that in Gukesh's case.

Other Highlights of the Year

In December 2024 Arjun Erigaisi crossed a FIDE rating of 2,800, becoming just the 15^th player in history to do that, with a rating of 2,801. Others to have accomplished this, along with the peak ratings, are: 1. Magnus Carlsen (2,882 in May 2014), 2. Garry Kasparov (2,851 in July 1999), 3. Fabiano Caruana (2,844 in October 2014), 4. Levon Aronian (2,830 in March 2014), 5. Wesley So (2,822 in February 2017), 6. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2,820 in May 2018), 7. Maxime Vachier Lagrave (2,819 in August 2016), 8. Vishwanathan Anand (2,817 in March 2011), 9. Vladimir Kramnik (2,817 in October 2016), 10. Vaselin Topalov (2,816 in July 2015), 11. Hikaru Nakamura (2,816 in October 2015), 12. Ding Liren (2,816 in November 2018), 13. Alexander Grischuk (2,810 in December 2014), 14. Alireza Firouzja (2,804 in December 2021), 15. Arjun Erigaisi (2,801 in December 2024).

In November 2024, Anish Sarkar of Kolkata became the youngest rated player in history. When his name entered FIDE's list with a rating of 1,555, the boy was just 3 years, 8 month old!

As the year comes to a close, as per the December FIDE world chess ratings, there are 2 Indian players in the Top 5, 3 players in the Top 10, 4 players in the Top 20, 6 players in the Top 30, 8 players in the Top 50, and 11 players in the Top 100! What domination!

The incredible thing to note is that despite Gukesh’s amazing achievement in becoming the World Champion, he’s not even India’s no. 1 player. He’s just behind Arjun Erigaisi in the rankings, with Erigaisi at no. 4 and Gukesh at no. 5, as per the December FIDE ratings. The youth brigade of Gukesh, Erigaisi, Praggnanandhaa and also other emerging stars like Aravindh Chidambaram and Nihal Sarin look poised to dominate world chess for many years to come! For both Gukesh and Erigaisi, the world no. 2 ranking is very much in sight, with world no. 2 Fabiano Caruana and world no. 3 Hikaru Nakamura being just a handful of points ahead of them. It will still take a gargantuan effort for them to catch up with world no. 1 Magnus Carlsen though, but they have age on their side and if their performance in the coming years goes that extra step from where it has been in 2024, the day may not be far when we have an Indian as world no.1, a feat only achieved by Anand in the past!

Vishy's Huge Contribution

A lot of people rightly give the credit of this success to living legend and five-time world champion, Vishwanathan Anand. He became India’s first Chess Grandmaster in 1988, and his success inspired a generation of youngsters to take to the game. India today has no fewer than 85 Grandmasters! Anand not only inspired this set of youngsters to dizzying heights of success, but he mentored them too. He also provided a platform to train some of these players by founding the Anand Westbridge Chess Academy in Chennai – Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, Erigaisi and Vaishali have all trained in this academy, and are very open in saying how much it helped them in their chess careers. The world acknowledges Anand’s role in supporting these youngsters, and as former World Champion Garry Kasparov put it, “Vishy’s children are all grown up.”

In Conclusion

Even the most optimistic supporters of Indian Chess could not have predicted the laurels that 2024 would bring in. As we approach 2025, our superstars have given us many reasons to look forward to the new year with bated breath, to see what new heights they can achieve! Of course, pressure comes with the territory and in an extremely competitive field like Chess, no success can be taken for granted, but Indian Chess fans are very proud of their achievements and would certainly want to wish them the best of luck for 2025!

My Visual Travel Experience: Scandinavia

In June 2023, once the school summer holidays began, my wife Kamalini, our son 8 year old son Rehaan, and I went to Scandinavia on a 3 week holiday. We spent time in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. For my family, it was the first time in these countries. I had been before, but only to the respective capital cities. Scandinavia is a beautiful part of the world. What also acted as a trigger for our trip was that my wife's cousin brother, Babla, was living in Copenhagen, and another relative, Moitree (my sister in law's sister in law!), was living in Malmo. 

Me at Viegelandsparken,
Oslo, Norway

Kamalini and me at the fjords in
Undredal, Norway

Kamalini and Rehaan at Icebar,
Stockholm, Sweden

Kamalini and Rehaan at
Legoland, Billund, Denmark

Me and Rehaan with Babla and Sebanti at
Friedriksborg Slot, Hillerod, Denmark

We left Delhi on June 4th and took an early morning Indigo flight to Istanbul. We had a half day stop-over there, and couldn't help but be impressed by Istanbul's airport, with its many shops and restaurants, its attractive "Old Bazaar" and even a museum! We then took a Turkish Airlines flight to Copenhagen and we got there by late evening. We took a train from the Copenhagen airport and went to Malmo. In Malmo, we were met at the Malmo Hyllie railway station by Moitree and her husband, Rajiv, who drove us in their car to their beautiful home in the suburb of Bunkeflostrand. It was great to meet their kids, Etash and Tia. Etash was studying in college, and Tia was in her final year of high school. We also met their friendly 9 year old black labrador, Maya. Kamalini and Rehaan are dog lovers, and they were absolutely delighted with Maya!

We covered 12 places across Sweden, Norway and Denmark, and our broad itinerary for the trip was Malmo - Lund - Gothenburg - Undredal - Flam - Bergen - Oslo - Stockholm - Copenhagen - Billund - Hillerod - Roskilde. We travelled by train, as we had got ourselves Eurail passes. The trains were very comfortable and reliable, not to mention incredibly scenic in parts.

Scandinavia is one of the most beautiful and prosperous regions in the world, with amazing natural beauty, a lot of history, stunning architecture, and interesting towns. In survey after survey, the countries of Scandinavia rank amongst the happiest in the world! Sweden has a population of about 10.5 million, and covers an area of about 450,000 square kilometers; Norway has about 5.5 million people, and an area of 385,000 square kilometers; Denmark's population is about 5.9 million, across an area of about 43,000 square kilometers.

Malmo

(Sweden)

I ate breakfast at Moitree's and Rajiv's and set out of the house early to go exploring Malmo. Kamalini and Rehaan came much later. I took the train to Malmo Central Station and spent the next few hours walking around the city centre. A day was enough to get a good flavour of the city.

Exterior, Malmo Central Station,
Malmo

Interior, Malmo Central Station,
Malmo

Clock Tower, Malmo Central Station,
Malmo

Malmo's is Sweden's third largest city, and has a population of over 300,000. It was founded in the mid 13th century. It was under Danish rule from 1397 to 1523, and was then returned to Sweden. Stortorget is a large square in the heart of the old city. Radhuset is the town hall, situated at Stortorget. The building was built in 1546 but was completely renovated in the 1860s. Also situated at Stortorget is Residenset, the governor's residence. Today it serves as the home of the county governor.

Fountain, Stortorget, Malmo

Scandic Hotel, Stortorget, Malmo

Sculpture of Musicians, Stortorget, Malmo

Radhuset, Malmo

Radhuset (Side View), Malmo

Residenset, Malmo

A short distance away from Stortorget lies St Petri Kyrka, Malmo's cathedral. It was built in the 13th century, but the high tower was built in the late 19th century. The cathedral has a remarkable 15 meter tall high altar, that is magnificently ornamented. The beautiful pulpit dates back to 1599.

Exterior, St Petri Kyrka

High Altar, St Petri Kyrka

Nave, St Petri Kyrka

Pulpit, St Petri Kyrka

Tower, St Petri Kyrka

Turning Torso, a 190 meter tall skyscraper, was built in 2005 in a very futuristic style, inspired by the form of a twisting human being. It is one of Scandinavia's tallest buildings. The residential building has 54 stories and 147 apartments.

Turning Torso Building, Malmo

Lund

(Sweden)

From Malmo, we also managed to fit in a short trip spanning a couple of hours to nearby Lund. Lund is a university town having a population of about 60,000, and is situated barely half an hour away from Malmo by train, the distance being barely 20 km. Lund was founded more than 1,000 ears ago and was once Denmark's capital.

Lund's cathedral, Lund Domkyrka, is the town's best known site, and was the reason that we made our short trip to Lund. It was consecrated in 1145 and was rebuilt between 1860 and 1880. The cathedral has two towers, a 14th century astronomical clock, and a crypt that has a sculpture of the Giant Finn supporting the vaults. Lund University was inaugurated in 1668 in the cathedral. Until the end of the 17th century, the cathedral was the university's main teaching and meeting room!

Lund Domkyrka, Lund

Astronomical Clock, Lund Domkyrka,
Lund

The Giant Finn, Crypt,
Lund Domkyrka, Lund

High Altar,
Lund Domkyrka, Lund

High Altar Screen,
Lund Domkyrka, Lund

Nave, Lund Domkyrka,
Lund

Organ, Lund Domkyrka,
Lund

Pulpit, Lund Domkyrka,
Lund

The square outside Lund Domkyrka is called Domkyrkoplatsen. It houses the statue of the 18th century Swedish priest, Henric Schartau. It also has the Cathedral Forum and the Cathedral Library.

Domkyrkoplatsen, Lund

Lund University has its main campus situated close to Lund Domkyrka. It is one of the country's largest and oldest universities. The university has about 47,000 students across its various campuses and about 8,800 employees.

Lund University, Lund

Gothenburg

(Sweden)

We activated our Eurail passes and went from Malmo to Gothenburg. We spent two days there, and stayed at Scandic No. 25, near the main railway station, Gothenburg Central. Kamalini was particularly keen on going on the Gothenburg archipelago tour. We did that on the first day. We spent time in the city on the second day. I left for my city exploration early in the morning, and Kamalini and Rehaan joined me several hours later, after having a leisurely morning at the hotel.

Sweden's second largest city has about 580,000 inhabitants. Gothenburg's origins go back to the early 17th century. In 1619, Gustav II Adolf decided to set up the city. In the 18th century, Gothenburg became a very cosmopolitan town, with residents from Netherlands, Germany, England and Scotland. The shipping industry boomed in Gotenburg in the mid 19th century. The city developed a bustling harbour and became a centre for international trade.

Domkyrkan is Gothenburg's cathedral. It was built in 1815-1825. The cathedral has a clock tower and is situated in the midst of beautifully manicured lawns.

Domkyrkan, Gothenburg

High Altar, Domkyrkan,
Gothenburg

Nave, Domkyrkan,
Gothenburg

Organ, Domkyrkan,
Gothenburg

Pulpit, Domkyrkan,
Gothenburg

Gustav Adolfs Torg is a city square name after the city's founder. Since 1854, a statue of the king has stood at the square. The square also has landmarks like Radhuset (the Town Hall), Borsen (the Stock Exchange) and Stadshuset (the City Hall). Borsen is now used for receptions and council meetings. On 6th November 1632, Gustav II Adolf was killed in the battle of Lutzen. Every year on this day, school children parade in his honour at the square and a marzipan cake is made in the shape of the king's head.

Gustav Adolfs Torg, Gothenburg

Statue of Gustav II Adolf,
Gustav Adolfs Torg, Gothenburg

Borsen, Gustav Adolfs Torg, Gothenburg

Radhuset, Gustav Adolfs Torg, Gothenburg

Stadshuset, Gustav Adolfs Torg, Gothenburg

Utkiken is a red and white office building situated at the harbour. It is popularly called the "lipstick". The 86 meter tall building offers great views of the harbour and the city from the top floor.

Utkiken, Gothenburg

Utkiken, Gothenburg

Barken Viking is a barque that was built in 1906. It was used as a merchant ship until 1948. In 1950, it was used as a training centre for sailors and chefs. Today, the 97 meter deck houses a cafe and bar, and is permanently docked in Gothenburg's harbour.

Barken Viking, Gothenburg

Maritima Centrum was set up at the harbour in 1987. The maritime centre has a total of 18 vessels docked there and is the world's largest floating museum. Prominent highlight include the warship Smedland, the submarine Nordkaparen, and a host of smaller boats.

Maritima Centrum

Marieholm, A Ship Docket next to
Maritima Centrum, Gothenburg

Stadsmuseum is the City Museum, and it is housed inside a majestic building built in 1747-62. It was originally made as the East India House. After trading came to a halt in the early 19th century, the building became a natural history museum, and in 1861, the City Museum. Exhibits include the region's early history, the importance of the Gota Alv river as a trading route, the work of the East India Company and its trade in exotic goods. Christinae Kyrka is an impressive church situated next to Stadsmuseum.

Stadsmuseum, Gothenburg

Christinae Kyrka, Gothenburg

Kronhuset was constructed in 1643-55. It was used as a storage area for artillery. The ground floor of Kronhuset was used as a chamber for the parliament in 1660. Now the building is used for concerts and exhibitions. The floor above is used as a museum with historical exhibits. The square outside has eateries, and is used by craftspeople.

Kronhuset, Gothenburg

Gotaplatsen is a large square. surrounded by cultural institutions, including the Konstmuseet (the Art Gallery), the Konsthallen (the Art Hall), the Konserthuset (the Concert Hall), the Stadsteatern (the City Theatre) and the Stadsbiblioteket (the City Library). In the middle of the square, there's a large statue of Poseidon. The square was constructed in 1923 for the city's 300th anniversary.

Gotaplatsen. Gothenburg

Poseidon Statue, Gotaplatsen,  
Gothenburg

City Library, Gotaplatsen,
Gothenburg

Gothenburg Archipelago consists of the Northern Archipelago and the Southern Archipelago. The Southern Archipelago is off the coast of the city, and there are boats from Saltholmen that take visitors on archipelago tours. There are 5,000 permanent residents, and another 6,000 summer residents in the Southern Archipelago. The archipelago is car-free. Prominent islands include Donso and Vrango.

Saltholmen, Gothenburg Archipelago

Boat, Gothenburg Archipelago

Donso, Gothenburg Archipelago

Restaurant at Vrango,
Gothenburg Archipelago

From Gothenburg, we took the train to Oslo. For now, Oslo was just a transit point for us. I had made a booking at a hotel - Cochs Pensjonat - and we went there. Much to our horror, we found that somehow, the booking had been made for June 2024 instead of June 2023!! I immediately cancelled the booking. No rooms were available at that hotel. We took a taxi and went to a few nearby hotels, but they were all full. We finally got a hotel room at Anker Hotel, but it was at about Euros 400 per night, which was about triple our budgeted amount! We didn't have much choice though, because it was already quite late in the evening, and we were practically out in the streets with our luggage!

The next morning, we took the train from Oslo and made our way to Undredal, in the Norwegian fjords, about 12 km from the popular tourist village of Flam. Kamalini had discovered this little gem of a village after a fair bit of online research. From Oslo, we went to Myrdal, where we had to catch the scenic Flam Railway to the town of Flam. In Flam, we got a taxi and went to Undredal, where we spent 2 days at Undredal Fjord Apartments, very close to the beautiful fjords. 

Undredal

(Norway)

Undredal is a small village located along the Aurlandsfjorden, a branch of the much larger Sognefjorden, which extends for 206 km. Undredal has a population of about 100. It is famous for its brown goat cheese. Before 1988, Undredal was only accessible by boat. There is now a road connection, that includes two long tunnels.

Ferry, Aurlandsfjorden,
Undredal

Aurlandsfjorden,
Undredal

Aurlandsfjorden and Village Buildings,
Undredal

Stream, Undredal

Undredal Stave Church is the smallest stave church in Northern Europe. The church's origins date back to the 12th century AD!

Undredal Stave Church,
Undredal

The village has a popular restaurant, close to the ferry point. Undredal's famous goat cheese is also available at the restaurant. 

Restaurant,
Undredal

Meatballs, Restaurant,
Undredal

Salmon, Restaurant,
Undredal

Goat Cheese, Restaurant,
Undredal

Goat Skin, Restaurant,
Undredal

Nearby, there's a small but well equipped supermarket. Undredal Fjord Apartments is a comfortable place to stay. Outside it, there's a popular camping site, where visitors park their vehicles and set up their tents.

Supermarket, Undredal

Supermarket and Village Buildings,
Undredal

Undredal Fjord Apartments,
Undredal

Camping Site, Undredal

Goat Statue, Undredal

Flam

(Norway)

After some really wonderful, restful time in the stunning village of Undredal, we took a ferry along the Aurlandsfjorden, and made our way to the village of Flam. The ferry ride along the fjords was stunning, with the beautiful waters, the clear sky above, and the mountains on either side. We spent a few hours walking around Flam, after which we caught the Flam Railway to Myrdal, and then carried on to the town of Bergen.

Aurlandsfjorden, Near Flam

Aurlandsvangen, Near Flam

Cruise Ship on Aurlandsfjorden, Flam

Flam is a village at the southern tip of the Aurlandsfjorden. It has a population of 350. It is, however, a very popular tourist destination, as it is one of the most important gateways to the Norwegian fjords. It receives close to 450,000 visitors a year! Flam harbour receives about 160 cruise ships a year.

Visitor Centre, Flam

Flam Bakery, Flam

In 1942, the Flamsbanen or Flam Railway was established between Flam and Myrdal. The distance is about 20 km, and the stretch has 1 bridge, 10 stations, and 20 tunnels. The breathtaking journey passes through mountains and waterfalls, most importantly the Kjofossen Waterfall (the train stops for a few minutes here; one can hear music, and from a distance, at the top of thewaterfall, one can see an attractive woman dressed in a red dress performing a dance!). The 50 minute journey is one of Norway's most attractive tourist attractions.

Flam Railway

Kjofossen Railway, Flam Railway

Panoramic View, Flam Railway

Flam also has a Railway Museum near the Visitor Centre, which showcases the history of the Flamsbanen. It has real-life railway engines and wagons, as well as other interesting exhibits.

Railway Museum, Flam

Wagon, Railway Museum, Flam

Bergen

(Norway)

After spending a few hours in Flam, we left for Bergen. We again caught the scenic Flam Railway to Myrdal, where we changed trains for Bergen. We got there by the evening, and spent the next day exploring Bergen. We stayed at Scandic Kokstad. It was a very pleasant hotel, but it was a bit far from the city, and was located in the suburb of Kokstad. It worked out alright though, because there was a direct bus from the city centre to our hotel. Bergen was lovely. It was unfortunate that I came down with food poisoning and threw up after eating some cod fish, but luckily by then, I had managed to see a lot of Bergen's sites. I was out exploring from early morning till the evening. Kamalini and Rehaan joined by mid morning, and then returned to the hotel in the afternoon.

With a population of about 285,000, Bergen is Norway's second largest city. It is a very popular tourist spot, because it is seen as the gateway to the fjords. Bergen was granted town status by King Olav Kyree in 1070. It was the capital of Norgesvelget, which included Norway, Iceland, Greenland, and parts of Scotland. Oslo became the capital of Norway in 1299. Bergen grew as a trading centre for dried fish, and then later as a shipping centre.

Bryggen is the old wharf that consists of a series of medieval gabled houses. Many have been destroyed by fire, including a big one in 1955. However, new houses have been constructed in the same architectural style. Originally, these buildings served as timber warehouses. This part of town was a trading centre for fish. Bryggen has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, it is full of shops, souvenir stores, and eateries.

Bryggen with the Old Wharf, Bergen

Bryggen, Bergen

Kornkirken (the Church of the Cross) was originally built in the early 12th century. The church saw expansion in the 17th century, giving its current cruciform plan.

Kornkirken, Bergen

Domkirken was originally a parish church, Olavskirken, built in the 12th century. It was later taken over by Franciscan monks. The church was destroyed by fire. In the 16th century, the church was rebuilt, by Geble Pedersson, Norway's first Lutheran bishop. It has a striking clock tower.

Domkirken, Bergen

Mariakirken is the city's oldest surviving church, and parts of it date back to the 11th century. It was used by German merchants in Hanseatic times. The church is famous for its rich Baroque pulpit.

Mariakirken, Bergen

Tombstones, Mariakirken, Bergen

Fisketorget (the Fish Market) lies along the waterfront. One can buy all types of fish, and one can also have a meal at any of the eateries and stall there. Not only can one eat fish there, but one can also eat other types of Norwegian speciality meats, including whale meat, elk meat and brown bear meat!

Stall, Fisketorget, Bergen

Sausages, Fisketorget, Bergen

Packed Sausages, Fisketorget, Bergen

Cod Gish with Chips, Fisketorget, Bergen

The Norwegian Fishing Museum (or Norges Fiskerimuseum) is situated along the waterfront. It gives a good perspective of Norway's old fishing industry. One can see fishing boats, and exhibits on types of fishing.

Exterior, Norwegian Fishing Museum, Bergen

Cod Fish,
Norwegian Fishing Museum, Bergen

Floor Directions,
Norwegian Fishing Museum, Bergen

Model of a Fishing Boat,
Norwegian Fishing Museum, Bergen

Fishing Boat,
Norwegian Fishing Museum, Bergen

Waterfront,
Norwegian Fishing Museum, Bergen

Bryggens Museum is based on archaeological findings done after excavations following a huge fire in 1955. The museum gives a glimpse of medieval life in Bergen. One can see tools, weapons, textiles, pots, religious artefacts, and many other items.

Exterior,
Bryggens Museum, Bergen

Broken Pots,
Bryggens Museum, Bergen

Textiles,
Bryggens Museum, Bergen

Tools and Weapons,
Bryggens Museum, Bergen

Hakonshallen is a Gothic ceremonial hall built by King Hakon Hakonsson for the coronation and wedding of his son in 1206. It is made from local stone. In the 17th century, changes were made in order to store corn. In World War II, there were major damages, which were followed by extensive renovation. The Rosenkranz Tower is part of the same fortification which forms a part of Bergen Castle. The present tower dates back to 1560, and was a defence post and residence.

Rosenkrantz Tower

Den Nationale Scene (the Norwegian National Theatre) was founded in 1850 by the violinist Ole Bull. Since 1909, it has been housed in an imposing building. The theatre shows plays and is an important cultural landmark in the city.

Den Nationale Scene, Bergen

Festplassen is a large square, with a lake and fountain in the middle, well manicured lawns, and several important cultural buildings. There's also a statue of the famous Norwegian composer, Edvarg Grieg (1843-1907).

Lake and Fountain,
Festplassen, Bergen

Festplassen, Bergen

Edvard Grieg Statue,
Festplassen, Bergen

Oslo

(Norway)

We left Bergen early morning and took the train to Oslo. We got there by early afternoon. We made our way to Central City Apartments, a comfortable and reasonable apartment complex not far from the city centre. We spent the better part of 3 days exploring the city's sites. Kamalini and Rehaan visited most of the sites with me, but I did an early morning solo walking expedition, where I walked around the city centre for several hours, during which I got my bearings around the heart of the city. Having an Oslo Card really helped with unlimited sightseeing and public transport over a 48 hour period.

Oslo is Norway's capital and largest city, and has a population of about 700,000. It has been the capital of Norway since 1299. Through history, the city's name has changed from Oslo to Christiania to Kristiania, and then back to Oslo in 1925. The city was founded in 1049 by Harald Hardrada. Under the reign of Haaken V (1299-1319, Oslo became the capital of Norway. He built the Akershus Fortress. In 1380, there was a Personal Union with Denmark, and Copenhagen was where the monarchs stayed, while Oslo became an administrative centre.

Fire destroyed Oslo several times. In 1624, Christian IV of Denmark decided that the city should not be rebuilt after one such fire, and the citizens were moved to Christiania, a nearby new city built in the king's honour. The old town was where the poorer part of the population lived. In the 18th century, the city's economy boomed, with trade and shipbuilding. In 1814, the Personal Union with Denmark was dissolved, and Christiania was made the capital of the Kingdom of Norway. A Personal Union with Sweden came into existence. The city saw major expansion and the construction of important landmarks, like the Royal Palace. In 1877, the city was renamed Kristiania.

In 1925, the original name of Oslo was restored. Norway became fully independent in 1905, and it was felt that the name of the capital city should not memorialize a Danish king. Germany invaded Norway in 1940. King Haakon escaped from Oslo. Oslo remained occupied till the end of World War II in 1945. There were acts of violence during the Germany occupation - most notably, in 1944, allied bombers missed their target and hit a tram, resulting in 79 civilian deaths! In 1948, Oslo merged with Aker, creating a much larger municipality,

Karl Johans Gate is an avenue in the heart of Oslo. Many important landmarks lie along this street, including the Royal Palace, the University, the National Theatre, and the Parliament. The street is lined with eateries and shops. There is also a pedestrian section, that is lined with trees on both sides. The street is named after Swedish King Karl XIV Johan. Sweden defeated Norway in battle in 1814, which led to the Personal Union with Sweden that lasted till 1905. Karl XIV Johan thus was the ruler of Norway too. Every year on 17th May, Norway's National Day, large numbers of people parade along the street and are greeted by the royal family from the balcony of the Royal Palace. 

Karl Johans Gate, Oslo

The Royal Palace (or Det Kongelige Slottet) is situated on a small hill at the end of Karl Johans Gate. The palace was built by King Karl Johan after he ascended the Swedish - Norwegian throne in 1818. The palace was completed in 1848, after the king's death. It was inaugurated by King Oscar I. The building became a royal residence only after Norway became an independent nation in 1905. King Haakon and Queen Maud were the first royal couple to move in there. The Palace Gardens (Slottsparken) are opened to the public. A statue of Karl Johan stands in front of the palace. The palace has a grand collection of art, which is open to the public for guided tours during the summer months. 

Royal Palace, Oslo

Statue of Karl Johan,
Royal Palace, Oslo

Palace Guard,
Royal Palace, Oslo

Statue of Queen Maud,
Royal Palace, Oslo

Princess Martha's Statue, 
Royal Palace, Oslo

Palace Gardens, Royal Palace, Oslo

Oslo University (Universitetet) is situated on Karl Johans Gate. The grand building was completed in 1852, 40 years after Frederik VI decreed that Norway could have its own university. Many of the departments have moved to the suburb of Blindern over the years. The complex consists of three buildings. The aula was built in 1911 and is known for its murals by Edvard Munch. The aula used to be the venue of the presentation of the annual Nobel Peace Prize until 1990, when it shifted to Radhuset, the Town Hall.

Domus Media, Oslo University,
Oslo

The National Theatre (Nationaltheatret) was inaugurated in 1899. The theatre's first drama was Henrik Ibsen's "An Enemy of the People". The beautiful Baroque style building is situated on Karl Johans Gate, opposite Oslo University. Inside, there are many works of art by well known artists. Outside, there are sculptures of two of Norway's best known writers - Henrk Ibsen and Bjornstjerne Bjornson.

National Theatre, Oslo

Statue of Henrik Ibsen,
National Theatre, Oslo

Statue of Bjornstjerne Bjornson,
 National Theatre, Oslo

Just off Karl Johans Gate, the National Gallery (Nasjonalgalleriet) has a collection of paintings, sculptures, drawings, engravings and Russian icons. The building was completed in 1882. A lot of the gallery's exhibits were moved to the new National Museum, which opened in 2022. Opposite the National Gallery lies the Historic Museum (Historisk Museum). It has a collection of exhibits depicting Norwegian and international history, including objects from the Viking period to medieval times. The building dates back to 1902.

Historic Museum, Oslo

Radhuset is the City Hall, and was completed in 1950. The dark brown brick building is a Modernist landmark. It is the administrative centre of Oslo. The annual Nobel Peace Prize is presented in the City Hall's richly adorned ceremonial hall, the Radhushallen. Henrik Sorenson's painting - Work, Art and Celebration - fills an entire wall. Outside, there is a series of reliefs showing scenes from the region's mythological stories.

Radhuset, Oslo

Mural, Radhuset, Oslo

Relief of the Swan Maidens,
Radhuset, Oslo

Located on Karl Johans Gate, is the majestic Grand Hotel. The hotel was opened in 1874. It hosts the annual Nobel Peace Prize banquet, and the prize winners stay at the hotel's Nobel Suite. The classical style building has 290 rooms, a white facade, and a prominent clock tower.

Grand Hotel, Oslo

Grand Cafe, Grand Hotel, Oslo

Right next to Grand Hotel is the Parliament (the Stortinget). The building dates back to 1866. The assembly chamber seats the 165 members of parliament, and it resembles an amphitheatre. The building contains a lot of prominent works of art.

Parliament, Oslo

Oslo Domkirke had its foundation stone laid in 1694. The interiors were completed in 1720. There have been a series of renovations over the centuries. The cathedral has 900 seats. Its tower has a huge 1,600 kg bell, plus three smaller bells. Below the ground floor is a crypt. Some other prominent features of the cathedral are its stain glass windows, a modern painted ceiling, and bronze doors.

Oslo Domkirke, Oslo

Ceiling, Oslo Domkirke,
Oslo

Pulpit, Oslo Domkirke,
Oslo

Organ, Oslo Domkirke,
Oslo

Akershus Slott is a fortress located on a hill overlooking the city. King Hakon V began building it in 1299. In the 19th century, the fortress became an administrative centre for the armed forces. Today it has museums and defence installations, and is a venue for state functions. The Romeriks Tower and the Blue Tower are two distinctive landmarks. The fortress also has Olav's Hall, Christian IV's Hall and a large central courtyard. Akersbrygge is the pier below the fortress, where ferries depart and arrive, and the area is full of eateries and shops.

Akershus Slott, Oslo

Akersbrygge, Oslo

The National Museum opened in 2022, combining the works previously located in several other museums, including the National Gallery and the Museum of Contemporary Art. The National Museum is close to Akersbrygge. The large museum has a wide selection of works by Edvard Munch, including The Scream. There are also paintings by impressionist artists like Cezanne, Degas, Gauguin, Manet, Monet and Van Gogh, as well as paintings by older masters like Titian. Also on display are decorative arts, sculptures and furniture. 

National Museum, Oslo

Monet's Spring by the Seine,
National Museum, Oslo

Drawing Room,
National Museum, Oslo

Manet's Madame Manet in the Conservatory, 
National Museum, Oslo

Munch's Madonna,
National Museum, Oslo

Munch's The Girls on a Bridge,
National Museum, Oslo

Munch's The Scream,
National Museum, Oslo

Cezanne's Seated Man,
National Museum, Oslo

Rodin's The Thinker, 
National Museum, Oslo

Van Gogh's Self Portrait, 
National Museum, Oslo

Norwegian Folk Museum (Norsk Folkemuseum) is situated in Bygdoy, a ferry ride away from Akersbrygge. It is a large open air museum, with more than 150 buildings. The museum was established in 1894. There is an Old Town with town buildings recreated from all over the country. There is the Gol Stave Church, and there are farms with farm animals. Traditional folk culture is also showcased through costumes, art and performances.

Gol Stave Church,
Norwegian Folk Museum, Oslo

Gol Stave Church, 
Norwegian Folk Museum, Oslo

Open Air Theatre, Norwegian Folk Museum, Oslo

Cows, Norwegian Folk Museum, Oslo

Old Town, 
Norwegian Folk Museum, Oslo

Also located in Bygdoy is the Viking Ship Museum (Vikingskiphuset). The museum was set up in 1914. It features the Oseberg and the Gokstad, two well preserved Viking ships from the 9th century. These ships were used to transport the bodies of high ranking officials on their last journey.

Viking Ship Museum, Oslo

The Oseberg, Viking Ship Museum, Oslo

Viegelandsparken is a large park, names after the sculptor, Gustav Viegeland. It has 212 of his sculptures, depicting humanity in its various forms. The park has a tall Monolith, surrounded by groups of figures. The Wheel of Life is a symbol of eternity, and has a garland of men, women and children holding each other in an eternal cycle. The park has an impressive fountain. The Bridge is lined with 58 bronze sculptures depicting the various stages of life. Viegeland started work on the sculptures in 1924.

Monolith, 
Viegelandsparken, Oslo

Wheel of Life, 
Viegelandsparken, Oslo

Fountain, 
Viegelandsparken, Oslo

The Little Angry Boy, The Bridge,
Viegelandsparken, Oslo

Woman Holding a Baby, The Bridge,
 Viegelandsparken, Oslo

Standing Man, The Bridge, 
Viegelandsparken, Oslo

The Viking Museum is an interesting museum with digital and multimedia displays showcasing the Viking period. One gets to learn about Viking history, costumes, culture, ships, and a lot of aspects of their lives.

Armour, Viking Museum, Oslo

There are a lot of food options for visitors in Oslo. Karl Johans Gate is full of high end eateries. Central Station has many food options. Dovrestua is a popular restaurant, which serves traditional Norwegian food.

Central Station, Oslo

Traditional Norwegian Meatballs,
Dovrestua, Oslo

I really enjoyed my time in Oslo. I left thinking another day or two would have allowed me to do better justice to this beautiful city! We did of course, manage to get a good flavour of the city, since it is a fairly compact city, with most of the sites located in the proximity of Karl Johans Gate.

Stockholm

(Sweden)

Our next halt was Stockholm, where we went by train from Oslo. Kamalini and Rehaan spent two days with me in Stockholm, before carrying on to Copenhagen to spend some family-time with Kamalini's cousin Babla, his wife Sebanti, and their daughter, Tiyu (their elder daughter Piyu was in Canada). I spent an extra 3 days in Stockholm, exploring the city extensively, because I knew 2 days were certainly not going to be enough for me to pack in the large number of sites that the city has to offer! Kamalini, Rehaan and I stayed at Hotel Clarion Stockholm, which had one of the most impressive breakfast buffet spreads I've ever seen! After Kamalini and Rehaan left (having packed in Icebar, the Vasa Museum, the Abba Museum, Storkyrkan and Klara Kyrka), I shifted to a smaller, less expensive hotel - Scandic Gamla Stan. It was a cute, boutique hotel in the heart of the old town, and it was ideal for a single person.

Before Kamalini and Rehaan left, we also packed in a visit to meet my old friend Sameer Khanna, who lives in the suburbs of the city, in a place called Sollentuna. Sameer was my batchmate in XLRI, Jamshedpur, from 1994 to 1996. We then joined the same company, Britannia Industries Ltd, and spent a year together in Delhi. Sameer's wife was travelling, but his parents in law and three kids were there. We spent a wonderful evening there, and Rehaan was thrilled to have some kid company. I had a little adventure too. Sameer's kids were swimming in the nearby lake. Rehaan decided to swim there too. He got into the water, but it was cold and mossy, so he wanted to come out. I extended a hand to him to pull him out, but I fell into the water. I got a few cuts from the rocks but I managed to save my precious pouch, which had our passports and my other valuables. Sameer pulled me out of the water. I had to borrow his shorts for the evening, since my trousers were soaking wet!

Stockholm, the capital of Sweden and the largest city in Scandinavia, has a population of over 980,000. The city is spread across fourteen islands, where Lake Malaren flows into the Baltic Sea. The area has been inhabited since the 6th century BC. The city was founded by Birger Jarl in 1252. The Gamla Stan or Old Town dates back to the 13th century. Stockholm gained prominence because of the Baltic Trade of the Hanseatic League. Sweden was a part of the Kalmar Union with Denmark and Norway from 1397 to 1523, and in 1523, Gustav Vasa came to power and Sweden got its independence. 

In the seventeenth century, Sweden became a major European power, with Stockholm as its capital. Under the Swedish Empire, the country flourished as a major centre for culture and arts, and Stockholm grew into a major city, with beautiful architecture and a high standard of living.

The Royal Palace (Kungliga Slottet) is one of the city's main sights. The Tre Kronor Fortress was completed in the mid 13th century, and later became a royal residence. The fortress was turned into a Renaissance palace, which burned down in 1697. A new palace in Baroque style came up in its place, with an Italian exterior and French interior.  Adolf Fredrik was the first king who resided in the palace, from 1754 onwards. The Royal Palace boasts of many attractions.

The royal family has lived in the Drottningholm Palace since 1982, but official functions are still held in the State Apartments. Karl XI's Gallery is a grand room inspired by the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles, and is used for banquets hosted by the king and queen. "The White Sea" serves as a drawing room. Gustav III's State Bedchamber is where the king died after being shot at the Opera House. The Guest Apartments are where visiting heads of state stay. The Hall of State features Queen Kristina's silver throne, dating back to 1650. The throne is flanked by sculptures of Karl XIV Johan and Gustav II Adolf. The hall is now used for concerts, but until 1975, it was the venue of the ceremonial opening of the Swedish Parliament. The Treasury has the State regalia, and highlights include King Erik XIV's crown, his scepter, his orb and the keys to the kingdom. There is also a 1 meter tall silver baptismal font, and an undamaged tapestry from the 1560s, one amongst six salvaged from the 1697 fire. The Royal Chapel has a group of six 17th century style bronze crowns, as well as two crystal ones. It also has benches rescued from the 1697 fire. The Bernadotte Apartments have a gallery displaying portraits of the Bernadotte dynasty. The Tre Kronor Museum is situated in the ruined Tre Kronor Fortress. The museum has a part of a 12th century defensive wall. The museum showcases the palace's history over centuries. There are also two models of the Tre Kronor Fortress showing how it looked at the time of the fire. Gustav III's Museum of Antiquities has a vast collection of statues brought back by Gustav III after his trip to Rome. Logarden is a beautiful terrace garden at one end of the palace. The Changing of the Guard at the palace draws large daily crowds, and the daily ritual has soldiers marching and a band playing.

Royal Palace, Stockholm

Changing of the Guard, Royal Palace,
Stockholm

Gustav III's Museum of Antiquities,
Royal Palace, Stockholm

Queen Lovisa Ulrika's Audience Chamber,
Royal Palace, Stockholm

The White Sea, The Royal Apartments,
Royal Palace, Stockholm

The Royal Chapel,
Royal Palace, Stockholm

Lovisa Ulrika's Crown, The Treasury,
Royal Palace, Stockholm

Silver Throne, Hall of State,
Royal Palace, Stockholm

Storkyrkan is Stockholm's cathedral and it is located outside the Royal Palace. The church dates back to the 13th century, when a small village church was built at the site. It was replaced by a bigger church in 1306. The 66 meter tall tower was added in 1743. The cathedral has the stunning Gothic sculpture, St George and the Dragon. It also has the huge Baroque painting, The Last Judgement, a 3.7 meter high bronze candelabra, and a silver altar.

Storkyrkan, Stockholm

Interior, Storkyrkan,
Stockholm

Organ, Storkyrkan,
Stockholm

St George and the Dragon, Storkyrkan,
Stockholm

Riddarholmskyrkan is located on the island of Riddarholmen. The church is best known for its royal burials and ornate sarcophagi. In front of the high altar are the tombs of the medieval kings, Karl Knutssot and Magnus Ladulas. The church was originally built in the 13th century but was renovated after a fire in 1835. The burial vaults contain the remains of most Swedish monarchs from Gustav II Adolf in the 17th century to the present day. The most striking sarcophagi are those of Karl XIV Johan and Gustav II Adolf. 

Riddarholmskyrkan, Stockholm

High Altar,
Riddarholmskyrkan, Stockholm

The Bernadotte Chapel, Karl XIV Johan's Tomb,
Riddarholmskyrkan, Stockholm

The Gustavian Chapel,
Riddarholmskyrkan, Stockholm

Klara Kyrka is situated a short distance away from Stockholm Central Station. The Convent of St Klara was located at the site until 1527. It was subsequently pulled down by Gustav Vasa. A new church replaced it in 1590. The church was destroyed in a fire in 1751 and was reconstructed thereafter. The 116 meter tall tower was added in the 1880s. Klara Kyrka is famous for its vault paintings.

Klara Kyrka, Stockholm

Ceiling, Klara Kyrka, Stockholm

Katarina Kyrka dates back to the 17th century, and is situated on a hilltop. Karl X Gustaf was involved in the church's construction. The church was completed in 1695. It was badly damaged in a fire in 1723
but it was restored shortly afterwards. A copper dome was added in 1988. In 1990, the church was again damaged in a fire, and it was re-consecrated in 1995 in all its glory.

Katarina Kyrka, Stockholm

High Altar, Katarina Kyrka,
Stockholm

Jacob's Kyrka is located in Kungstradgarden. There was a small chapel at the site but it was pulled down by Gustav Vasa in the 16th century. Jacob's Kyrka was consecrated in 1643. It has gone through several rounds of renovation since then. The church has a beautiful high altar, a valuable baptismal font, and some remarkable silverware.

Jacobs Kyrka, Stockholm

High Altar, Jacobs Kyrka,
Stockholm

Tyska Kyrken (also called the German Church) is located in Gamla Stan. The church is called the German Church because in the Middle Ages, the area was dominated by Germans. The church is dedicated to St Gertrude. The church dates back to the 16th century, and has a 96 meter tall copper tower completed in 1896. 

Tyska Kyrkan, Stockholm

Interior, Tyska Kyrkan, Stockholm

Skeppsholmen Church is a former church on the islet of Skeppsholmen. The church was completed in 1849, and it replaced a wooden church destroyed in a fire in 1822. It was inspired by the Pantheon in Rome. The church was secularized in 2002, and since 2009, it has been the venue of concerts. 

Skeppsholmen Church, Stockholm

Kungstradgarden, the King's Garden, is an open urban space that dates back to the 15th century. It is a popular meeting place for locals and visitors. Summer concerts and festivals are regularly held here. The park features Karl XII's Statue, Karl XIII's Statue and Molin's Fountain. Just around the park are landmarks like Jacobs Kyrka, the Royal Opera House (Kungliga Operan) and Nordiska Kompaniet (a popular department store).

Karl XII's Statue,
Kungstradgarden, Stockholm

Molin's Fountain,
Kungstradgarden, Stockholm

Very close to Kungstradgarden is Gustav II Adolf's Equestrian Statue, situated at Gustav Adolfs Torg, a large square that has landmarks like the Royal Opera House.

Gustav II Adolf's Equestrian Statue,
Gustav Adolf Torg, Stockholm

Grand Hotel dates back to 1874, and is Stockholm's most iconic hotel. It was founded by Oscar II's head chef, Regis Cadier. Since 1901, it has been the place where the annual Nobel Prize winners have stayed. The Hall of Mirrors is a copy of the hall at Versailles, and until 1929, the annual Nobel Prize banquet used to be held there. The hotel has popular F&B options like Grands Veranda, Franska Matsalen and Cadier Bar.

Grand Hotel, Stockholm

The National Museum was completed in 1866. It features Sweden's largest art collection, with paintings, sculptures, applied arts, furniture, tapestries and ceramics. There are also works by famous international artists like Cezanne, Gauguin, Goya, Monet, Rembrandt, Renoir and Rubens. The building itself is a city landmark, and is made in the Venetian and Florentine Renaissance style.

National Museum, Stockholm

Auguste Renoir's Young Parisian,
National Museum, Stockholm

Bengt Erland Fogelberg's Hercules,
National Museum, Stockholm

Claude Monet's The Artist's Garden at Giverny,
National Museum, Stockholm 

Francois Bouchers' Presents ils aux raisins,
National Museum, Stockholm

Gustaf Cederstrom's Bringing Home
the Body of King Karl XII of Sweden, 
National Museum, Stockholm 

Paul Cezanne's Portrait of the Artist's Wife,
National Museum, Stockholm

Rembrandt van Rijn's Girl at a Window,
National Museum, Stockholm

Moderna Museet is the Museum of Modern Art, which opened in 1998. It houses a grand collection of Swedish and international modern art. The complex includes a cinema and auditorium. Outside, there is a sculpture group by Picasso called Breakfast Outdoors, which stands near the museum's entrance.

Moderna Museet, Stockholm

Nordic Museum is situated on the island of Djurgarden. The large museum looks like a Renaissance castle. The museum was founded by Artur Hazelius, and it opened in 1907. The Main Hall on the ground floor has a large statue of Gustav Vasa. The museum has a permanent collection, and there are also regular exhibitions. In addition to the vast collection of table settings and Nordic traditions, on display in the summer of 2023 were exhibitions on Scandinavian tourism posters and Nordic fashion.

Nordic Museum, Stockholm

Gustav Vasa Statue,
Nordic Museum, Stockholm

Table Settings and Decorations,
Nordic Museum, Stockholm

Christmas Feast Tradition,
Nordic Museum, Stockholm

Vasa Museum, situated behind the Nordic Museum, features the sunken warship Vasa. In 1628, during its maiden voyage, the ship capsized off Stockholm's harbour, having travelled a distance of just 1,300 meters. About 50 people perished in the disaster. Back then, only guns were salvaged from the site, but in 1956, a marine archaeologist helped in rediscovering the Vasa. The ship was installed in a museum that opened in 1990, very close to the site of the wreckage. Highlights of the Vasa include its stern, the gun ports and gun decks, canons, the Lion Figurehead, and many carvings of mythological and other figures.

Exterior, Vasa Museum

The Vasa, Vasa Museum

Figure Heads, Vasa Museum

The Stern, Vasa Museum

Close to the Nordic Museum lies Abba The Museum, an interactive museum that opened in 2013 dedicated to the popular Swedish pop band, Abba, which dominated the music charts worldwide in the 1970s with hits like "Waterloo", "Mamma Mia", "Fernando", "Dancing Queen", "Knowing Me, Knowing You", "The Name Of The Game", "Take A Chance On Me", "The Winner Takes It All" and "Souper Trouper". The museum contains costumes, musical instruments and other belongings of the band members. There are also wax figures of the four band members - Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Anderson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad.

Wax Figures of the Band Members,
Abba The Museum, Stockholm

Costumes of the Band Members,
Abba The Museum, Stockholm

Grona Lund is an amusement park located in Djurgarden. The amusement park was founded in 1883. It has over 30 attractions, including 8 roller coasters. Some of the popular rides include Ikaros (a 95 meter tall sky jump), House of Nightmares (a haunted house), Octopus (a spinner), Eclipse, Circus Carousel, Flying Elephants, Little Paris Wheel (a ferris wheel) and Tea Cups. Grona Lund also regularly hosts music concerts, and has hosted big names like Jimi Hendrix in 1967, Bob Marley in 1978 and 1980, Abba in 1983, to name a few.

Circus Carousel,
Grona Lund, Stockholm

Tea Cups,
Grona Lund, Stockholm

Also situated in Djurgarden is the world's first open air museum, Skansen. The museum was established in 1891 to give urban people a glimpse into rural life and into the past. Skansen has 150 houses and farm buildings from all over Sweden. Many Swedish festivals and significant occasions are celebrated at Skansen - these include the Swedish National Day, Mid Summer, Christmas and New Year's Eve. In the Town Quarter, one can see crafts-persons at work. Traditional folk-musicians can also be seen. The Seglora Church is popular for hosting weddings. In addition to showcasing a host of farm animals, Skansen also has a zoo where one can see wild Nordic animals like brown bears, moose, reindeer and foxes.

Farm Hut,
Skansen, Stockholm

Seglora Kyrka,
Skansen, Stockholm

Windmill,
Skansen, Stockholm

Brown Bear,
Skansen, Stockholm

Moose,
Skansen, Stockholm

Stortoget (Grand Square) is a square in the heart of Gamla Stan (the Old Town). It is the oldest square in the city. The square has the Nobel Prize Museum (formerly the Stock Exchange Building), a well, and a series of colourful, attractive buildings with gabled roofs.

Stortorget, Stockholm

The Nobel Prize Museum at Stortorget opened in 2001, to commemorate a hundred years of the Nobel Prize. The museum has exhibits on the Nobel Prize, the Nobel laureates, and the founder of the prize, Alfred Nobel (1833-1896). There are interactive displays giving information about all the prize winners across the years. There are also personal belongings of Alfred Nobel, as well as replicas of the prizes.

Nobel Prize Museum, Stockholm

Exhibit on Albert Einstein,
Nobel Prize Museum, Stockholm

Design of the Nobel Prize,
Nobel Prize Museum, Stockholm

Stadshuset is the City Hall, which was completed in 1923. The building has the Council Chamber and 250 offices for city administrative staff. The annual Nobel Prize ceremony takes place in the Blue Hall, a large banqueting hall. The Three Crowns symbol is at the top of the City Hall's 106 meter tall tower. The Golden Room has Byzantine inspired mosaics, having 19 million fragments of gold leaf. 

Stadshuset, Stockholm

The Golden Room,
Stadshuset, Stockholm

Stockholm Central Station opened in 1871. It is Sweden's busiest station. It also has a lot of eateries and retail options for travellers. Outside the station, there is a statue of Nils Ericson (1802 - 1870), who became a prominent Swedish canal and railway builder. 

Stockholm Central Station, Stockholm

Stockholm's unique Icebar is situated near Stockholm Central Station, inside Hotel C Stockholm. The temperature inside in maintained at -5 degrees Centigrade. It's the world's first permanent ice bar. The furniture and the glasses are made out of ice. Visitors are given overcoats to wear in order to brave the cold inside. One can choose from a variety of cocktails and mocktails, and enjoy the chilling experience!

Glass, Icebar, Stockholm

Overcoats for Visitors, Icebar, Stockholm

Kungliga Dramatiska Teatern (the Royal Dramatic Theatre) opened in 1908. The State refused to fund its construction, and it was funded by lotteries! The lavish theatre has a white marble facade, and a rich interior. 

Kungliga Dramatiska Teatern, Stockholm

Riddarhuset (the House of Knights) is a beautiful building completed in 1647. The building was built in order to give the knights a place for meetings and events. Inside, a grand staircase leads up to the Knights' Room, which has a painted ceiling, a treasured ebony chair, and walls covered with coats of arms.

Riddarhuset, Stockholm

Riksdagshuset is the Parliament Building inaugurated in 1905. Visitors can watch parliamentary debates from the public gallery. The debating chamber is richly decorated and has benches made out of Swedish birch and wall-panneling in Finnish birch.

Riksdagshuset, Stockholm

Wrangelska Palatset was completed in 1670, and it was built as a residence for the nobleman Lars Sparre. It is the city's largest privately owned palace. It became the royal residence after the Tre Kronor fire in 1697. Today, the Court of Appeal uses the building.

Wrangelska Palatset, Stockholm

Stockholm is a great place for food lovers. Swedish meatballs are a very popular local delicacy. Another favourite are the open sandwiches, locally called Smorrebrod.

Swedish Meatballs,
Restaurant, Vasa Museum, Stockholm

Smorrebrod, Restaurant,
Skansen, Stockholm

After 5 wonderful days exploring Stockholm, I caught the train and went to Copenhagen, where I joined Kamalini and Rehaan, who were staying with Babla and Sebanti, and their daughter Tiyu, right in the heart of the city! Babla and Sebanti were very hospitable and made our stay at their beautiful home very comfortable and enjoyable for us. Sebanti also spoiled us by making delicious meals for us, and I enjoyed my evening drinks with Babla! 

Copenhagen

(Denmark)

Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, is a city with a population of over 660,000. It started out as a small Viking fishing village in the 10th century. Valdemar I came to the throne in 1157, and with the help of the powerful Bishop Absalon, he reunited the country, which had been split by infighting. Under Valdemar II's reign, Denmark had become a great power. In 1227, Denmark lost in battle to Germany and had to give up a fair bit of its territory. Valdemar IV arranged the marriage of his daughter Margrethe to Norway's King Haakon. This led to the formation of the Kalmar Union, consisting of Denmark, Sweden and Norway, with Copenhagen as its capital.

During the reign of Christian IV (1588-1648), Copenhagen experienced huge growth. Some of the city's well known landmarks like Borsen and Rosenborg Slot came up during his rule. Frederik III introduced hereditary monarchy in 1660 to curb the powers of the nobility. In 1711, the city lost over 20,000 inhabitants (one third of its population) to the dreaded plague. A quarter of the city was also destroyed in a devastating fire in 1728. There was a second major fire in 1795. As a result of these disasters, much of the original old city was destroyed. Major rebuilding was initiated, and in 1745, Christianborg Palace was completed. Frederik VII renounced absolute power in 1848, and turned Denmark into a democratic country.

From 1940 to 1945, Copenhagen was occupied by the German forces during World War II. In 1945, the city was liberated by British soldiers. In 1953, a new constitution was enacted, allowing female succession to the throne. This helped Queen Margrethe II to ascend to the throne in 1972, following the death of her father, Frederik IX. 

Rosenborg Slot was established in 1606 and was made by Christian IV. It served as his summer residence. In the early 18th century, Friedrik IV built a bigger palace in Fredensborg. In the early 19th century, Rosenborg Slot was opened to the public as a museum. The Treasury has many prized royal possessions, including the crown of Christian IV. The Long Hall has its walls covered with 17th century tapestries. It also has three silver lions that once guarded the king's throne. The palace has many rooms that were used by successive kings.

Rosenborg Slot, Copenhagen

Bust of Christian IV, 
Rosenborg Slot, Copenhagen

Friedrik VII's Desk, 
Rosenborg Slot, Copenhagen

Oriental Weapons, Treasury, 
Rosenborg Slot, Copenhagen

At the site of Christiansborg Slot, a 12th century fortress was built by Bishop Absalon. It was torn down by Christian IV to build the first Christiansborg Slot, which was one of the grandest palaces in Europe. It burned down in a fire in 1794, and the royal family moved to Amelienborg. The renovated Christiansborg Slot was completed in 1828, but it was again damaged in a fire in 1884, and the present palace came up only in 1928. 

The Royal Reception Rooms are where the royal family meets state guests. The Great Hall is where banquets are held, and its walls are covered with a set of 17 tapestries depicting 1,000 years of Danish history. The Throne Room has a magnificent royal throne. The Royal Kitchen has a massive collection of copper kitchenware. The Royal Chapel is used for church ceremonies by the royal family. Kings and Queens lie in state here and the public comes to pay their last respects. The Royal Stables are where the royal white horses are kept, along with a collection of royal carriages. The Ruins are where one can see remains of the 12th century castle built by Bishop Absalon. The palace's Tower is 106 meters tall and is topped with a 5 meter crown. The tower's interior has a series of paintings depicting Danish folk tales. 

Christiansborg Slot, Copenhagen

Statue of Christian IX, 
Christiansborg Slot, Copenhagen

Queen's Reference Library, 
Christiansborg Slot, Copenhagen

Tapestry in the Great Hall, 
Christiansborg Slot, Copenhagen

The Royal Kitchen, 
Christiansborg Slot, Copenhagen

The Ruins, 
Christiansborg Slot, Copenhagen

The Throne Room, 
Christiansborg Slot, Copenhagen

The Tower Room, 
Christiansborg Slot, Copenhagen

Amelienborg Slot was built in 1760 by Frederk V. Four wealthy familied occupied the buildings around an octagonal square. When Christiansborg Slot burned down in 1794, the royal family moved to Amelienborg Slot. Parts of the palace are open to visitors. 

Frederik V's equestrian statue is located in the centre of the square where the palace stands. The palace has a Changing of the Guard ceremony that is popular with visitors. Guards with bearskin hats stand guard day and night outside the palace. The palace's highlights include Frederik VIII's Room, the Gala Hall and the Golden Tableau. There are a lot of royal photographs, portraits and sculptures on display.

Amelienborg Slot, Copenhagen

Changing of the Guard, 
Amelienborg Slot, Copenhagen

Palace Guard, 
Amelienborg Slot, Copenhagen

Frederik V's Equestrian Statue, 
Amelienborg Slot, Copenhagen

The Gala Room, 
Amelienborg Slot, Copenhagen

The Golden Tableau,
Amelienborg Slot, Copenhagen

Marble Church, locally called the Marmorkirken or the Frederikskirken, has a large distinct dome and is Copenhagen's best known church. It was built by Frederik V to commemorate 300 year of rule by his family. Work began in 1749, but it was stopped in 1770 because the cost of the marble church was working out to be too high. The church was completed close to a century later. Visitors can climb 260 steps to enjoy magnificent city views. The church has beautiful frescoes inside, and outside, there are statues of Danish saints. 

Marble Church, Copenhagen

Interior of the Dome, 
Marble Church, Copenhagen

High Altar, 
Marble Church, Copenhagen

Church Organ, 
Marble Church, Copenhagen

Church of our Lady, locally called Vor Frue Kirke, is Copenhagen's cathedral. The exterior is not particularly grand. There was a 12th century church at the site, which burned down in 1728. The second church at the site was destroyed by British bombs in 1807. The present church dates back to 1820. Inside, there are sculptures of Christ and the 12 apostles by the famous Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen. It is one of the sculptor's best known masterpieces, and a replica of the sculpture group can also be found inside the Thorvaldsen Museum. In front of the central sculpture of Christ, there is a kneeling angel.

Church of our Lady, Copenhagen

High Altar, 
Church of Our Lady, Copenhagen

Church of the Holy Spirit, or Helligandskirken, was built on the site of an earlier church from 1238. The church dates back to the 15th century. It was damaged by fire in 1728, and was largely rebuilt. The church has impressive vaults. Art shows and exhibitions are regularly held inside. Outside, there is a memorial to Danish victims of Nazi concentration camps.

Church of the Holy Spirit, Copenhagen

High Altar, 
Church of the Holy Spirit, Copenhagen

Holmens Kirke (Holmen Church) was first built in 1563. It was converted into a naval church by Christian IV. It is the burial church of several naval heroes. The church was also the site of the wedding of Margrethe II and Prince Henrik in 1967.

Holmens Kirke, Copenhagen

Nikolaj Kunsthal is an art centre housed in a 16th century church. The first art exhibition was held here in 1957. Nikolaj has permanent exhibits as well as temporary shows.

Nikolaj Kunsthal, Copenhagen

Tivoli Garden opened in 1843. Back then, it had just two attractions - a carousel with horses and a rollercoaster. Today it is a huge amusement park in the heart of Copenhagen. Besides its roller coasters, carousels and other rides, attractions include a Pagoda (which houses a Chinese restaurant), a Concert Hall, a Frigate (a floating restaurant), a Pantomime Theater (in the form of a Chinese style theater), and Restaurant Nimb (housed inside a Moorish style building).

Entrance, 
Tivoli Garden, Copenhagen

Lake, 
Tivoli Garden, Copenhagen

Pagoda, 
Tivoli Garden, Copenhagen

Pantomime Theater, 
Tivoli Garden, Copenhagen

Classic Carousel, 
Tivoli Garden, Copenhagen

Radhuset (the City Hall), opened in 1905.  The red-brick structure has a 105 meter tall tower. Inside, there is a large hall for exhibitions and events. It is decorated with statues of prominent Danes, including Bertel Thorvaldsen, H.C. Andersen and Niels Bohr. On the building's facade, there is a statue of Bishop Absalon, the 12th century founder of Copenhagen. As one enters, there is a famous world clock, designed by Jens Olsen, and completed in 1955. It has a calendar for the next 570,000 years! Radhuset is an official building, but it is open to visitors. Radhuspladsen is the large square outside Radhuset. The square has the Dragon Leap Fountain, established in 1923.

Radhuset and Dragon Leap Fountain, 
Copenhagen

View from the Courtyard, 
Radhuset, Copenhagen

Main Hall, 
Radhuset, Copenhagen

Bust of H. C. Andersen, 
Radhuset, Copenhagen

World Clock, 
Radhuset, Copenhagen

Scandic Palace Hotel, 
Radhusplatsen, Copenhagen

The statue of The Little Mermaid was placed at Copenhagen's harbour promenade in 1913. The statue was commissioned by Carl Jacobsen, head of the Carlsberg brewery, and was made by the sculptor Edvard Eriksen. The statue was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's character from the book "The Little Mermaid".  Over the decades, the statue has been vandalized and damaged on several occasions by vandals and pranksters, but it has been restored each time, and is one of the city's iconic landmarks.

Statue of The Little Mermaid, 
Copenhagen

Nyhavn (New Harbour) is a 300 meter long canal lined on both sides by colourful houses. It was dug by soldiers in the 17th century to allow ships carrying merchandize to carry their goods into the city. The buildings along the canal house numerous bars, cafes and restaurants. The area was once a notorious red light district, popular with sailors, but there is no trace of that anymore.

Nyhavn, Copenhagen

National Museum (Nationalmuseet) is a large museums having numerous exhibits depicting Denmark's history. It also has exhibits from across the globe. The museum's extensive collections include pre historic finds, exhibits from the bronze and iron ages, the Viking era and medieval church interiors. The international collection includes exhibits from Africa, India and the Far East. There is also a collection devoted to world music.

National Museum, Copenhagen

Ganesha, 
National Museum, Copenhagen

Buddha, 
National Museum, Copenhagen

Medieval Crucifix, 
National Museum, Copenhagen

St George and the Dragon, 
National Museum, Copenhagen

Thorvaldsen Museum opened in 1848 and is situated right next to Christiansborg Slot. The museum contains the works of the famous Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770 - 1844). He spent 40 years in Rome, but bequeathed his collection to his home country. The magnificent collection of sculptures includes religious figures from Christianity, characters from Greek and Roman mythology, and important historical figures. Thorvaldsen's Tomb lies in the courtyard in the middle of the museum.

Thorvaldsen Museum, Copenhagen

Christ, 
Thorvaldsen Museum, Copenhagen

Jason and the Golden Fleece, 
Thorvaldsen Museum, Copenhagen

Napoleon Bonaparte, 
Thorvaldsen Museum, Copenhagen

The Three Graces and Cupid, 
Thorvaldsen Museum, Copenhagen

Ny Carleberg Glyptotek, popularly known as just Glyptotek, is a large art museum, that first came up in 1897. Its collections include ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman art, Danish paintings and sculptures and French impressionist art. Going back to its origins, the initial collections were the sculptures donated by Carl Jacobsen, founder of New Carlsberg Brewery. 

Glyptotek, Copenhagen

Cezanne's Women Bathing, 
Glyptotek, Copenhagen

Hermes, 
Glyptotek, Copenhagen

Jerichau's Christ, 
Glyptotek, Copenhagen

Mother with Suckling Babies, 
Glyptotek, Copenhagen

Sinding's Idyll, 
Glyptotek, Copenhagen

Kastellet is a citadel that is a very well preserved fortress. It is shaped in the form of a pentagon. The complex includes the Citadel Church and a windmill. The construction of Kastellet was started by Christian IV in 1626. 

Windmill, Kastellet, Copenhagen

Citadel Church, Kastellet, Copenhagen

The Equestrian Statue of Absalon was unveiled in 1902, to mark 700 years of the bishop's death. Bishop Absalon was the founder of Copenhagen. The statue of the bishop is in full military gear, and it is situated close to Christiansborg Slot. 

Equestrian Statue of Absalon, 
Copenhagen

Stroget is  a  shopping street in the heart of the city. The 1.1 km long street is one of Europe's longest pedestrian streets. Stroget dates back to 1728, and was converted into a pedestrian street in 1962. The street is full of shops, souvenir stores and restaurants, and is one of Copenhagen's most lively streets.

Stork Fountain, Stroget

Ripley's Believe It Or Not! is a part of an American chain of museums inspired by Robert L Ripley, an American radio presenter and adventure, who was fascinated by oddities across the world. The museum is very popular with children, and is situated in Radhusplatsen. The collection includes exhibits on the tallest man in history, Robert Wadlow; the fattest man ever, Robert Earl Hughes; a two headed calf; an albino deer; and works of art made from broken vinyl records, cigarette ashes and toast!

Albino Deer, 
Ripley's Believe It Or Not!, Copenhagen

Portrait of Bruce Springsteen Made
From Broken Vinyl Records, 
Ripley's Believe It Or Not!, Copenhagen

Robert Earl Hughes
(the World's Fattest Man), 
Ripley's Believe It Or Not!, Copenhagen

Situated right next to Ripley's Believe It Or Not! on Radhuspladsen is Hans Christian Andersen Experience. It has exhibits depicting the life of the famous Danish author, who lived from 1805 to 1875. There are also exhibits showcasing some of his most famous stories, like The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling and Thumbelina, through light and sound shows.

Statue of Hans Christian Andersen, 
Hans Christian Andersen Experience, 
Copenhagen

Guinness World Records Museum is an attraction not far from Nyhavn. At the entrance, there is a life-size replica of Robert Wadlow, the world's tallest man in history. Inside, there are many exhibits on the world's biggest, smallest, fastest, heaviest, best selling etc.

World's Longest Moustache, 
Guinness World Records Museum,
Copenhagen

World's Fattest Man (Robert Earl Hughes), 
Guinness World Records Museum, 
Copenhagen

World's Tallest Man (Robert Wadlow), 
Guinness World Records Museum, 
Copenhagen

Experimentarium is a science museum located in the suburb of Hellerup. It allows children, and adults, to learn about science, the human body and the laws of Physics in a fun way. It even has an interactive film theatre, where one has to jump and dance on the floor to see action on the screen in front. One gets to learn about global trade in the Port, which has a port simulator. 

Staircase, Experimentarium, 
Copenhagen

Human Body, Experimentatium, 
Copenhagen

Copenhagen Zoo was established in 1859. Many of the erstwhile cages have now been replaced with enclosures, giving the animals a more natural environment. The zoo has a 43 meter tall wooden observation tower that was built in 1905, and it offers great views of the zoo and neighbouring areas. In 2014, there was a major controversy in the zoo, when a male giraffe was killed and fed to the lions. The reason given was that the best genes were to be passed down. The zoo authorities went ahead with the culling despite numerous protests by animal rights activists. The zoo's highlights include lions, tigers, polar bears, brown bears, reindeer, giraffes, rhinos, camels, kangaroos and penguins, just to name a few.

Brown Bears, 
Copenhagen Zoo

Giraffe, 
Copenhagen Zoo

Polar Bear, 
Copenhagen Zoo

Rhino,
Copenhagen Zoo

Tiger, 
Copenhagen Zoo

Copenhagen really had a lot to offer, more than most other European capital cities. Being right in the centre of the city helped us to explore it extensively. What also helped was that the city centre is quite compact, and a lot of the sites are within walking distance of each other!

Billund

(Denmark)

We made a day trip to Billund from Copenhagen. Billund is famous for Legoland Billund Resort. We were keen on going there for Rehaan's sake, but truth be told, Kamalini and I also enjoy theme parks a lot! It was a hassle-free journey by train up to the town of Vejle, and from there, we caught a bus and made our way to Billund.

Billund is a small town with just over 7,000 residents. Legoland Billund Resort first opened in 1968. The resort is located close to the original Lego factory, and Billund Airport. Due to the popularity of Legoland, Billund is the most visited town in Denmark after Copenhagen. 

The resort has numerous attractions, including Flying Eagle (a roller coaster), Pirate Boats, Ghost - The Haunted House, Lego Top (a 36 meter tall tower, with a view of the full park), Lego Train, the Monorail and Safari (where one sits in jeeps and goes on a safari to see African wildlife, made out of Lego). 

There are also scale models made out of Lego of some of the world's tallest structures, like Burj Khalifa, Shanghai Tower, Mecca Tower, Freedom Tower and Eiffel Tower. There are also Lego replicas of some of the world's best known landmarks like Taj Mahal, Statue of Liberty, the Sphinx, and the US Capitol, as well as famous Danish landmarks like Rosenborg Slot and Nyhavn.

Baby Dinosaur,
Legoland Billund Resort, Billund

Bergen, 
Legoland Billund Resort, Billund

Flying Eagle, 
Legoland Billund Resort, Billund

Freedom Tower, 
Legoland Billund Resort, Billund

H C Andersen, 
Legoland Billund Resort, Billund

Ghost The Haunted House, 
Legoland Billund Resort, Billund

Mecca Tower,
Legoland Billund Resort, Billund

Rosenborg Slot,
Legoland Billund Resort, Billund

Elephants, Safari,
Legoland Billund Resort, Billund

Jeep, Safari,
Legoland Billund Resort, Billund

The Sphinx,
Legoland Billund Resort, Billund

Statue of Liberty,
Legoland Billund Resort, Billund

Taj Mahal,
Legoland Billund Resort, Billund

Lego Train,
Legoland Billund Resort, Billund

US Capitol,
Legoland Billund Resort, Billund

Hillerod

(Denmark)

We went to the town of Hillerod with Babla and Sebanti on a half day trip from Copenhagen. Babla rented a car and  took us there one afternoon. We went to Hillerod to see the famous Frederiksborg Slot, one of Denmark's most magnificent castles.

Hillerod is approximately 30 km north of Copenhagen. The town has a population of about 35,000. Hillerod is famous for Frederiksborg Slot. It was originally constructed by Frederik II in 1560. Most of the castle was destroyed in a fire in 1859. It was restored by J C Jacobsen, the head of Carsberg, who helped found a museum there. The museum now takes about about 80 rooms in the grand castle. Jacobsen also donated many of his paintings to be put up at Frederiksborg Slot.

Frederiksborg Slot has a lot of attractions. Slotskirken is the castle chapel. From 1671 to 1840, it was used to crown Denmark's monarchs. It has an ebony altar dating back to 1606. The Great Hall has a carved wooden ceiling. It also has a black marble fireplace and beautiful tapestries. The Palace Gardens are done up in Baroque splendour. The castle also has a moat around it. 

Frederiksborg Slot, Hillerod

Palace Gardens, 
Frederiksborg Slot, Hillerod

Slotskirken, 
Frederiksborg Slot, Hillerod

Ceiling, Slotskirken, 
Frederiksborg Slot, Hillerod

Stain Glass, Slotskirken, 
Frederiksborg Slot, Hillerod

The Great Hall, 
Frederiksborg Slot, Hillerod

Frederik IX, The Great Hall, 
Frederiksborg Slot, Hillerod

Walls, The Great Hall, 
Frederiksborg Slot, Hillerod

The Privy Passage, 
Frederiksborg Slot, Hillerod

The Rose, 
Frederiksborg Slot, Hillerod

Roskilde

(Denmark)

On our last afternoon of the trip, I went to Roskilde by myself on a half day's trip from Copenhagen by train. I went to see the famous Roskilde Cathedral, which has the tombs of many of Denmark's monarchs. 

Roskilde is located 30 km west of Copenhagen. The town has a population of over 50,000. It was founded in the 10th century by Vikings, and was Denmark's first capital. In 980, Harald I built the region's first church in Roskilde, making it an important religious centre. In the Middle Ages, the town had a population of 10,000 and it was one of the largest towns in Northern Europe.

Hestetorvet is the market square just outside Roskilde Railway Station. The square has three 5 meter tall jars placed in1998 as part of the town's millennium celebrations. One of the jars has verses from a poem dedicated to Roskilde and to Margrethe I.

Jars, Hestetorvet, Roskilde

The Bishop's Palace was built in 1733 for Roskilde's bishops. The palace rooms have two museums - the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Palace Collections.

Bishop's Palace, Roskilde

Roskilde Domkirke (Roskilde Cathedral) is a grand brick cathedral with twin towers. Work on the cathedral started in the 12th century, on the orders of Bishop Absalon. 38 Danish monarchs are buried at Roskilde Domkirke, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

The cathedral has the Sarcophagus of Margrethe I, with an alabaster effigy of the queen as a young girl. Christian IV's Chapel has the king's final resting place, and features a bronze statue of the king by Thorvaldsen. The tombs of the various monarchs have all been designed beautifully.

Roskilde Domkirke, Roskilde

Christian IV's Tomb, 
Roskilde Domkirke, Roskilde

Christian IX's Tomb, 
Roskilde Domkirke, Roskilde

Christian VI's Tomb, 
Roskilde Domkirke, Roskilde

Christian VII's Tomb, 
Roskilde Domkirke, Roskilde

Frederik VII's Tomb, 
Roskilde Domkirke, Roskilde

Margrethe I's Tomb, 
Roskilde Domkirke, Roskilde

Pulpit, 
Roskilde Domkirke, Roskilde

All in all, our Scandinavia trip was simply marvellous! It was one of our best trips ever! The historical cities, the magnificent castles and palaces, the grand churches, and the beautiful villages and countryside all left a lasting impression on us. The people were very helpful and friendly. The food was very good. The train journeys were a delight. Having family there was an extra bonus. And as experienced travellers, we armed ourselves with a couple of things that made our travel very convenient - Thomas Cook foreign currency cards, Eurail passes, and international roaming data packages on our mobile phones!