When the town of St Moritz is covered with a blanket of snow, the locals wiggle their feet into their ski boots and make it a point to be seen at the winter games in fashionable faux fur.
Nestled in the beautiful, story-book Engadine Valley on the southern Alps, one has to board the little red train that chugs past Lake Zurich with swans and ducks swimming in it, to get here. Canopies of snow make their appearance, prompting you to pull out your shades against the harsh glare. On a vividly bright train journey like this, a good pair of sunshades will help the eyes adjust with the sun’s reflection on the white ice.
Then again, isn’t it sunshine that makes St Moritz the most sought-after winter destination?
According to legend, in 1864, four Englishmen, after skiing at Upper Engadine, prepared to leave as winter approached. They were staying at the Kulm Hotel and its owner Johannes Badrutt, wanting them to stay on made them an offer.
“Come back at Christmas and stay until Easter. If you don’t find St Moritz as sunny in winter as it is in summer, I’ll put you up for free.”
The young aristocrats, accepted the offer and Badrutt won the bet! And this is how the year-round Alpine tourism came into being. This little town boasts an altitude of 1,856 metres and basks in 300 days of sunshine. Here’s what you can do here:
Sip a cup
The waters of the natural spring here are believed to have healing properties. Said to date back to the Bronze Age, it was accidental discovery of the spring that led to the birth of St Moritz.
The spring, not too far from the station, is frequented by locals. The building that houses it appears to be a museum from outside. Old hand-painted works in the main hall narrate its story. Two rooms away from the main hall, is the spring that continuously draws water on its own. The same hall, has the original wooden behind a glass wall for visitor to see. It was unearthed and replaced with modern pipelines when the old pipeline broke down. Inside here more sketches show naturopaths like Paracelsus and Italian physician Malacrida using the water of the spring to treat various ailments.
Slalom away
Mount Corviglia (meaning sparrows) is St Moritz’s ski destination where world cup races and championships are held. It is advisable to reach the top of Corviglia by 8 am. The biting cold is sure to freeze your face, but the adrenaline rush of being on the ski will get you going. Here, first-timers can take a short class with ski instructors who help social media junkies with the best photo-ops. Indian actor Ranveer Singh is popular here what with his instagram page showing the amount of fun he had here! If you think Corviglia Ski apart, the view from the mountain is as pretty as it is from down below.
If learning to ski appears to be tough, try removing those boots. It is a daunting task in itself. FYI Corviglia means sparrows; the Swiss people love them so much that they named their favourite ski mountain after them. it.
The sight of the track will give you butterflies in your stomach. The best way to explain bobsledding: a mind-numbing high-speed rollercoaster ride with blind turns on a sledge or sled. Go for it if you love living on the edge. or else. Instructors, guides, even locals usually discourage tourists from getting on this crazy ride.
White turf
When the St Moritz lake freezes, it becomes the town square for the winter. Babies in prams and walkers and joggers make good use of the frozen lake.
Dining out
Not too keen on being a flop show at the skii haven? Even so, there is ample to be done. Every nook and corner has curio shops, cafes and eateries. Chef Claudia Canessa’s Peruvian food in the Sunny Bar at Kulm Hotel is a must-try. This apart, at Romantik Muottas Muragl, the first energy-plus hotel, one can experience authentic Swiss food, especially fondue.The fondue at Romantik Muottas Muragl is so popular that it has a dedicated fondue section. of the Swiss. Selection of air-dried smoked meats with wine and artisan cheese will be one of the experiences to boast of from your travel tales. A 20-minute ride by a funicular takes visitors to Muottas Muragl, also home to the world’s most accurate sundial.
Shopping
An entire street boasts leading fashion brands of clothes, watches, jewellery, shoes, limited-edition cigars and whiskey.
The writer was in St Moritz at the invitation of Switzerland Tourism