THIS UNESCO MONUMENT, THE CITY OF A HUNDRED SPIRES, AND ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CITIES IN THE WORLD WILL HOOK YOU FOR LIFE

After a long flight from India, I was exhausted, jet-lagged to say the least. However I couldn’t contain my happiness on reaching Prague airport, which is small, yet modern in many ways than one. It was early in the morning and on my way to the hotel, I realised the beautiful city begs to be discovered on foot. What with its red roofs and gold-topped spires of the city dominate its skyline, aglow throughout the day.

On day one in Prague, I decided to walk down the nearby Charles Bridge to watch the sunset. It is a busy yet fun walkway, what with the 30 baroque statues guarding the Charles Bridge, caricature corners, and souvenir sellers. It is also the oldest Prague Bridge founded by Charles IV. Next on my agenda for the day was sightseeing of the old city area. It is home to a number of castles, the most popular being the Prague castle, a national cultural monument and the symbol of more than millennial development of the Czech state. The main sightseeing area sits on either side of River Vltava, and on its left is the Prague castle. A slow float down the Vtlava River is just the thing for a romantic holiday.

The whole of Prague’s historical city centre has been recognised by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage site. Beer aficionados like me can enjoy a hearty drink, and a perfect pour of Pilsner Urquell, much like I did after a long walk from the brewery complete with their pub snacks. Next, I headed to the Old Town Square, a vibrant centre of culture. The most notable sights are the Church of Our Lady before Tyn, the Old Town Hall Tower with Astronomical Clock, and St Nicholas Church. This is also the most buzzing part of the city; sit back and soak up the atmosphere over a coffee, or a cool beer at one of the unique pavement cafés lining the square, complete with Romanesque, Baroque and Gothic style architecture. Stunning views nestled with numerous pubs, bohemian restaurants, unique shops, folklore and live music. No wonder this place is bursting at the seams with tourists all year around!

Say Prague and you can’t miss talking about jazz in the same sentence. One can walk around with strains of violins and trumpets around the streets, churches with classical concert halls, and music pouring out of its bars. I also went on a pleasant spin on the Segway tours, and because it started to rain the old town square was devoid of taxis so I got to experience an enjoyable old-timer car ride.

I decided to have dinner at the Indian Jewel restaurant in Prague, which serves traditional north Indian food. Cesky Krumlov, another Czech delight, was on my agenda for a two-day visit. With numerous fairytale castles twinkling in the distance, cobbled streets and baroque splendour aplenty, you can’t stop yourself from being swept away in the romance, grandeur and wonder of Cesky Krumlov, a small village two-and-a-half-hour away from Prague airport.

This small village tucked away in the Czech Republic has perfect panoramas, spectacular castles, attractive architecture, music, art, water sports and wonderful lager. With immensely warm, hospitable people all around, in Cesky Krumlov one can easily feel lost in time.

After earning a spot on Unesco’s World Heritage List in 1992, Cesky Krumlov has become the busiest tourist destination in the Czech Republic. I visited the village in summer, and the place looked nothing short of a theme park, complete with street performers punctuating every corner, narrow lanes and footbridges, besides people on lazy floats down the river and experiencing an authentic old-world charm.

A fellow tourist told me that the town was created around the castle, which was founded by the Lords of Krumlov or the Vítkovci family around 1253.

On my second day, I set out to explore the castle, the architecture of which is a mix of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque. The castle stretches over the meandering Vltava River, and I walked up walked up to the top of the Castle tower for stunning views of the medieval town. The castle museum is well worth a visit with interesting pictures and history; the baroque concert hall at the top is another must-visit. Might I add, the coffee shop at the entrance to the museum makes some great coffee and hot chocolate beverages. I also visited the famous baroque theatre, which is a splendid work of art and paintings.

For travelers or Prague residents, a one-day picnic here can be a refreshing experience. Before leaving the picturesque village, I headed to sample some authentic Czech food. Czech cuisines are influenced by the current global gastronomic trends. Czech delights include the meat-stew called goulash, bowls of traditional soup, Czech dumplings, freshwater fish, potato pancakes of sweet and salted variety, and a variety of cakes. My verdict: One mustn’t leave without trying sumptuous food at the Krčma U dwau Maryí, the fancy restaurant I tried at Cesky Krumlov with a unique classical setting by the riverside, where one can enjoyed the original medieval cuisine.

Czech people have a lot of festivals through the year; from the famous Spring Festival, the Czech Beer Festival, Folklore Festival, to the Christmas Markets, there is not a dull moment in this city of joy. Easy connectivity facilitates opportunity to explore the outer fringes and surrounding countryside, which offer their own unique charms and one-of-a-kind experiences. This spectacular place calls you back for more!