Gimmelwald

It is easy and rather natural to overlook a village as small as Gimmelwald while on a typical Swiss journey. But once there, you will realize that this cute little piece of civilization has a charm of its own, attributed to its dramatic location and the apparent sleepy atmosphere. There are just about 110 residents, two of whom happen to be the owners of a beautiful and lively youth hostel, called the Mountain Hostel.

Most of the people are engaged in agricultural activities, and there might not be much to do in terms of shopping or eating out, except for one household bakery and a local bar.

Still, the landscapes are simply dramatic and will remind you of

the famous DDLJ sequences: just opposite the valley is a sheer mountain face which provides a perfect backdrop for admiring the might of these endless mountain ranges. On the other side, there are flower filled slopes and pastures on which one can see numerous cows and other cattle. Further ahead stands the summit of Schillthorn, marking the end of a ridge that starts with the Jungfrau and Titlis mountains and contains some of the highest peaks of Swiss Alps.

Gimmelwald is perched just on the edge of a cliff overlooking Lauterbrunnen valley

. From the Mountain Hostel, it takes just a few steps towards east to reach the precipice and fall into the valley below, though the cable car is always there to provide a better alternative ! :D

There are treks towards Murren and Grindelwald, and also a road that connects Gimmelwald to other villages of the commune, but the only way to reach from outside is the cable car, which is no less than a lifeline of this region, the other one being a helicopter

service that is used during medical emergencies or excessive snowfall!

We spent a day in this charming village and left for Interlaken after that. The lively atmosphere at the hostel and the amazingly picturesque scenery all around was the high point of the journey! Unfortunately though, I wasn't able to find Heidi or her cowbells!