We left from Herzogenaurach to Munich through Erlangen. We took the M-train that goes to Salzburg and changed trains at Freilassing deviating to Berchtesgaden.
As the tiny train carved its way towards our destination, the mountains grew taller, the streams grew wider and farms grew greener with colors of fall and cows grazing on them speckled all over.
Geography: Situated in southern Germany in Bavarian state, close to German Austrian border.
Language: German, English
Currency: Euro
Getting There: To reach Berchtesgarden, take M-train from Munich. Get down at Freilassing. Change trains in Freilassing to Berchtesgarden. From here, take bus 841 and 842 from bus stand just outside the train station. Nearest airport is Salzburg.
What’s Famous here: Lake Konigsee, Lake Obersee, Eagles Nest.
My Story:
I had just heard that lake Konigsee was one of the best scenic things that you could probably see in Europe, but I had not seen even a single picture. I cannot tell whether it was the confidence on German alps to enthrall me or was it mere ignorance or self created suspense on the place.
Berchtesgaden felt unimaginably fresh, the air felt so pure, music of streams crashing ground and making way through valley, a hilly little town that can make you drown in pleasant wilderness.
 |
| Center of Berchtesgaden |
After our lunch, We left to visit Eagle's nest. Took taxi to Dokumentation from where we get buses to the top. An amazing place providing historical information on Nazi's.
We get birds eye view of Konigsee from the top of Eagles nest. The weather was perfect with sunshine and chilly air, I was surrounded by alps again and one can never get enough of it.
 |
| Birds eye-Lake Konigsee |
It was early morning in the German-Austrian border. We reached the shore from where we could take electric boats. I could not trust my eyes nor my senses.
It was one of those misty mornings when the sky is inked in blanket of limitless blue, soft wisps of fog caressing me, the images far from my sight beautified by moving blockade of fog bringing them close to heart. My breath emerging delicately, loosing its power as it dissipates into chilly air, blending with the fog.
 |
| Magic starts here |
All of us were silent for few minutes, We were frozen admiring the view around us, not even taking pics for some minutes.
Boat started, thawing our thrill. Surrounded by steep, huge mountains, the sight that we get in the beginning makes us believe that the lake is not as big as it really is. The lake zig-zag's, so at any point in time you feel like its the end of the lake, and as you move further, it keeps extending, unfolding its marvel. It was so pretty with sun stretching over the mountains.
 |
| Symphony of mountains |
While on boat, there comes a point where we are surrounded completely from all sides by mountains, with absolutely no sight of shore or the destination. To add more to the experience, we had someone from the boat crew playing saxophone, he asked us to listen to the echo of the music coming from the nature around us. Pristine!! After some stops and 45 mins of ride through the valley of surprises, we reached Salet, the farthest and last stop.
This place, it cannot be real. I get goosebumps even when i'm writing this. It was divine, Sun was awake completely, striking the lake letting us view the mysteries it beheld.
 |
| Salet |
 |
| Salet |
 |
| Salet |
Walking slowly and seeing all around, as far as my eyes could, absorbing as much as my soul could. Directly opposite to the stop,far on the other side of the shore I could spot a waterfall running on the face of the cliff, somewhere far I could see heard of cows grazing on another cliff.
 |
| Beautiful.. |
 |
| Let's go.. |
We decided to visit Lake Obersee first and then continue our journey to Rothbach waterfalls. Its about 1:30 hours hike from Salet.
Obersee is only 15,20 mins walk from Salet. We may have seen some pictures that make us feel, come on this is just a painting , may not be real. It was the moment when that thought was shattered. The lake was so still that it reflected everything above it and around it.
 |
| Obersee |
 |
| Obersee |
We hesitated to take next step stuck in the beauty of Obersee.
As we made way through the jungle, brushing the mountains ascending around Obersee, it seemed really big.
 |
| Brushing alps |
 |
| From the top-Obersee |
We walked around the lake and continued towards the maze of mountains, valleys and grasslands. We do have a cafe here, a coffee in the middle of alps, peacefully taking every sip.
 |
| After the cafe.. |
We finally reached Rothbach falls after trek and hike for about 2 hours. We were sweating a lot, so decided to take bath in the falls.
 |
| From the top of the Rothbach falls.. |
How naive we were to go and stand in the water, it was freezing cold that we ran from it the moment it touched us. But we collected all the energy and stood under the falls for sometime. After spending some time standing tall in the top viewing picture perfect alps in front us, we were on our way back.
We reached Salet and took the boat back to where we started.
Later in the day we left to Herzogenaurach feeling dizzy about what we saw.
I was put into deep thought throughout my journey.
I felt like I have been ignoring, rather have procrastinated to see, experience and realize the wonders of this life. The secrets behind the tiny little things unfolding around us, as simple as a wind carrying the smell of lake, the greens around them, sunshine absorbing the fog slowly, cow grazing in complete freedom, flock of birds owning the sky these simple things are most satisfying. Each of us have our ways of finding keys to the doors of our soul. Travel is one of those keys.
Through the eyes of Konigsee I experienced the beauty of the world.
Tips:
- The lake is frozen during winters, so visit during summers.
- While changing trains in Freilassing, be quick the train stops for very less time.
- Accommodation is pricey in the center of Berchtesgaden, choose wisely.
-UR
uday.s7@gmail.com
