VARISHT NAGRIK SEWA MANCH (REGD.) : Europe Tour

Report on Tour of Members (including their family members) of VNSM to Europe comprising London(England), Paris(France), Zurich,(Switzerland), Innsbruck(Leichtenstein and Austria), Vennice, Florence, Rome and Milan(Italy) from 11.5.2019 to 25.5.2019.

As per the program chalked out by VNSM a Group of 31 persons which included family members of VNSM left IGI Airport in the morning of 11.5.2016 by Kuwait Airlines and reached London same evening. Shri Dinesh Garg was nominated as the Coordinator of the Tour. Our stay at London was for four days. In London the group was taken in a cab to places with tourist guide wherever required. The members visited places like Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, Tower Bridge, City of London, London Eye, Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Swaminarayan Temple etc. besides visiting parks and other important places in London during our stay at London.

Kuwait Flight Ready at Delhi Airport

Heathrow Air Port

Group Members at Heathrow Airport Waiting for Coach

London Eye

Group Members in London Eye Capsule Compartment

London City's Panormic View from London Eye

Tower Bridge London

Tower of London

Nelsons Square London

Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, London

Buckingham Palace, London

Change of Guards at Buckingham Palace

Swaminarayan Temple, London

On 14^th May the Team moved for Paris(France) by Bus. However, English Channel was crossed in a Cruise which was provided by the Travel Agent as a special compliment since it was not included in the settled itinerary. Our stay there was for two nights. Here also the prominent and popular sights of Paris were visited in the cab exclusively for our group. Paris City was also explored with a Guide (Hindi Speaking). Places like place de la Concorde, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame de Paris, Pyramid, Opera, Champs Elysees Street, Alexander Bridge, Montmatre, Concords Square etc. There was also an hour journey of Seine River in cruise depicting some of the prominent sights in Paris. The Paris being the capital of France has panoramic view of most famous monuments. Later, we went to see Eiffel Tower. The glimpses of Eiffel Tower one of the eight wonders was one of the sights to remember throughout life.

Up to Port of Dower (Security Check Point) by Coach

View of Dower Port

View from Cruise while it left from Dower Port

Palace-de-la-Concorde

Arc-de-Triomphe

Group Members with Guide at Arc-de-Triomphe

Notre-Dama-De-Paris

Pyramid Opera

Champs Elysees Street

Alexander Bridge

River Seine Cruise Trip

Eiffel Tower

A view from Eiffel Tower

On 16^th May we left for Zurich, Switzerland in the same cab. On way we saw Rhine Falls which also is known as Mini Niagara falls of Europe. It is located on Rhine River in Scha hausen. There is no waterfall in Europe bigger than Rhinefall.

Rhine Falls

In Switzerland the group was taken to Mount Titlis which is at a height of 10000 ft. covered with ice. The journey to Mount Titlis was conducted by trolley. It was an adventurous tour to Mt. Titlis. Some of the group members went to see glacier cave, ice tunnel, touched Ice Flyer Chair. Everyone in the group enjoyed this place because in ordinary life such places are not easily explorable.

Members at Pick-up and Drop Point at the base of Mount Titlis

View from Cable Car

Members waiting for Coach for Pickup at base of Mount Titlis after visit

In the evening we went to see Loin Monument which is made on a rock in Lucerne, Switzerland. There was time slated for shopping in Lucerne, Zurich prominent shopping sights

There was also an option sight visit to Jungfrau on 18^th. Since it also is located at still a very high range of mountains (11782 ft.) covered with ice and temperature being (-15 degree Celsius) and its ticket was around 150 Euros (Rs.12000) only eight members of the group decided to go. As narrated by them, this was also a life memory sight. On return they had an orientation tour to Interlaken a shopping city. Those who did not go, took rest in the hotel and visited the Zurich City on their own.

Jungfrau Visit

Interlaken City

On 19^th we went to Innsbruck, Austria and Leichtenstein. Liechtenstein is a small country between Switzerland and Austria. Here we visited Wattens to take the vision of noteworthy collection of world famous Crystals in Swarovski Museum, which besides other jewel mounted figures included Chetak, the favorite horse of Maharana Pratap ornamented with Jewels. Some of the members made shopping from this Museum. It was a memorable place.

Next day was kept for orientation tour to Austria’s important places in Innsbruck, Salzburg. It is a small village town filled with music and other things worth seeing.

On 21^st we left for Venice, Italy. Here we saw Tower of Pisa another wonder. Some of the journey was also undertaken by ship in the sea. From Venice we went to Florence which is a home to many masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture. Important places like Duomo of Florence, Basilica of Santa Croce were among the sight scenes in Florence. Due to rains some other sights earmarked could not be seen.

Leaning Tower of Pisa

On 23^rd we left for Rome, Capital of Italy, where we had a guided tour of Rome and Vetican City. It is an ancient city with monuments of ancient Roman Rulers and Coliseums. Important Churches, Piazza di Spagna, a boom of Spanish Steps is one of the most famous squares in Rome.

On 24^th we left for Milan our final destination. Milan is also famous for fashion products and a beautiful city. In its orientation tour to city, members were left for shopping and exploring the city.

On 25^th at 3.00 p.m. we had the flight for returning India by Kuwait Airlines and reached Delhi in the morning of 26^th May.

Members waiting at Kuwait Airport for Flight to Delhi

It was one of the comfortable, memorable and successful tour abroad. 15 days is quite a long period with a group of Senior Citizens. The efforts of Dinesh Garg are worth appreciating since he not only took care of well-beings of the Group Members but individually also he was found concerned about the health of every member daily basis. Since I (Bhagwan Dass, General Secretary, VNSM), was also part of the group, rendered every help to Mr. Garg at all levels. The members included in the group were very cooperative and never made any problem for the Coordinator or any other member in general. The best part of the tour was that every evening we were provided with Indian Food at one or the other Indian Restaurant in respective city. So, everyone found home while on tour abroad. While departing, every member made thanks to VNSM as well as Mr. Dinesh Garg for such a nice opportunity provided to the members of VNSM. Executive Body of VNSM is also grateful to Mr. Dinesh Garg for volunteering services to lead the members on such a prolonged tour.

Report drafted by Shri BD Gera, GS, VSNM

Photo Compilation and Publishing Efforts by Mohinder Kumar

Other Photographs