Scotland-Edinburgh: Stylish, Historic, Fancy, and many more!

Scotland-Edinburgh: Stylish, Historic, Fancy, and many more!

BureauUpdated: Saturday, June 01, 2019, 01:21 AM IST
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KAVITA SHYAM says that Edinburgh has the old world charm and yet it’s modern.

Scotland is one of the prettiest places in the world, many would agree. Whether you fancy stylish stays, pretty palaces, or deep literature, history and culture, Scotland’s capital and second most populous city of Scotland- Edinburgh is all this and more!. It’s no surprise that the capital city is high on the list of favourite film locations as well.  I decided to hop on to a train from one of Britain’s main cities (read Nottingham) and travel to Edinburgh. It took me seven hours to get to the city with a splendid sight in place throughout the journey; you can also take flights from India taking up to 10-12 hours to get to Scotland.

As I get the marvelous city I realize the weather is fabulous if you travel during the blooming spring- summer months and during the onset of winter, the time I travelled to the city. Typically a windy city, it has bouts of cool climes more often alongside some showers.

As soon as I got to the vibrant city’s train station, I got on

to princess street and without wasting much time I decided to freshen up at my nearby Novotel hotel and head to the sought-after sight-seeing options in the city. With easy bus and tram options around getting to explore the city was a sheer delight. On the first day I bought myself a city day tour ticket which was valid for two days and I could hop on and hop off at any of the iconic tourist spots.

On the first day I first went to the popular Camera Obscura and World of Illusions. My friends had been raving about this place, so this was on my must-see list.Here seeing is not believing! This is one of the oldest attractions in the city, since 1835. This was an amazing Aladdin’s cave filled with illusions, tricks, puzzles, hands-on experiences,Vortex Tunnel and unbelievable experiences and picture games to keep you occupied for a couple of hours straightaway. To find my way out of the magical mirror maze was tough, plenty of fun activities made for great fun experience for young and old alike!

And nearby was a trip to the scotch haven. No trip to Scotland’s capital would be complete without some extensive sampling of the nation’s favourite Scotch Whisky Experience. I took a barrel ride as I actually became part of the whisky making process. From the gently swaying fields of barley all the way through the distillery equipment to the steaming and bubbling Pot Still, I experiencedplenty of aromas of regional whiskies. From fruity, sweet, strong, spicy to smoky flavours the experts helped me select my perfect taste. I was taken to the vault containing the world’s largest collection of Scotch Whiskies and enjoyed a special guided nosing and tasting session. I bought myself a couple of old scotch whiskies to take back home alongside a few fancy glasses as well.

On my second day, I decided to go to Edinburgh’s stunning botanic gardens and enjoy the sights, sounds and scents. There were tutored sessions for the children and few more for the not-so-young at the venue. I had the royal privilege of discovering exotic plants and their history in the Glasshouse too.  And then it was time to buy some books, plants and gifts in the plush gift shop at the premises.

I then headed to the Royal Yacht Britannia in my tourist bus which was about twenty minutes away from the main city area. I am told it was the sea-bound home to Her Majesty The Queen and the Royal Family for over 40 years. This five-star attraction has sailed over millions of miles around the world. I took a quick audio tour and discovered the royalty to discover the heart and soul of the most royal residence. I bought a couple of sailor souvenirs at this place and headed to the adjoining mall, needless to say I was spell-bound by the variety.

I parked myself at the Princess Street, which has a host of shops for buying souvenirs, luxury or high street products,

branded clothing to Scottish products. Do not forget to buy the Scottish kiln, woolens and dresses in the stores lined up on the street. You could spend hours or perhaps an entire day exploring the street on foot, catering to all tastes, styles and budgets. I was also lucky enough to explore Princes Street Gardens is the venue for seasonal markets including the Traditional German Christmas Market while the farmer’s market selling fresh, home grown produce for value for money deals.

The most appealing and iconic landmark of the city- the Edinburgh Castle has a charm lie no other. Towering over the city, perched on top of a hilly area, one can see the castle from miles around. I considered going here in the morning as I wanted to indulge myself in the beauty of the Castle. It was quite crowded, however I got to take a tour of the castle which offers unrivalled 360 degree views of the city.

Edinburgh Castle- A buzzing restaurant, pub and shopping area beneath Edinburgh Castle, the area is full to brimming with Scottish designers, artisans and independents selling world crafts, vintage clothing and antiques to gourmet food in a vibrant al fresco setting. Treat yourself and go shopping for a designer hat at Fabhatrix, enjoy a quick break at Mussell and Steak Restaurant, or get a fresh juice made to order from Hula Juice Bar.

On the last day just before catching my train back, I headed to the Princes Street Gardens. Thisplace holds a special place in my heart, what with the beautiful public park place resting in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle to the south of Princes Street; it separates the New Town from the Old Town. The premise is home to tiered gardens and unique statues, monuments and stunning floral displays. I even spent some time at the garden to relax with a book, and a hot cup of coffee at the outdoor cafe.

From afternoon tea, light bites to fancy gourmet meals, Edinburgh is a foodie’s delight. I ate at a few Indian-Bangladeshi restaurants around Princess Street as I was tired of indulging myself in burgers and pizzas or pastas.

A must do while you are in Scotland are the breathtaking highlands, since I was time-crunched I had to let go of it, however one must not forget to make a trip to the highlands to witness the beauty, charm and greenery of the lush mountains, hills and crystal clear lakes.

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