The travels of Bengalis in the past
Sumana Dam
(Continued from the last part)
In this part, the relevant countries are Germany, Austria and Czech Republic.
Ramesh Chandra Dutta traveled from Amsterdam, Holland, to Hanover, Germany. In Hanover, some parts of the city feature ancient houses, while other areas have been developed with new buildings. The famous philosopher and mathematician Leibniz’s house is still marked for visitors. Dutta visited the royal palace, town hall, church, and market.
Berlin, which was a fishing village in the 12th century, became a city in 1250 and was surrounded by a wall by 1300. Tiergarten, Berlin's most picturesque park, features a victory monument. Leaving the park and heading east, the writer and his companions entered the city through the Brandenburg Gate. The gate stands 85 feet tall, with a bronze statue of a woman on a chariot symbolizing victory (Quadriga of Victory). There are five entrances, with the middle one reserved for royal carriages. Inside, Dutta saw Paris Platz, a square surrounded by important buildings, including various embassies. From here, Unter den Linden, a beautiful street, begins, with a bronze statue of Frederick the Great (18th-century Prussian ruler) along the way. On the opposite side is the relatively simple-looking royal palace, the Kaiser’s residence. Dutta caught a glimpse of the Kaiser through the palace window. Nearby, they visited the university building and the Royal Library, which houses rare collections such as Gutenberg’s Bible on parchment and Martin Luther’s Bible translation from 1460. In front of the royal palace stands the Arsenal, a museum of old cannons and weapons. Crossing a bridge on Unter den Linden, Dutta entered an island with old castles and museums. The Old Museum contains valuable paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Van Dyck, Raphael, Titian, and others. The New Museum displays modern art, sculptures, and collections from ancient Egypt. The ancient royal palace is a large, four-story building with a 240-foot dome and a royal chapel. After crossing another bridge, they entered the old city and visited the Town Hall (Rathaus), which has the tallest tower in Berlin.
Another beautiful street in Berlin is Wilhelm Street, where he visited the home of the Prussian politician Bismarck. Another important street is Friedrich Street, which is home to the famous German Theater, with a marble statue of Schiller in front. The street also features French and German churches and a statue of Goethe. At the southern edge of the city, where Wilhelm Street and Friedrich Street meet, is a place called Belle Alliance, home to the Waterloo Monument. This monument has four white stone pillars representing England, the Netherlands, Germany, and Prussia, symbolizing their victory over Napoleon. Similar monuments can be found at Waterloo Bridge in England, Brussels in Belgium, Amsterdam, and Hanover.
Dresden, located in the Saxony province, is home to the Zwinger Palace's gallery, which has made the city a notable art center in Europe. It was here that porcelain was first invented, and Dresden's porcelain works are highly famous. The gallery's most prized possession is Raphael’s Madonna, along with paintings by Michelangelo, Titian, Rubens, Van Dyck, and others.
On the way from Dresden to Bohemia (now the Czech Republic), they passed towering mountains and forests along the Elbe River, a region known as Saxon Switzerland for its breathtaking beauty and wild landscapes. In Bohemia, the capital city of Prague sits on the banks of the Moldau River. The city still retains much of its ancient character. One of the old gates to the city is the Powder Tower, which leads to the Great Ring, where Bohemian kings and knights once held competitions and religious ceremonies. Nearby is the old Jewish quarter, where many atrocities occurred before the Jewish population was expelled. Along the Moldau River, he saw the Bohemian royal palace atop a hill. Below it was the Wallenstein Palace, the residence of a hero from the Thirty Years' War. Bohemia's glory largely diminished when it became part of Austria, but patriotism remains strong among the Slavs.
The writer then arrived in Vienna, the capital of Austria. Like other European capitals in the last 20-30 years, Vienna has been beautified to resemble Paris, with wide roads, squares, gardens, and palace-like buildings. Yet, nature has also been preserved within the city. The old city lies on the right bank of the Danube Canal, a waterway originally built in 1867 for ship traffic. Alongside the canal is the Ringstrasse, a semi-circular wide road home to important landmarks like the University, Town Hall, Parliament Building, theaters, the Palace of Justice, Royal Palace, Opera House, and St. Charles Church. The most impressive room in the Royal Palace is the Regalia room, which showcases the royal insignia—symbols of the king and queen's power. Among its treasures is the Florentine diamond, one of the largest in the world. The palace also houses an extensive collection of royal carriages and horses. He then visited the Belvedere Palace, which retains its gardens and statues while serving as a museum. Its picture gallery boasts works by Titian, Rubens, Raphael, and Albert Dürer. Prater Hall, a large park in the city, is a popular destination for tourists, similar to Paris's Bois de Boulogne.
After spending some time in Vienna, he continued to Salzburg, a city located between towering snow-capped peaks on the banks of the Salzach River. The surrounding alpine beauty adds a unique charm to the city.
After a brief stay in Salzburg, the writer traveled westward to Bavaria, passing through the Alps and enjoying the breathtaking scenery. After crossing the picturesque Traunstein, he arrived in the beautiful village of Berchtesgaden. Continuing his journey, he passed Lake Chiemsee, where three islands, once home to Christian saints and hermits, could be seen.
After crossing the rivers Prien and Inn, the writer reached Rosenheim, a Bavarian city located just 40 miles from Munich. However, due to lack of time, he could not visit Munich. From Rosenheim to Innsbruck, the journey follows the banks of the Inn River through a beautiful valley filled with snow-covered mountains and gorges. In November, the snow-covered landscape of Innsbruck was enchanting. He saw the carved tomb of Emperor Maximilian (15th-century Holy Roman Emperor), the statue of the king, and the cathedral.
On November 24, 1886, the writer departed Austria for Italy via the Brenner Pass, which marks the border between Austria and Italy. As the train slowly ascended, it passed through narrow gorges and tunnels, with the foamy waters of the Sill River rushing below. The surrounding mountains stood at 7,000 feet, covered in snow. Eventually, the train reached the 4,490-foot-high Brenner Pass, where it stopped for five minutes. The stunning snowy landscape against the blue sky left a lasting impression on Romesh Chunder Dutt. The train then began its descent, passing through more tunnels and entering the beautiful Adige River valley.
Traveling down from the mountains, the train followed the Adige River, passing small villages, churches, and vineyards. The wine produced from these vineyards is known as Tyrolean wine. The train reached Bolzano, the capital of the Tyrol region, which is surrounded by high mountains, ensuring that cold northern winds do not reach the area. Instead, warmer southern winds make the climate pleasant, which has led to the development of the area as a health resort. From Bolzano, the train continued through Trento and Ala, eventually arriving in Verona, Italy, where Romesh Chunder Dutt entered the country.
(To be continued)
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