Away from the skyscrapers and modern architecture, nestled in the lofty Alps, Bavaria (or Bayern as they call it in German) is one of the most well-preserved beauties of Germany.
The Bavarian countryside is pristine, with crisp air and large grasslands that slowly give way to towns. It gives a feeling of grandeur due to the grand castles, the most famous of which is the 19th-century Bavarian palace ? Neuschwanstein Castle. It was built by King Ludwig the second (nicknamed the ?mad king? or the fairy tale king) which inspired the famous Disneyland Park logo and the fairytale ?Sleeping Beauty?. Apart from beautiful architecture, Bavaria is also an impressive display of German auto engineering at its best. The province is also the housme of the famous BMW or the Bayern Motor Wagen (Bavarian Motor Factory).
A drive from the Munich international airport to the city takes around an hour and a half, but is refreshing after a long seven and a half hour flight from India. The vast grasslands slowly give way to pretty off-white countryside houses constructed in classic Bavarian style, with typical brown roofs and lovely fuchsia pots on windows.
The capital city of Bavaria, Munich is heavily influenced by Italian baroque influence. The streets are bustling with life and once you are in the city the best way to go sight seeing is to rent a bike for a day. It helps one loose the extra pounds that one gains by having the yummy beer, which you are bound to binge on given the local legendary beer.
The first brewery was established at Fohring, near Munich. Initially brewing was mostly done by Bavarian monks but it wasn?t long before the ritual of beer drinking trickled down to being an essential part of the ?Bayern? daily life. One of the most popular and truly a enjoyable way to drink beer in Munich is a ?bier garten? or beer garden. It is an open air area with benches and chairs where you can drink beer and enjoy the summer sunshine. Munich alone has over dozens of beer gardens where people of all ages come together to drink. Another must visit for tourists, especially for beer fans, is Hofbr?uhaus. It is the most popular beer hall built in 1644 and gives you a taste of a local way of enjoying the evening.
The city centre of Munich, Marineplatz ? a large open square built in 1158, is surrounded by high street shops and the breath-taking National Theatre houses the Bavarian State Opera and the Bavarian state Orchestra.
If you want to eat authentic Bavarian food then Ratskellar is undoubtedly one of the best options you have. Ratskeller is a German word meaning a tavern below street level and the ratskellar in Munich is beneath the Marineplatz, it?s a warm cosy place to eat your pretzel sausages (the most famous being the Weisswurst or the white Bavarian sausages) and beer.
It is a good idea to take a stroll on the Munich streets after the hearty lunch at the city centre. From one end of the Marineplatz begins the gorgeous luxury shopping street, Maximilianstrasse, which houses premium brands from across the globe. The 500-metre street is a nice after lunch walk, as you would get a chance to update your luxury brand knowledge. Also it isn?t often that one gets to see a short polka dot dress for 6,000 euros!
After shopping and castle seeing, Munich?s famous 900-acre park is a good place to just lie down and unwind. It is the biggest city park in the world. It?s a lush green park with shaded paths, brooks, ponds and swans and of course the beer gardens, namely Seehaus, Aumiester, Hirchau and Chinesischer Turm (without which one doubts, if at all it would attract any locals). Come discover it for yourself.
