11 Oct, 2008
When I heard for the first time “largest system of ice caves on Earth” I was pretty much excited to see how it actually looks like.
Eisriesenwelt is a company owned by the Salzburg Association of Cave Exploration, that maintains the caves and runs guided tour.
Werfen villageTo reach there:
From Salzburg main station I took Austrian regional train to Werfen. One can also reach Werfen via free way in a car. Private bus from Werfen station is available to the base of Ice caves, which is approximately 5 km distance. Journey in morning time is very exciting with wonderful picturesque surrounding. From the bus stop, its about 20 mins walk to Ropeway. And form ropeway about 10 more mins to the caves. Instead of ropeway, one may also climb the mountain. It takes about 90 mins. I would not recommend the climb for normal tourists.
View from the cave is simply amazing.
Some words from History:
Till nineteenth century the caves were only known to hunters and poachers. In 1879 Anton Posselt, a natural scientist from Salzburg, push 200 metres into the darkness of the caves and officially “discovered” the Eisriesenwelt. One year later he published a detailed report of his discovery in a mountaineering magazine, but the caves then slipped back into obscurity.
Alexander von Mörk, pioneer of cave exploration in the Salzburg area, recognised the significance of Posselt’s report. His expeditions were followed by various other discoverers in the 1920’s and the increasing popularity of this wonder of nature soon attracted the first tourists.
From the cave !Inside the Caves:
The total length of cave is about 42 km. out of which only about 1.5 km is open to normal visitors. The path consists of ~1400 steps and is tiring walking in dark and cold (0°C).But one forgets all tiredness, once see amazing ice formations inside the cave. These natural formations also imitate natural objects like elephant, polar bear ect.
I saw two huge Sivlings and reminded me Amaranth’s yatra. Unfortunately here no one knows Shiva, otherwise by now this would have become a holly pilgrimage.
Some tips:
Officially, photography is forbidden inside the cave. But take ur camera inside. If relatively less people, the guide allows u take pictures inside.
If possible try to reach Werfen, early in the morning as first ropeway starts 9.00 am in morning.
Information:
Official website: www.eisriesenwelt.at
Scientific details on cave formation: http://www.eisriesenwelt.at/013_wissenschaft.pdf
-Hemant Nagda
