Dates to remember

Couture, chocolate and a steep climb up the hills. Those were the ingredients for this calendar shoot, created by designer Narendra Kumar, model Lisa Haydon and photographer Prasad Naik, which brings into focus Switzerland’s business capital, Zurich.

“Though Zurich is the hub for Swiss Airways, it is not visited by most Indians, who usually travel to the mountains instead. People don’t know how much there is to do here, whether it’s biking, boating, shopping or clubbing,” says Kumar, adding, “The best part is that you need just three days to cover the entire city.”

Ask him for his number one tip to Zurich-bound travellers and he says, “Every week, they have some international artiste performing there. I got to see Pink Floyd, with tickets bought at the last minute, for barely 50 francs. It was the best concert of my life. If you’re going to be in the city for a few days, check the cultural calendar online in advance.”

Kumar also admits he rediscovered the joy of cycling, a mode of transport that’s popular in the eco-friendly city. “I couldn’t remember the last time I cycled,” he recalls. “But here cyclists have special tracks all over the city and around the lake, so it’s the best way to explore.”

For the outdoorsy tourist, he recommends hanging around Neiderdorf, which is located close to Lake Zurich in the older part of the city. “You can hang out on the banks of the Limmat River which is filled with restaurants and small stores. It will take you an entire day just to explore this one stretch. The lake is huge, and also offers opportunities to go boating and yachting,” he reveals.

If shopping is on your mind, then the designer recommends Bahnhoffestrasse, an avenue that is the city’s shopping lifeline. Lined with luxury boutiques and high-street stores, you can check out outlets like Globus (no, not the Indian departmental store) and another local chain Jelmoli, along with Louis Vuitton and Chanel.

After gobbling up some artisan chocolates in the Alice In Wonderland-esque chocolate store, Café Chaubert, Kumar suggests you hit up the party district, Langstrasse. “The nightclubs open at 11 pm and shut only around 6 am. But before you get there, aim for a meal at Rosso, a fabulous Italian restaurant where you’ll need to book a table well in advance,” he says.