Enticing Moscow !
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Enticing Moscow
Moscow entices you – by its rich cultural heritage, its turbulent political history, the days of the Tsars , its breathtaking performing arts, or the modern Moscow with its flashy wealth, fleets of Lamborghinis tearing down the streets at night—and raucous nightlife.
‘Being in Moscow’ feeling itself is so emotionally overwhelming. Especially for Indians (and my generation) who grew up in the times of Indian Soviet friendship, for me it was like revisiting my childhood. Russian magazines and radio programs were part of our growing age. Many even had pen-friends. The photos of the red flower carpet on those Russian magazines are imbibed in our memory forever, for me seeing that itself was ‘Wow Finally!’
The city with its Skyscrapers, and historical buildings, is a mix of past and present, On one side, one can feel the Communist history in the city, with the remains of the Soviet state are scattered all around the city. Monuments remember fallen heroes and victorious battles, while museums attempt to analyse and synthesise the past. On the other side, one can experience modern Russia, with the skyscrapers, business centers, hotels, and most importantly, the Power Centre of Russia– the Red Square and Kremlin.
Also, at the same time, one can feel the Orthodoxy, the influence of the Church. At nearly every turn in Moscow, one can see the golden domes peeking out over the rooftops and hear church bells peeling through the streets.
We traveled to Moscow from Saint Petersburg on a fast-speed train. I have not traveled much on other European trains so I would not be able to compare but definitely, it was above my expectations. The cleanliness, the friendly staff, and the delicious food, it is surely an experience to cherish for a long. Initially, we did face problem at the station carrying our heavy luggage to the train but once we got on the train, I would say the journey was smooth like butter 😉
At the Moscow station, the chaos was like any other big city railway station. That is the advantage of traveling to large cities like Moscow, it treats you no special. In small cities or tourist places, one feels being pampered as a tourist being take care of from the time you step in. But Big cities, force you to come out of your comfort zones.
Our ‘Moscow’ experience was no lesser than Saint Petersburg. The only difference, if Saint Petersburg was ‘History Alive’, here we could feel Russia of the Present Time – powerful, big, and majestic.
So, what are the most important places to see in Moscow?
Of course, Kremlin and Red Square,
The power play starts right here at the Kremlin and Red Square. The heart of Russia’s capital, Red Square is arguably Moscow’s most visited attraction. The cobblestone square is surrounded by beautiful architecture and is the place where most of the country’s history unfolded.
Red Square is surrounded by unforgettable sites such as the Kremlin, Saint Basil’s Cathedral, Lenin’s Mausoleum, GUM mall, and other celebrated attractions.
Whenever we lost the way, we will simply take a taxi or bus, and come to the Red Square. 😉
Saint Basil’s Cathedral with the glistening rainbow onion-shaped domes. After Red Square, this monument is most visited by tourists.
Lenin’s Mausoleum glass sarcophagus with the embalmed body of the legendary Russian revolutionary, Vladimir Lenin. First opened to the public in August 1924, the Mausoleum attracts around 2.5 million visitors every year. One must be prepared to stand in the queue to get into the illustrious building but it’s worth the effort.
Armoury Chamber in Kremlin
The Armoury Chamber, a treasure house, is a part of the Grand Kremlin Palace’s complex. The museum collections were based on the precious items that had been preserved for centuries in the tsars’ treasury and the Patriarch’s vestry. It has more than four thousand items of applied art made in Russia, Europe, and Eastern countries in the 4th to early 20th century. One can easily imagine the richness of that Era.
GUM Mall
Built-in 1890, and located close to Red Square, Russia’s main department store, GUM’s stunning interior houses a variety of high-end boutiques. With the iconic red flower spread outside the mall, the glass-roofed arcade offers a variety of classy eateries. One must not miss out on the light decoration at night.
Arbat Street
An elegant historic street right in the city center, Arbat is one of Moscow’s most visited spots by tourists. With lots of cafés and restaurants, live music performers and caricaturists, book shops, as well as souvenir shops and tattoo salons, monuments, and a theatre.
Bolshoi Theatre
Opened in 1856, the legendary Bolshoi Theatre is one of the best places in Moscow for an evening of entertainment. The classical performing arts in Moscow are still among the best in the world. Though we could not see the show as tickets were fully booked for all the days we were there, I would recommend it as a must-see.
Moskva River
For me, other than Red Square and Kremlin, the next takeaway from Moscow is the Moskva river. We enjoyed the cruise ride. We could see the old part of Moscow, the historic buildings on the side of the river. We walked on the bank of the river for hours.
The Floating Bridge over the Moskva River
This bridge is within walking distance from Red Square. The architecture of the bridge is very unique, it does not cross the Moskva River but enters it in the shape of a “V” or of a boomerang. From the bridge, one can get a great view of the city, and the ideal place to take a selfie.
The State Tretyakov Gallery History
This museum is the national treasury of Russian fine art and one of the greatest museums in the world. The Gallery’s collection consists entirely of Russian art and artists who have made а contribution to the history of Russian art or been closely connected with it. The collection contains more than 180 000 works of painting, sculpture, and graphics, created throughout the centuries by successive generations of Russian artists, If you are an art lover and want to know the history of Russia, then a visit to this Museum is must.
We traveled across the City on our own. The hop on- hop off buses are easily available, and also Taxis. Though Taxis are a challenge if you do not understand the Russian language. The Google interpreter is indeed a blessing. I realised.
Another important mode of transport is the Metro. The city has good metro coverage, one can travel to any part of the city. It is considered a tourist attraction in itself.
Moscow entices tourists with a perfect blend of Modern, Cultural and Historical heritage. People worldwide come to witness Moscow’s splendours and fall for the charm of the capital of one of the most powerful countries in the world.
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Rakhi Sunil Kumar