Banff Gondola
Abhishek ManiktalaAbhishek Maniktala|Guest Contributor|THINGS TO DO, BANFF Updated : Dec 12, 2016, 04.49 PM IST
Abhishek Maniktala
The indelible urge to wander, sets forth plans to some well trodden and some not so well trodden paths. The decade and a half passion for traveling has built up a healthy repertoire that spans North American cities, exquisite Canadian wilderness, extensive Europe chronicling historic metropolis, resort towns, Aegean sea & Mediterranean sea towns, majestic alps as well as medieval towns and villages, urban Australia, a tryst with New Zealand’s cities, towns and untamed wilderness, the best of South Africa and a sojourn in Asian countries. The glacier treks of New Zealand, lakes of the Banff National Park (Canada), the medieval towns near Florence, the photo-worthy bridge city of Ronda (Spain) are just some ventures whose memories kindle a desire to write!
At 5 minutes drive from town, with Banff Upper Spring as its neighbour, sits the Banff Gondola, your aerial drive over the Sulphur Mountain. You must take some warm clothing as the temperature drops significantly with the steep ascent, and do purchase the ‘The Ultimate Explorer combo,’ with Banff Gondola as one of the inclusions, this package from Brewster comes pretty thrifty. The Gondola station houses ticketing sales, gift shops, and a Starbucks Café, and I suggest you fuel up before your flight. The Gondolas with its glass walls, can accommodate four, with the attendants more than willing to let seats go vacant for a couple’s privacy.
Your 8 minute Voyage to the summit of the Sulphur Mountain is replete with dramatic visuals of the ubiquitous dense forests & wildlife. The Mountain-top views let you have a literal bird’s eye view of the enormous Rockies and the Banff town. And of course the visuals of the meandering course of the Bow River, seems like the handiwork of a famed Canvas artist. A couple of Restaurants at the summit, besides a savoury meal, do provide cover from inclement weather conditions. Do tread the Sulphur Mountain Boardwalk to the Sanson’s Peak, a walk along the cliff, and hope that the gracious clouds are generous enough to unveil the true visage of Rockies, even if momentarily!
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