Pilatus

Guarding Lucerne like a massive canopy, Pilatus is a cluster of peaks that go by the name of Tomlishorn, Oberhaupt and Esel. If legends are to be believed, this 2132 m mountain was once home to dragons that possessed the powers of healing. Some even say that the Roman Governor Pontius Pilatus is buried in what was once Lake Pilatus. Accessed by what is supposed to be the steepest cog railway on this planet, Pilatus has a huge rope park, 2 hotels and as many as 7 restaurants. On the clearest of days, Lucerne’s home mountain offers wonderful views of a whopping 73 Alpine peaks. The hiking trails lining this Swiss drawcard are picturesque and the air has a therapeutic quality to it.
Take a boat from Lucerne to the Alpnachstad Railway Station from where you can embark on the historic cogwheel that gets you to the peak. The journey is replete with excellent views of meadows and rock walls and is around 40 min long. There is also a cable car facility from Kriens, a town located on the outskirts of Lucerne. Known as the ‘Dragon Ride’, this gondola takes less than 4 min to get to the summit and therefore imparts the feeling of flying over the mountain tops. Those with a Swiss Travel Pass can enjoy the beauty of Pilatus for free!