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6 skywalks you shouldn’t miss
TITLIS CLIFF WALK,
Mount Titlis, Switzerland
It is believed to be the highest suspension bridge in the world, at a
height of 3,000m above sea level. One needs nerves just as strong as the
steel cables, of which this 100-metre long and just 1-metre wide walkway is
made of! Once on the bridge, you probably have the best view of the Swiss
Alps. It is advisable to look around than look below...
AURLAND LOOKOUT,
Sogn og Fjordane, Norway
How about parking at the end of a hilly road and walking over the
valley like a swimmer atop a diving board? The view is vertigo-inducing
even for the bravest and not many actually walk till the end. Those who do
walk the entire stretch (till the frameless glass structure on the edge)
get to see the best — and the scariest — view of the valley.
GRAND CANYON SKYWALK,
Canyon National Park, Arizona, US
Suspended at an altitude of more than 4,700 feet, this glass walkway is
definitely amongst the most vertigo-inducing sites across the globe. Stroll
through the museum, lounge, souvenir shop and finally step out in the open
to soak in the unmatched view of the canyon. Since many find a walk on this
horseshoe-shaped bridge too scary, they usually sit back and relax at open
cafes and bars nearby, to catch the same adrenaline pumping view.
MONTEVERDE RAINFOREST SKYWALK,
Monteverde, Costa Rica
A major ecotourism destination of the country and the South American
continent, walking along tree tops in a misty rainforest is an unmatched
experience. This 2.5-km walk on a network of hanging bridges offers you a
chance to see over 100 animals, 400 birds, thousands of insects and over
2,500 plant varieties! “In the tropics, trees and plants stretch upwards as
high as they can, to get some sun, which barely reaches the forest floor.
So we got a better view of the forest life from aerial hanging bridges in
Costa Rica than from below,” recalls Payal Jain, who recently visited the
place.
TIANMEN MOUNTAIN SKYWALK,
Zhangjiajie, Hunan, China
Soak in breathtaking views of the Hunan province while treading on this
walkway at the height of over 4,700 feet above sea level. What really takes
the breath away is the walkway itself with rocky mountain slopes for
support on one side, deep valley on the other and a 3 feet wide and 2.5
inches thick passage made of see-through glass. A walk across this passage
is rightly termed ‘Walk of Faith.’ “It is certainly not a path for the
faint-hearted; you have a sheer rock face on one side and a 4,000 ft drop
on the other!” shares housewife Aprajita Anil, who undertook this adventure
with her husband last year.
AUGRABIES WATERFALLS
WALKWAYS,
Augrabies National Park, Northern Cape, South
Africa
A 5 km wooden track trail takes you around the waterfall where Orange
River falls into a 240 m deep and 18 km long gorge. Locals call it the
place of great noise and various viewing decks offering a first-hand
experience of deafening noise of water falling are the sights and sounds
you wouldn’t easily forget.
CHECKLIST
No open footwear! Wear non-slippery and covered
clothes for all these walks.
Loose items such as cameras, sunglasses and mobile
phones are not allowed for open skywalks. Usually guides are equipped with
cameras to click you.
People under influence of drugs or alcohol are not
permitted. The heights are enough to cast a dizzy spell.
Do not hide any medical condition at the time of
starting. For people with height or health-related problems, indoor
observation decks are advised.
Book tickets in advance. They are not only cheaper
than on-the-spot ones but also save a lot of time.
CITYSCAPE Some skywalks and observatory decks do not require us to
drive to interiors of a country to catch the breathtaking views. For
travellers sticking to prominent cities, skywalks atop these buildings are
equally exciting. Harness up and start treading in the sky!
EdgeWalk, CN Tower, Ontario, Canada: You need guts of steel while
you explore Ontario from a height of 356 m with just a harness for support.
Amongst the highest walks in the world, every step of this ‘hands-free’
walk on the five-feet ledge is heart pounding yet fascinating. OBSERVATION
DECKS
Canton Tower, Guangzhou, China: Declared as the
highest observation deck in the world, a walk along this deck lets you
watch over the modern dragon kingdom from a height of 488 m.
100th Floor, Shanghai World Financial Center,
Shanghai, China: Fancy walking on air! That’s what it seems like here,
as you walk on a glass floor at a height of 474 m.
At The Top, Burj Khalifa, Dubai: Hop on to
the lift at the reception that travels at a speed of 10 m per second and
transports you to a height of 452 m on the 124th floor. “As the door opens,
the glass wall observatory offers a daring view of this desert wonder.
Night-time view with a clear sky is a unique experience,” says Junaid Ali
Khan, a Delhi-based marketing executive.
91st Floor, Taipei 101, Taipei, Taiwan: Wonder
how a bustling business hub looks from a height of 392 m? Head here to find
out. The outdoor observatory has ample space to walk and explore.
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