Margaret Island(MARGIT-SZIGET) was always high on our list of the places which we were to visit in Budapest .Its a 2.5 km and 500m wide Island that stretches between Árpád Bridge and Margit Bridge in the embrace of the Danube.(you will get to know these bridges in the first hour of your stay in Budapest !!!) .In the Middle Ages ,the Margaret Islands was called the Island Rabbits simply because there were many rabbits there .The Island received its current name after Saint Margaret (1242-1270), the daughter of King Bela IV ,who lived in the Dominican convent on the island .King Bela vowed to raise his daughter as a nun if Hungary survived the Mongol invasion .Ruins of this 13th century Dominican Church and Convent can still be seen .We went there and got ourselves photographed.The Church was destroyed during the Ottoman Wars ,and the monks and nuns fled the place .
We decided to take the boat ride to the island .There are buses that run to the point that connects the island with the mainland –but we wanted more of the Danube after having experienced it the previous night while cruising on it .So we took a ferry to the island .To add charm and happiness –we shared the boat with a group of schoolchildren in the age group of 5 -6 years !! As children are all over the world – the moment the boat started- out came their goodies .Two school teachers supervised them – teachers are also the same everywhere.!!They were firm and loving in equal quantity !!.We reached the island after about 45 minutes .The Danube runs still – so it was a nice comfortable ride .
Once on the islands, we picked up our cycles and started to move around the.
We started from the musical fountain near the Japanese garden .
Every hour you can listen to different Medieval-inspired Hungarian melodies as the fountain spots water .
From spring till end of autumn you can sip drinking water from the three small fountains created on the ground floor.
The 35-m wide pool with its 1000 sqm water surface is one of the biggest public fountains in Europe.The water jets are spouted as high as 10 m .I must hasten to add –it is nothing compared to the awesome musical fountains which sit at the base of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai !!.
The cycles were fabulous .The last time I rode one was at Ahmedabad for a cyclthon ,but had found it so uncomfortable ,that I gave up the attempt .But the ones at Margaret Islands –well I could cycle on it around the world !!
Once on the islands, we picked up our cycles and started to move around the.
We started from the musical fountain near the Japanese garden .
Every hour you can listen to different Medieval-inspired Hungarian melodies as the fountain spots water .
From spring till end of autumn you can sip drinking water from the three small fountains created on the ground floor.
The 35-m wide pool with its 1000 sqm water surface is one of the biggest public fountains in Europe.The water jets are spouted as high as 10 m .I must hasten to add –it is nothing compared to the awesome musical fountains which sit at the base of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai !!.
The cycles were fabulous .The last time I rode one was at Ahmedabad for a cyclthon ,but had found it so uncomfortable ,that I gave up the attempt .But the ones at Margaret Islands –well I could cycle on it around the world !!
 |
| In front of the Japanese Garden in the Margaret Island |
We also saw the ruins of the Franciscan Priory.
They built their convent in the middle of the island towards the end of the 13th century.
In the middle of the island stands its the tallest building, an octagonal Water Tower (Víztorony), built in 1911.
After sunset the fountain is illuminated by 250 colourful LED lamps making it one of the No. 1 romantic spot in Budapest.
The Margaret Island is a must see spot in Budapest .Its is green with hundreds of species of trees .It has lovely cycle trails that run through it –some take you to the ruins and some to the banks of the Danube and some to beautifully grassed meadows .There are a number of small cafeterias which sell lovely and fresh goodies and beer ,coffee ,milk ,tea .One can take a ride in a battery car .You see people jogging on a track that runs around the island .
The best part of the ride to the Margaret island is the boat ride .One passes all the landmarks of Budapest , once you get onto it from Pier No .6 .
It’s a piece of paradise –even in a city as beautiful as Budapest. A word of caution –if you are more inclined towards shopping malls and shops – don’t go there .!! You will find trees ,fountains ,cyclists ,parks , ,birds and good looking men and women .But no shops !!Only romantic cafes
They built their convent in the middle of the island towards the end of the 13th century.
In the middle of the island stands its the tallest building, an octagonal Water Tower (Víztorony), built in 1911.
After sunset the fountain is illuminated by 250 colourful LED lamps making it one of the No. 1 romantic spot in Budapest.
The Margaret Island is a must see spot in Budapest .Its is green with hundreds of species of trees .It has lovely cycle trails that run through it –some take you to the ruins and some to the banks of the Danube and some to beautifully grassed meadows .There are a number of small cafeterias which sell lovely and fresh goodies and beer ,coffee ,milk ,tea .One can take a ride in a battery car .You see people jogging on a track that runs around the island .
The best part of the ride to the Margaret island is the boat ride .One passes all the landmarks of Budapest , once you get onto it from Pier No .6 .
It’s a piece of paradise –even in a city as beautiful as Budapest. A word of caution –if you are more inclined towards shopping malls and shops – don’t go there .!! You will find trees ,fountains ,cyclists ,parks , ,birds and good looking men and women .But no shops !!Only romantic cafes
No comments:
Post a Comment