Singer Neeti Mohan tells why the spa town of Altaussee is worth ditching Austria's crowded cities for

When songstress Neeti Mohan (Kaun Nachdi from Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety) went to Austria for a holiday, she ditched main cities and headed to the spa town, Altaussee in Styria instead. The place is home to salt mine Salzwelten, peaks like Loser and Tressenstein, cultural landscape and more. From long walks to swimming trips, trekking and listening to folk musicians, it was a rejuvenating trip for her. Over to Neeti...

Tranquillity tales    

I’m someone who enjoys quiet places, small towns and the countryside, and appreciates natural beauty. So, I stayed at Altaussee, which is approximately three hours away from Vienna. It was replete with scenic beauty and the air there is so fresh.

Long walks and more 

For me, the most exciting part of my stay was the fact that my hotel overlooked the beautiful Lake Altaussee, whose water is so pure that you can drink out of it! I used to take long walks of 7-8 km around the lake. I did a lot of trekking, hiking, cooking, spa sessions, yoga and also swimming trips.

Music in the air

I also enjoyed an evening with Austrian folk music artistes. I listened to these two musicians for almost an hour. They played traditional Austrian tunes and shared stories about these folk songs. Some of the pieces broke the laws of music — they didn’t follow a rhythm or pattern. It was most interesting to know how music is derived from situations, from the place where you stay and the political scenario of the country. It was an amazing trip that I’m rejoicing even after returning to Mumbai!

— As told to Dhaval Roy