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2 days in Helsinki, Finland!!

2-days in Helsinki, Finland!!

Finland….doesn’t the name sounds exciting to hear? Thinking of it was a dreamy winterland destination cladded with neat snow forest and peaks or feeling the breath of chill air in the freezing temperature while walking on the shining streets in the dark chilly climate, well that’s a feeling I always had about Finland. But the best feeling actually comes when you finally know that you have got the chance to see the amazing country in real from your own eyes. Yes, it was happening to me and was so excited! The idea to visit Finland actually started from a fellow travel blogger “Viivi“ of whom I used to be a regular follower and use to see some amazing articles about her country Finland. So the unresistant travel lust finally pushed me forward to make a small trip to Helsinki and also got the chance to meet the fellow blogger in person as well!

On board the Finnair flight when I was about to touch down Helsinki, the weather was partly cloudy, very little sunny and the views of snow-land Finland from the top was just so mesmerizing. I could really felt the sense of excitement and happiness in my own eyes!!

View of Helsinki From Finnair
View of Helsinki From Finnair
View of Helsinki From Finnair
View of Helsinki From Finnair

Helsinki Day: 1

Finally I landed at Heslinki Vantaa Airport, after clearing through customs I went straight ahead to tourist information center to purchase 2 day regional pass which cost in total for 18 Euros. The best deal about this pass it works 48 hours from the first time of activation and it includes the airport region as well so you end up saving good money on Airport drop from your accommodation and includes almost all public transportation. Traveling in Helsinki is pretty much easy, in case you get lost, people are very much helpful to guide you to the right path. I was headed straight towards my hotel “Holiday Inn Helsinki – West Ruholahti” which was hardly 2 km from the city center.

After Checking into my hotel room, my desperation levels were just increasing every second moment to explore the Helsinki City. I was tired and exhausted, but the travel bug was still alive! So I got freshen up in few minutes and left to explore the city heading straight towards the downtown Kamppi city center. Kamppi is basically a commercial cum residential area which have been designed by various Architects throughout the time consisting of supermarkets, restaurants, shops, nightclubs, underground subway station, bus terminus and even high-class office and residential apartments.

Kamppi, Narinkka Square
Kamppi, Narinkka Square
Kamppi Chapel Or Chapel Of Silence
Kamppi Chapel Or Chapel Of Silence

Since it was around Christmas time, I was lucky to see the decorations at every second corner. Kamppi being the busiest area of Helsinki, one could easily see an active life all around. But out of this busy life, kampii has something special stored in its vicinity. Its a small Chapel, the architecture of which dominates the atmosphere but as soon as you step inside, it is a perfect place intended to calm down and just experience the utmost moment of silence. When I was sitting inside at one of the bench, I felt a moment of meditation in the air, the purity of thoughts as if you can feel connected to yourself in that moment!

After leaving chapel, I placed the city map in my pocket and went ahead to explore where the city takes me. For a moment I thought could be silly but it was the best things to do then. So I just walked along the city streets beautifully decorated with shining chandeliers, mesmerizing boulevards and parks, lively restaurants where people were just celebrating the company of their friends and mates and I was just enjoying the moment passing by every second corner.

Helsinki City During Christmas!

Helsinki During Christmas
Helsinki During Christmas
Helsinki During Christmas
Helsinki During Christmas
Helsinki During Christmas
Helsinki During Christmas

After walking for couple of kilometers randomly crossing the streets, circumfering my way through market square, I went ahead to the famous “Senate Square”. Though most of it was closed by this time, but the view even then looks so amazing!

Senate Square, Helsinki
Senate Square, Helsinki
Senate Square, Helsinki

Senate Square is also one of the major tourist spot in Helsinki and is dominated by attractions like Helsinki cathedral, Government palace, Sederholm House and university of Helsinki. Although I was tired but I decided to climb up those broad flight of steps in the main entrance in the front cathedral which were so steep it felt as I am actually climbing a cliff up top! It was windy, cold, freezing but the feeling to be there at the top in the front of that grand architectural beauty was just amazing. I sat there for couple of minutes watching the grand scenery of nightlife, isn’t it actually interesting sometimes? Just to experience the life in a city by yourself? Well it might felt lonely but I think it can be one of those best moments of your travel! 🙂 ..After Senate square it was time to head back to hotel and get some good sleep as next morning I plan to visit the famous”Suomenlinna Island”.

Helsinki Day: 2

But wait, let me rewind a bit…..the best part of this mini Island journey was the fact that I was not doing it alone! Yes, so I finally met the fellow blogger (whom I mentioned earlier) and we decided to go ahead to Island together. Well traveling solo is always fun, but to travel with someone who share the same craziness as you do is sometimes more fun that can you imagine! Suomenlinna built as a vast fortress is considered as a “World Heritage Site” by UNESCO and is situated on the outskirts of Helsinki.  It is connected by short ride from Ferry which was actually included in my regional pass, but although when we went to check it was more like a free entry as they there was no one there to check! 😀

On board the ferry heading towards the Island, the super chill feel of the air was rushing through my face, immense feeling of crazy cold was tingling through my body, but I couldn’t resist any single moment to enjoy that perfect beauty of the nature all around me.

Evening view of Suomenlinna in Helsinki, Finland
Evening view of Suomenlinna in Helsinki, Finland
Suomenlinna fortress - part of UNESCO world heritage
Suomenlinna fortress - part of UNESCO world heritage

Once reaching the Island, the view towards the fortress was kind of astonishing! Although being December month, most of the shops and restaurants were close and the island itself seems very less inhabited with only handful of tourist. But even then walk through the island was much peaceful and felt so great!

A bridge in Suomenlinna
A bridge in Suomenlinna

Following these small bridges on the Island through our way to cobbled road we wandered around and saw some old little houses built in traditional style half of them seems to inhabited at that time, some old fortress building which now converted into tourist sites. There were also militarily facilities with various cannons and large gun which might be dating from different era. But the thing which I found most interesting was the landscape “Hobbit land”  (well that’s what I call them), which looks nice and appealing and really blends along with the beauty of the sea. After climbing some few up and down landscape terrains, we finally made it to the edge to see perfect picture of the sea where sun was about to set down.

Hobbit Landscape, Suomenlinna
Hobbit Landscape, Suomenlinna
Hobbit Landscape, Suomenlinna
Hobbit Landscape, Suomenlinna

We went along few different sites to catch the glimpse of the fascinating sea views before heading back to the city. Suomenlinna in all could say was one of my best experience of Helsinki so far, the peaceful island filled the immense beauty of nature consisting of historical elements and traditional houses, I think that is one all need for a perfect tourist destination!

Suomenlinna Sea View
Sunset View from Suomenlinna Island

My trip finally came to the end and I was all ready next day to take my flight to Budapest, Hungary which was my next stop! Standing at the airport before my departure gate few minutes before boarding time, holding my trolley hand bag looking outside towards the window, it was about to get snowy, looking at the spectacular view, recalling all the moments I spend in last 2 days, I wished and hope for a moment, when would I get the chance to visit this beautiful country again?!!

Vaanta view from Helsinki Airport
Vaanta view from Helsinki Airport

Have you been to Helsinki? How was your experience? Or Do you wish to visit there sometime? Feel free to leace your comments below! 🙂

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Finland Helsinki Travel Architecture Travel Blog Travel Destinations

An architecture masterpiece in Helsinki Central – “Kampi Chapel of silence”

An architecture masterpiece in Helsinki Central - "Kampi Chapel of silence"

Earlier this year, when I was doing a small trip around Scandinavia, my last stop was Helsinki. Without any travel maps or pre-set idea to venture places and with spontaneous mind-set, I took a train directly to Helsinki central. As I was finding my way to the entrance of the Kampi shopping center, I stumbled upon of what I would refer to as “the spectacular yet simple architectural masterpiece” within the most unexpected busiest part of Helsinki. A ‘Chapel” whose sole purpose is to relax and calm yourself and have the perfect moment of silence!

Situated on the Narinkka Square in central Helsinki, the oval shape building has a unique yet challenging design with respect to the entire planned urban space all around. Surrounded by upscale shopping centers, restaurants/ cafes, hotels and office buildings with known architectural design configuration, this building stands out as an exemplary mark on central urban fabric of the city!

Kampii Chapel, Helsinki
Kampii Chapel, Helsinki
Kampii Chapel, Helsinki
Kampii Chapel, Helsinki

The curved wooden facades with its oval shapes encompasses and flows as if it on one side it emerges out to be in cylindrical form while on the other perspective its seems to expands horizontally.

Kampii Chapel Facade
Kampii Chapel Facade
Kampii Chapel Facade
Kampii Chapel Facade

Every wooden curve is beautifully crafted in a way that it gives the concept of how a building flows into the city. Not only the design itself, but to convince to build such a religious building in downtown Helsinki is something to be admired and all the credit goes to their architects K2S Architects Ltd.”

Kampii Chapel Plan View
Kampii Chapel Plan View

The concept behind the shape was basically crafted by considering the existing point of urban condition prevalent in the Helsinki downtown and with swirling circulation of people and surrounding spaces as well the neighboring city views, the shape of the building perfectly blends itself within the vicinity of the premises.

The chapel internal design is however completely different from the outside world occurring around this building. Not only you feel disconnected with its amazing acoustic configuration in the utmost silence but the concept of visual silence and appeal also plays a very important role in its design. The idea to escape from the super-hectic life of the city and to sit and relax for couple of minutes or more inside a very peaceful space is like a perfect meditation in-itself and I was lucky to have this beautiful unexpected experience.

Helsinki Chapel of silence interier view
Helsinki Chapel of silence interier view
Helsinki Chapel of silence interier view
Helsinki Chapel of silence interier view

The roof of the chapel is in form of convex shape with peripheral window which goes around the chapel walls. The reflection of lights in my observation must varies along different times. However, interesting thing to actually notice is that there isn’t any direct light provided inside the building. All which you see is in the reflection of internal facades and ceiling.

Helsinki Chapel of silence
Helsinki Chapel of silence Roof view from inside

One of the interesting features I have read about this design of this building was that its final finishing actually uses “Nano technology” where the varnish particles penetrates the wooden cells structure much deeper. The wood texture however is selected locally where the external facade is made up of Finnish spruce wood and the inner wood used is of British trees wood knows as “Alder” which is very lighter in tone compared to the outside facade and looks really appealing to eyes in that perfect peaceful environment.

I believe the main idea of architecture is all about innovation, to try something new which is unique but also blends out with its surrounding built-environment. I have seen many amazing architecture designs in my past years of traveling around the world but to feel connected with something which touches your heart is I believe one on the finest examples of architecture visualization which has come to existence!

Have you ever had any similar experience where you were emotionally connected and mesmerized by the architectural beauty of the building? Feel free to share anything about it! 🙂

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