The Very Many Shades of Copenhagen

Hi everyone! I just returned from a rejuvenating trip I took to Copenhagen, orchestrated by my childhood friend, and I have to say- it was amazing! The crisp breeze that greets you when you step out of Kobenhavn H, the bright idiosyncratic colors smeared across old-time-y buildings, and the rhythmic symphony of cyclists crossing the street, truly constitute the city's soul. Because my friend had prepared an intricate travel plan with quite a few places, we were able to cover most of the city's attractions in less than a week, and yes this meant that we would come back home absolutely exhausted but our phones would be filled with innumerable aesthetic photos. 

The best part about traveling to Copenhagen was that it was only a bus ride away because it is separated from Sweden only by the Øresund Bridge, which runs through the Øresund Strait between the two countries. There is a lone road making its way through the majestic ocean that threatens to overpower it, but there is absolute stillness in the waves when a bus gently wobbles across. It is one of those moments that makes you cherish human ingenuity and innovation. 

I really enjoyed visiting the city because of the sheer variety of places it offered and having my friend by me when running to the bus stop when the driver refused to wait longer and having a long conversation while glancing at the city from one of its tall towers, made it much more magical! Definitely, visiting Copenhagen should be on your bucket list :) 

And now, without much ado, here are some places that capture the essence of Copenhagen and showcase the diversity it portrays! 

Copenhagen is the birthplace of visionaries like Niels Bohr- one of the founders of Quantum Physics, Tycho Brahe- the brains behind the laws of planetary motion, Hans Christian Ørsted- the first person to ever mention electromagnetism, and many more. 

The first place we visited was the Round Tower or Rundetaarn in Danish, which is a 17th-century astronomical observatory and continues to be one of the oldest functioning observatories in the world. It is located in central Copenhagen and boasts amazing vintage architecture adorning the adept telescope sitting right at the top of the tower. What makes the Round Tower so fascinating is that there are tiny details you encounter when you start climbing it like a bell loft where the Trinity Church's bells were rung, a library built in 1657 but now used for exhibitions, and even a very interesting medieval lavatory. 

Credits: Castle.men

Yes, you might have seen this before :) 

Seeing the old rooms of the astronomers who worked there in the 1700s made me want to go back in time and exclaim to them all the outstanding discoveries we've made today and how their work has been pioneering and pivotal! 

And of course, the belle of the ball, the telescope room at the top of the tower decorated with constellations, and the lights of the city. We spent a lot of time breathing the scientific energy that filled the room and jumped in awe when we saw the big red spot on Jupiter and its biggest moons. 

Don't forget to say goodbye to the Tycho Brahe statue before you leave <3 

Next, the Niels Bohr Archive. This place was a literal dream come true. Quantum Physics is one of my deepest passions, and visiting one of the places that nurtures this field, was no less than divine. The Niels Bohr Archive is part of the Niels Bohr Institute, at the University of Copenhagen. It is not a museum, but rather a library of sorts, commemorating the life and work of Niels Bohr and his colleagues. To visit, we had to email the place and join a guided tour that happens only once a week. But the archivist who showed us around was absolutely remarkable and was meticulous in his research and explanation. He told us some intriguing details about Bohr's life, about how he helped rescue almost 75% of the scientists who worked on the Manhattan Project, from World War 2 and the holocaust, his terrible ability to speak and write concisely, and a funny anecdote about how the Titanic sinking led to Bohr marrying his wife in the townhall instead of the church! 

We saw the classroom where Bohr taught and graced by every key figure of physics in the 20th century, other than Einstein ironically. The archivist mentioned that every part of the classroom has remained untouched other than the fact that there has now been a projector installed! It is truly the sanctuary of genius and I was absolutely amazed to be walking in the halls where Max Planck, Paul Dirac, Homi Bhabha, Lise Meitner, Werner Heisenberg, and many more. 

Do you recognize the faces?

Bohr's fireplace, study, and classroom!

Denmark is a constitutional monarchy, so there are a lot of palaces and regal places to visit, many of them definitely spiked my interest. Recently, King Frederik X ascended the throne after his mother Margrethe II abdicated, and because of this, Copenhagen is bathed in royal fervor. The three beautiful palaces we visited reminded me of the Scottish moors described in Wuthering Heights and the dark academia buildings in Downton Abbey. Amalienborg Palace is the official residence of the Danish royal family. It is guarded by sprightly soldiers decked in red gear and bearskin, similar to the soldiers of Britain who march through the gardens. However since we visited in peak February, all the vibrant flowers were only thin sticks embedded in gray ground. 

Amalienborg and Rosenborg Castle feature remarkable museums filled with the most exquisite riches, paintings, and chandeliers and make one understand why people want to be rich. One interesting part we found, is the Order of the Elephant which is Denmark's highest rank of chivalry, that finds its origins in the carriages on elephants used in India back in the day! 

We also visited the Christiansborg Palace, which turned out to be an interesting ride! We entered a beautiful building assuming it was the palace and then found ourselves in a security check that said 'Welcome to the Danish Parliament', hitched a ride on a very long elevator then emerged in a room that displayed pigeons using a projector. 

It turns out that we were in the right place! The Christiansborg Palace is home to the Parliament, the Prime Minister's Office, and the supreme court. The original palace had burnt down in a fire and hence was rebuilt. We had reached the tower of the castle, which in the olden days was home to a lot of pigeons (hence the projections!) and surrounded by many Greek-like sculptures. The Tower is the highest in Copenhagen, a staggering 106 m, and gives an awe-inspiring view of the city! 

For a 101 on Danish history and development, I highly recommend visiting the Museum of Copenhagen and Nationalmuseet which are right next to each other. The Museum of Copenhagen was more centric towards the history of the city, basically about how it grew from a meager harbor town to a very diverse and advanced place in the world. The National Museum was a history lover's paradise with detailed exhibits on Denmark's history in each period, and it was so vast that we couldn't cover it completely! So definitely recommend having a bite before immersing yourself in the museum :) 

One exhibit to look out for in Nationalmuseet is the one on Serampore. Denmark has had colonies in India in Tharangambadi (Tamil Nadu), Serampore (West Bengal), and the Nicobar Islands. In this exhibit, they tried to recreate how Serampore looks today and had flyers of JEE coaching institutes, chai stands, cricket, etc. Definitely felt like home :) 

Copenhagen is a city of color. It has a ton of art museums, but unfortunately, we couldn't visit any of them. However, I have to say that I've never seen a city with as many sculptures as Copenhagen. In every nook and cranny, a statue of a royal member or a mythical creature pops up, and all look absolutely glamorous basking in the dusky daylight that emerges from the sea. The world-famous Little Mermaid statue, inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's story nestles quietly upon one rock in a beach and stares placidly into the waters. Her stillness and tranquility are inspiring! 

If you walk a few meters from the place, you will come across many more beautiful oxidized statues that make the journey feel like a treasure hunt! 

I was also surprised to see a massive statue of Winston Churchill and a park called Churchillparken. Turns out, this was built in 1965 to commemorate the man and the British assistance in the liberation of Denmark during World War II.

And of course, how can I conclude this post without mentioning Nyhavn, the first picture that comes up when you google Copenhagen with its colorful and quirky buildings! The range of colors the Danes use to paint their buildings and monuments is definitely vast and it is a feast for the eyes! We also ate some delicious waffles and Æbleskiver, which is basically a Danish snack made by frying dough at one of the cafes there, and it was heavenly! 

Well, that's all. I hope you enjoyed reading this post! I loved documenting my time in Copenhagen, and I truly hope to go back soon, and explore more places in the city and in Denmark!

Have you visited Denmark? Have you been anywhere in Scandinavia or Europe? Do you like Quantum Physics? Fan of Niels Bohr? Which is a palace that you have visited? What is the craziest fact about Medieval Europe you know? Have you tried Æbleskiver? Any tips to make my writing better? Are you a blogger too? 

Tell me in the comments! 😁

P.S. Thank you Anagha for organizing this! <3