Eastside story

Santosh Padhi

Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer, Taproot India
Place: Belgrade, Serbia

Flanked by rivers, Belgrade is rich in natural beauty, wartime history and exciting nightlife

Why One of the oldest cities in Europe, Belgrade lies on two international waterways, at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, which surround it on three sides. Because of this, it is fittingly referred to as the Gateway to the Balkans and the Door to Central Europe. The city has an interesting look to it because most of it was destroyed during the World War II. The architecture is a blend of modern and wartime styles.

The 24 hour layover

I was in Belgrade judging an event a few weeks back, which is the only time I have been there. An absolute must-see in the city is the Saint Sava Church, which is called a temple. Any huge church in the city is called ‘temple’. This is a Serbian Orthodox church and the largest orthodox church in the world. While construction began in 1935, it was stopped during the World War II. The Germans used the basic-built church to park tankers. Construction then resumed in 1985. It is said, it will take 17 more years to complete this giant. It is a magnificent building. I would like to come back and see it once the church is finished.

Also check out The Royal Palace, built in the Serbian-Byzantine style in 1924 by King Alexander I (the grandfather of the current ruler, Prince Alexander). It has more than a dozen rooms, each decorated with paintings from the Royal collections. The royal family’s private chambers are located on the first floor. In the basement, there is a Room of Whispers, which was once used for confidential conversations. For complete discretion, occupants usually turned on the water fountain outside and the sound of the water would drown their voices out.

Tips for the good traveller

The city has many theatres, museums, monuments and opera houses. It boasts of a deep and fissured cultural life. The beaches and rivers attract sunbathers, sports enthusiasts and partygoers. There are hundreds of floating restaurants. Each of them has a wonderful character to them.

Tips for the good-time traveller

The nightclubs here are in a different league altogether, with most of them taking real care to complement their interiors with special lighting. Definitely try the local drink, Slivovitz (Plum Brandy, right), a fragrant, light golden coloured drink. It is tradition to serve it the moment you are at the dinner table and also when you leave. A swig makes you thirsty for more. I would know! I downed a big one.


As told to Biprorshree Das