– atop the famous Mount Monserrate

FEELING on top of the world, while it’s just an expression, can also be a reality from the peaks of Mount Monserrate which overlooks the Bogotá skyline in downtown Colombia.

At more than 10,000 feet or 3,152 metres above sea level, just east of the country’s capital, Bogotá, Mount Monserrate is one of the city’s major tourist attractions.

That Mount Monserrate dominates the city is no exaggeration, as it can be seen for miles around. And from that vantage point, one can also take in the enormity of Bogotá, a city that is home to some 10 million inhabitants.

While today Monserrate is a tourist attraction, it is also still predominantly a religious and sacred place, with many people visiting the cathedral to pay homage to El Señor Caído (the Fallen Lord).

Collectively, tourists, pilgrims and nature lovers today climb the mountain to seek peace or to offer sacrifices.

Many prefer to make the climb up the mountain on Sunday mornings, and they do so either on their knees, barefeet or blindfolded, to proclaim their faith and pray for the healing of loved ones. And when they’re done, they leave little messages of gratitude on the rock at the top of the mountain.

But Mount Monserrate can also be accessed by cable car, or by a train system that takes its many visitors from Bogotá’s La Candelaria neighbourhood high into the mountains.

The cable car was built in 1953, and consists of two cars, each of which has a seating capacity for 40 persons. The cable-car ride takes about four minutes.

The train service was introduced a bit earlier than the cable car; back in 1928 to be precise.

With a speed of 3.2 metres per second, it takes about five minutes to reach the mountain top, affording one to take in the breathtaking scenery through its glass roof.

BREATHTAKING VIEWS

And with large windows on all sides, the train also offers equally breathtaking views of the hill that contrasts with the beautiful panoramic views of the city.
While passing slowly on the crown of the tall and dense trees vegetation, one gets a feeling of direct contact between the earth and the sky.

For the intrepid who relishes a challenge, there’s always the option of walking up the mountain. With an estimated 1034 steps, it is one of the most physically demanding trails in Bogotá, because of the altitude and the tilt.

But as the old saying goes, there’s always some light at the ende of the tunnel, as at the top of the mountain, there are restaurants, a cafetería or two, shops, a marketplace and even tourist facilities.

Walking up Mount Monserrate allows one to take in the beautiful Andean scenery, which, replete with the soothing sounds of the birdlife, helps give visitors a sense of calm and direct interaction with the surrounding nature.

Facilities at the mountain top are open from dawn to dusk, while the mountain itself serves as one of the greatest places from which to watch the sun rise or set over the city.

If you’re in Bogotá, you cannot very well ignore it; Monserrate is an important symbol of the city, not from an ecological standpoint, but more from a religious one.

LA VIRGEN MORENA

Mr. Juan de Borja, former governor of Colombia, in 1640 gave the order to build a church on the mountain, in honour of Montserrate’s La Virgen Morena or the Dark Virgin whose shrine was originally located in Barcelona, Spain.

A monastery was also built atop the mountain in 1657, and inside is a painting of El Señor Caído (The Fallen Lord).
The painting is the work of local artists Pedro de Lugo and Albarracín.

If you’re interested in going to the mass, the following is the schedule: Mondays at 13:00hrs; Tuesday to Friday at 10:00hrs and 13:00hrs; Saturdays at 08:00hrs, 10:00hrs, 12:00hrs and 14:00hrs; and Sundays at 06:00hrs, 07:30hrs, 09:00hrs, 10:30hrs, 12:00hrs, 14:00hrs and 15:30hrs.

And yes! There is a vibrant tourist market and a few stores atop Mount Monserrate, where you will be able to buy yourselves some souvenirs and mouth-watering Colombian food.
It’s worth the while taking a walk all the way through the market and the food area, because at the end of it all, you will have another awesome view of the other side of the mountain.

For the beautiful landscapes, delicious dishes, the tranquility and the contact with nature are reasons, you must not miss a visit to Mount Monserrate once you’re in Colombia.