Nano Country Bypassing Nano: Liechtenstein

- 'If the globe of the earth is considered as a giant ladle of churma, Lichtenstein is a micro grain of roasted poppy on the ladle. A look at the grainy country...

- A look this way-Harshal Pushkarna

Got a world atlas at home? So before starting reading the present article, open the atlas and find the country named Liechtenstein in it. If you can find out the geographic address of Liechtenstein in just 10 seconds after opening the map, congratulations on your solid knowledge of geography!

This has to be written because the tiny country named Liechtenstein is not visible on the world map. Rather, many people are unaware of the existence of a country by that name. The reason for this is natural. Liechtenstein occupies only 160 square kilometers on the vast globe of the earth, so when you look at the face of the earth in Google Maps or in the World Atlas, the country is not noticed due to its dwarf size. Also, Lichtenstein's name does not make big headlines in the news media, as there is nothing particularly newsworthy. Every year 75 million tourists come to see different countries of Europe. Only 0.1 percent of these travel to see Liechtenstein. The remaining 99.9 percent of tourists bypass Liechtenstein considering it as a dudhpauna. Liechtenstein may remain untouched, but the country is a petite-pack of enlightening wonders for those with a thirst for knowledge. Here, let's open its closed lid and take a look inside.

Just as India has the Himalayan mountain range, Europe has a vast range of Alps. Twelve hundred kilometers long and two hundred and fifty kilometers wide, the Alps are spread over 2,00,000 square kilometers. This hilly region is known as the Alpine region. A total of eight European countries (Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Monaco, Slovenia, Switzerland and Liechtenstein) have the Alps mountains. Sandwiched between Austria and Switzerland, Liechtenstein is entirely nestled in the Alps. A nation surrounded by two or more neighboring countries is called landlocked in English. In Gujarati it is called Bhubaddha. There are about 42 such nations in the world. Examples are Nepal, Bhutan, Switzerland, Afghanistan, Vatican City etc. Liechtenstein is also a landlocked country, moreover it counts as a double landlocked nation. Double landlocked means a country whose borders are surrounded by neighboring countries that are themselves landlocked. Liechtenstein is surrounded by the borders of other countries, Switzerland and Austria. There are only two double landlocked countries in the world; One is Uzbekistan and the other is Liechtenstein.

Some other beauties of this small country are also interesting and surprising. like,

The length of Liechtenstein from the north to the south end is only 25 km. The maximum width is 12 km. If you leave on foot from any corner of the country, you will reach the border of neighboring Austria or Switzerland in a few hours. Two legs and a few days are all it takes to hump the almond-shaped Lichtenstein border-to-border.

Liechtenstein does not have its own airport. Not even the beaches. Hence, tourists visiting it have to go to Zurich Airport in Switzerland and from there take a motor trip to Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein. A 9.5 km long track of the train running between Switzerland and Austria passes through Liechtenstein. There is no special railway network in Liechtenstein! 250 kilometers of roads have been constructed in the entire country. A total of 90 km of isolated reserved roads for cyclists.

The capital of the country is Vaduz, though the largest city is Scania. Don't take the word 'big' too seriously when it comes to Lichtenstein. Vaduz is spread over barely 17 square kilometers, while Scania is only 10 square kilometers more than that. If you ask the population of Scan, barely 6,000! A comparison: At least 8,00,000 people live in the Dharavi area spread over about 2.1 square kilometers of land in metropolitan Mumbai.

The official language of Liechtenstein is German. However, most of the locals mainly speak a dialect known as Alemannic. All together, forty thousand citizens of this small nation must be afraid of one and at most two languages ​​for mutual hatred. But not so. The people of Liechtenstein have a rich linguistic knowledge. This is why dozens of dialects, including Alemannic, are in circulation here.

To this day, Liechtenstein continues to be a monarchy. Strangely, the head of the country is not the king or the queen, but the prince. In 1989, Prince Hans Adam II became the head of Liechtenstein. They are still all over the country. For conducting political business, he receives a remuneration of two and a half million dollars a year from the royal treasury of the country. The vault, the key of which is in his own hands. Prince Hans Adam II runs the country with his left hand and LGT, the country's largest bank, with his right hand. Right hand work is again highly enigmatic. like this'

Switzerland is known for harboring the black money of global tycoons behind an iron curtain of secrecy; right? But few people would know that Liechtenstein is also on the map of Switzerland in that regard. Rather, it should be said that it is one step ahead of its neighbours. Apart from harboring black money, Liechtenstein is forced to 'dryclean' it legally. That is why rich people who want to wash the black know Liechtenstein as a tax haven. Apart from the country's largest LGT, they are said to be depositing their black money in a number of other private banks and 'whitening' it through hawala in one way or another. It is also said that the number of multinational companies registered in Liechtenstein is higher than the total population of the country.

Liechtenstein is the richest country in the world in terms of GDP per capita. It ranks second among countries with the highest per capita income in the world. Among the nations with the highest standard of living, Liechtenstein has the lowest tax rate in all of Europe. Also note that Liechtenstein has no financial debt.

Dental braces are a major source of income for the country that set the financial framework of the rich. Lichtenstein is a leader in the production of artificial teeth and frames. A company named Ivoclar Vivadent is also at the forefront. It accounts for 20 percent of the artificial teeth sold worldwide. The company produces 6 crore choktha every year. Synestheras of many countries, including India, maintain their jawline with Ivoclar Vivadent company teeth.

Liechtensteiners take a full hour and a half recess for midday meal. 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM No disruptive activity (eg, mowing with a machine, playing loud music) can be carried out while they are eating. There is a legal ban on activities that generate loud noises after the entire country goes to bed at 10 pm.

Liechtenstein is such a peaceful country that it does not maintain a small army for security purposes. Its police force for internal security is composed of Savasos and they do not face any special legal action. Because, crime in Liechtenstein is negligible. As the capacity of the main prison does not exceed 20 criminals, prisoners who have received sentences of 2 years or more are sent to serve their sentences in Austrian prisons. It is said that many locals do not even lock the main door when they go out of their house.

The most magnificent and heavily guarded building here is the castle of the capital Vaduz, which houses the President Prince Hans Adams. The gates of Vaduz Fort remain closed to the public for 364 days. But the gate is opened during a grand feast held on August 15, Liechtenstein's national day. All the citizens of the country can enjoy the feast free of charge. Ever known or heard of a party where the whole country flocks to it? That's what actually happens in Liechtenstein.

Who wouldn't love to settle in Liechtenstein given the economic prosperity, peaceful life, natural beauty of the Alps and the country's philosophy of small family, happy family? But the Liechtenstein government has set strict immigration standards to ensure that uninvited guests don't trickle in and stick around after trickling in. The first and foremost condition for a person who wants to settle here is that he has to work in Liechtenstein for 30 years of his life and pay taxes! During this long period he could not stay back in Liechtenstein. He would either live in Switzerland or Austria and travel up and down from there daily for business purposes. After 30 consecutive years of doing such stupid things, the government of Liechtenstein should decide whether to grant citizenship to Bapda or not? Take, speak! This small nation may be insignificant in size, but look at its pride for foreigners!

This happened to be an interesting aspect of Liechtenstein as a country. Now let's talk about the spectacular aspect. As noted at the outset, the entire country is nestled in the mountains of the Alps. In winter the mountains are covered with a white sheet of snow, while in summer the greenery that blooms after the snow melts is very beautiful. Depending on the season, a handful of tourists visit the hills to experience skiing as well as trekking/hiking. Apart from this, Liechtenstein has historical castles, Christian churches, unique museums and galleries, medieval villages and modern architecture.

A nice combination, there are many attractions like vineyards and wineries that produce wine from the grapes grown in them. An added bonus is the artistic sculptures that line the streets while you're out on foot to enjoy it all!

For philatelic enthusiasts, there is a unique postage stamp museum where almost 700 years of Liechtenstein's postal history is preserved in the form of modern postage stamps. Another interesting museum is that of calculators and typewriters. More than 250 samples of them are displayed here. The 'Enigma' machine made by Nazi Germany to exchange coded messages in World War II is also true!

The list of must-see attractions in Liechtenstein can be extended, but in short, Liechtenstein is a perfect tourist destination with a mix of natural, historical, art, architecture, etc. So where is the presence of Lichtenstein on the political map of the world? Due to its dwarf size, it remains lost and anonymous.