Eiffel Tower
Text and pic by Nilma Dole
Walking into Eiffel Tower was a
truly an experience of a lifetime which made me think in awe and wonder
of this magnificent structure that has epitomized Paris making it a
widely visited destination. Weighing 7, 300 tonnes in metal while the
entire structure including non-metal components is approximately 10,000
tonnes, the Eiffel Tower was the brainchild of the legendary engineer
and designer Gustave Eiffel who built as the entrance arch for the 1889
World’s Fair. Recognized as a world-wide symbol, the Eiffel Tower is a
19th century iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars and is the
tallest structure in Paris while the opposite Tour Montparnasse is the
tallest skyscraper.
 Being the single most visited paid monument in the world, visitors
can reach the top on either sides of its four pillars (sometimes only 2
pillars remain open). There are long queues for stairs but the longest
queues for the elevators which can take only about 10 to 15 at a time.
The cheaper stairs do not take much time to go since the views are
absolutely stunning which makes the journey worthwhile. The structure,
which was built between 1887 and 1889 as the entrance arch for the
Exposition Universelle, a World’s Fair marking the centennial
celebration of the French Revolution, has just as many steps to mark
this major milestone.
The Eiffel Tower’s engineers, Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier
with architect Stephen Sauvestre should be mentioned for helping Eiffel
create this marvelous world wonder. The Eiffel Tower has garnered the
title of Tallest Structure in the World from 1889-1930 until the
Chrysler Building and second Tallest Structure in the World from
1930-1932 until the Empire State Building.
First floor and second floor observatory decks with cafes and
restaurants make Eiffel Tower their home which offers great fact files
and a simple fact finder for schoolchildren.
You can only reach the top only through an escalator where you will
enter an air-conditioned deck at the highest pinnacle. Every country is
listed in the top floor and visitors can see how many kilometres they
travelled to see the Eiffel Tower. With breath-taking views to give you
cold feet from such a splendid height, you feel like you are on top of
the world. You can drink a nice glass of French champagne and toast to
your achievement of conquering the Eiffel Tower. The city of Colombo in
Sri Lanka is 8520km away from the Eiffel Tower in Paris and many of us
can be happy that the heavenly tower bears our flag too. |
