Undredal:

In between Flam and Gudvangen, if you take an exit from the highway E16 towards north and drive through the narrow and steeply threading road 601,  you can reach this lovely little village Undredal. Undredal is known for the smallest Stave Church and Goat Cheese. After visiting Stegastein on the way back to Gudvangen, we decided to visit the Stave church in Undredal. We did not have any idea how the place would be. Once we took exit from the highway, the road lead us in the valley  between mountains.

There were waterfalls and big streams which flow towards the Fjord. In 2-3 minutes, we reached a place which was like an abandoned village or ghost town. The shadows of the mountains made it more depressing.

There was absolutely nobody around and all we could hear was the roaring sound of the stream. And after 2 minutes drive, we saw a lady who was walking there alone in that area, where as we were kind of feeling afraid even though we were in the car. She waved at us and of course we didn’t dare to stop. Others in the car asked me “still how far do we need to drive?”. I was like “have I visited this place before. This is my first time as well. I also know only as much as you do”. After few Km, we see this vehicle coming on our way surrounded by goats and we start breathing in relief. We take our car to the side and give way to the Caravan only to realize that we were surrounded by the goats now and the Caravan had escaped. And the goats were not allowing us to move the car even by an inch. Switching on the light did not help. Making horn did not help. We were looking at each other wondering how to escape, while the kids were planning to get down to be with Goats. Moving the car little by little, we could leave the Goats behind and drive ahead towards Undredal.

We had imagined the stave church to be really huge as we had not read that it is known as the smallest stave church. And we were bit disappointed to see that it was not as we had imagined it to be. Also the door was closed and we couldn’t go inside. But we visited a Cheese making factory here. We got to taste the delicious Undredal Cheese.

After visiting the Stave Church, while driving back to Gudvangen, we met that lady again who was still on her way to Undredal. Then we though, she must be from Undredal and wanted a lift. I suggested that I will get down and keep photographing the landscapes and others can take her in the car and drop her at the village. But my request was not accepted as it was bit scary to leave me in that lonely valley though we had sympathy for her.

In the below picture, if  you look closely on the mountains somewhere in the middle of the picture, you see 2 white dots. Those are farms with no access by Road. Only way to reach is via Fjord and climbing up the cliffs. This particular farm is converted as guest house it seems.

Undredal