LADAKH : GREAT GREEN DESTINATION : TRAVEL TIPS

GREEN DESTINATIONS
SAVE HIMALAYAS-SAVE EARTH
TRAVEL TO LADAKH: MAKE YOUR TRIP MEMORABLE
We had been planning a trip to Ladakh for almost last 5-6 years but the phobia of Acute Mountain Sickness deterred me as I wanted my younger son to cross at least 05 years of age. This was due to the fact that while age is no criteria for sickness, a child probably won’t be able to explain the symptoms which can get aggravated and can become life threatening, if not attended with proper medical care in time. A good amount of information on Acute Mountain Sickness is available on the net which is also known as High altitude sickness. So we finally landed in Leh in Jun 2008 and had a wonderful experience thanks to wonderful tips that we had collected through net and some good friends who had earlier visited Leh-Ladakh . All the ten days that we were in Ladakh, we were absolutely fine and healthy all thanks a well planned trip and proper acclimatisation at Leh.
Useful Travel Tips: Trip to Leh-Ladakh

· Best Time to Travel Ladakh is Between Mid May to End September when the passes are open and most areas can be accessed.

· Plan a trip of at least 7-10 days if you really want to enjoy the place without missing out too much. Around 8-10 days are good enough for a SUV based safari if your destinations include Leh, Kargil, Nubra, Pangong-Tso lake and all the enroute places of interest which include colourful Gompas, springs, rivers, rustic mountains and beautiful Ladakhi villages. Add 2-3 days if you wish to visit Lake Tso-Morari and another 1-2 days from Kargil for a visit to Suru Valley and upto the base of Panzi- La glacier. If you plan a trek to some of the great destinations in Ladakh, , you will need to plan separately.

· Book your Air tickets well in advance as there is a heavy rush during this period. The Delhi-Leh flights are currently being operated by Indian Airlines, Jet Airways and Deccan Air.

· Book your accommodation well in advance as you should have a place to relax and settle down after you reach Leh, specially, if you have ascended from sea level to that height.

· While all grades of hotels and accommodation is available in Leh, a simple and comfortable room with basic amenities may be good enough as you will be travelling for most of your stay and will be back only for sleeping late in the evening.

· Carry sunglasses, hat/cap, sunscreen lotion(I will recommend SPF-40) and fully covering cloths as sunrays are strong at that altitude and you may get exposed to high content of ultraviolet rays if not protected properly.

· We found that best way to reach Leh if accompanied by kids is by air and that to by an early morning flight. This will ensure that you reach Leh at a decent time and will have sufficient time for settling down. If you want to travel by road, Srinagar to Lehroute may be preferred as acclimatization will be better and gradual.

· The key to acclimatization is rest well and relax completely for at-least first 24-36 hours. This can be followed by very light activity for another 12 hours like a local visit to Leh Market and nearby places. This will ensure that your lungs and body will adapt well to low oxygen levels(appox 40% less) compared with Delhi if you have taken a Delhi-Leh flight.

· If you happen to take Manali-Leh route by road, the first night will invariably be spent at a place(probably Serchu or Pang) which will be at above approx 4000 meters above the sea level. This is much higher as compared to Leh which is situated at 3500 meters above the sea level and chances of getting altitude sickness symptoms may be higher and with no good hospital and expert medical aid available nearby, travel with kids could probably be avoided while ascending.

· In case of any symptoms of Acute mountain sickness, you may seek help at the nearby SNM hospital at Leh which is well equipped to deal with any situation. In severe cases, evacuation may be required and as I realized, Kargil at 2700 meters and approx 07 hrs distance from Leh is an ideal place to descend by road for such an evacuation.

· Leh and Kargil are well established towns and most of the amenities are generally available(at least Mid May-October). The shops are well stocked and all that you can think of including life saving medicines are available at reasonable prices.

· If you are a family or a group of 04-06 people, hiring of a SUV through Leh Taxi Union is a good option. You can contact them on 01982-252723, 01982-253039 for further enquiry. They have fixed published rates and considering the terrain and the fact that they have a limited tourist season, I found the rates to be reasonable.

· ATM Facility in Leh. Leh and Kargil have ATM facility and I could locate ATM counters of SBI as well as J&K bank in Leh town.

· Drinking bottled water is available even in the remote corners of Ladakh, but it is better to carry sufficient water for the trip.

· Leh can be made the base camp and while most of the destinations can be covered in a day from, you may need overnight stay if you are planning a visit to Kargil, Nubra(Hunder Village) and Tso-Morari lake. Though a morning to evening trip to Pangong-Tso lake is possible if you start as early as 0600 Hours, guest accommodation is available at Tangste which is 40 kms short enroute to the lake and near the lake itself(I think six rooms are available in a small guest house near the lake).

· The region is rich in distinct kind of flora and fauna and best way to enjoy is to appreciate it without disturbing it.

· The region is full of small water streams which emanate from some or the other glacier. With proper safety and care, you can enjoy a dip in these water bodies but caution is that water is very cold and body cramps due to cold water may sometimes be harmful.

· Leh climate is quite enjoyable during June-October and while you may manage with normal summer clothing during day time, jacket or head covering may be required during evenings. Woolens are definitely required when you are visiting passes.

Ladakh is a beautiful place and there is no other place like on earth like Ladakh. This is the only place where you will encounter sand dunes, icy rivers, barren mountains with ice caps and lush green valley, all in one place. So go and plan a trip to this wonderful land of Lamas which is still unadulterated and unpolluted.