Spectacularly jagged, arid mountains enfold this magical, Buddhist ex-kingdom. Picture-perfect gompas (Tibetan Buddhist monasteries) dramatically crown rocky outcrops amid whitewashed stupas and meditational mani walls topped with countless mantra-inscribed pebbles. Colourful fluttering prayer flags spread their spiritual messages metaphorically with the mountain breeze. A photographic compilation shows some of the sides of this colorful kingdom.
Udaipur casts its spell on anyone who gets close to it. The gorgeous City Of Lakes makes a perfect honeymoon destination, a cultural treasure and the face of Mewar. Experiencing Udaipur is all about reliving royalty and appreciating the city's regal beauty. Most of the attractions in Udaipur have been built and created by the Maharanas, and we must say that these wise rulers literally have done a marvellous job. The Video is a very short compilation of photographs taken in and around the City Of Lakes.
Valley of Flowers National Park is an Indian national park, located in West Himalaya, in the state of Uttarakhand and is known for its meadows of endemic alpine flowers and the variety of flora. This richly diverse area is also home to rare and endangered animals, including the Asiatic black bear, snow leopard,musk deer,brown bear, red fox and blue sheep. Birds found in the park include Himalayan monal pheasant and other high altitude birds.At 3352 to 3658 meters above sea level, the gentle landscape of the Valley of Flowers National Park complements the rugged mountain wilderness of Nanda Devi National Park to the east.Together, they encompass a unique transition zone between the mountain ranges of the Zanskar and Great Himalaya. The park stretches over an expanse of 87.50 km2 and it is about 8 km long and 2 km wide.Both parks are encompassed in the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (223,674 ha) which is further surrounded by a buffer zone (5,148.57 km2).This Reserve is in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves since 2004.
The Great Himalayan Ranges contains hundreds of beautiful lakes around India and neighbour countries. Some of the lakes are consider sacred in India like Gurudogmar lake Sikkim and some remain completely frozen in winters like the Pangong Lake in the trans Himalayan Region of Ladakh. This video is a short photographic compilation of some of the great himalayan lakes.
Many of these high altitude lakes are freshwater lakes formed by glacial activity. Some of these stunning lakes are only accessible through difficult treks to these regions and that’s one of the reason they have managed to retain their beauty and charm! These high altitudes will take your breath away by not only their beauty but by their unique features! Some have ever-changing colors and some are the best birding spots.
Folks who have ventured above couple of thousands of feet above sea level can relate well to the term called Altitude Sickness or Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). It is a condition which triggers as a result of lower levels of oxygen at high altitudes. Most people often ruin their precious holiday time because of altitude sickness.
As you travel to high altitudes, the amount of oxygen in the air you are breathing declines. Once you reach altitudes of over 8,000 feet, the oxygen levels in the air are significantly lower. It can be difficult for your body to adjust to this decreased oxygen, along with the cool and dry air, and closer proximity to the sun, all of which come with spending time at high altitudes. Fortunately, there are steps to take for both altitude sickness prevention and altitude sickness treatment.
Symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) are:
-Headache
-Loss of appetite
-Nausea
-Vomiting
-Fatigue and weakness
-Dizziness
-Restless sleep
-Shortness of breath
-Swelling of the face and hands.
Lungs of people living near sea level are used to high levels of oxygen in air. Once you start ascending, the Oxygen levels in the air keep on decreasing. Increased risk of high altitude sickness sets in starting from the 3,500 meter mark. The high risk or mountain zone starts from 5,500 meters. The Oxygen levels decrease significantly once you cross the 3,500 meter mark. Above 5,500 meters mark, Acute Mountain Sickness can turn into High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) or High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) which are both very serious.
High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) symptoms include: serious fatigue, shortness of breath and dry cough, shortness of breath at rest, rapid and shallow breath, frothy or pink mucus possible, gurgling, rasping sound when breathing, pressure, heavy feeling in the chest, restlessness, rapid pulse, possible fever, cyanosis – blue or grey lips and indescribable lethargy.
High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) symptoms include: powerful headache which doesn’t pass using painkillers, loss of coordination (ataxia), vomiting, apathy, fatigue, indifference, walks as if drunk, behavioural changes, confusion, hallucinations, cramping fits, short-term blindness and numbness or paralysis of individual body part.
Altitude Sickness Prevention
The best way to prevent altitude sickness is to allow your body to adjust to the decreased levels of oxygen in high-altitude locations, this is often referred to as acclimatization.
Also keep in mind that you want to add water to your body, not deplete it. At least initially, avoid caffeine and alcohol.
Altitude Sickness Treatment
If you are having mild symptoms of mild altitude sickness, you should consider not going any higher for at least next 24 to 48 hours. Most cases will improve during this time, but will help you even more if you:
If you do develop altitude sickness, the following treatment options may help:
Don't attempt to climb again until your symptoms have completely disappeared. After two to three days, your body will have acclimatised and your symptoms should disappear.
If you have severe symptoms or your symptoms are getting worse, descend immediately by as much height as possible. This is because severe altitude sickness can be fatal if not treated quickly. Seek immediate medical help when you reach a low altitude.
A portable hyperbaric chamber is a bag you're zipped into, which is then pumped full of air. After one to two hours of treatment, your symptoms should improve significantly. The effect of the treatment is equivalent to descending about 2,000m (6,500 feet).
However, while oxygen treatment or the use of a hyperbaric chamber can relieve the symptoms of altitude sickness, it's not a replacement for descending to a lower altitude. You should always descend if you have severe or worsening symptoms, even if you've had oxygen treatment.
It is important to listen to your body when traveling to high-altitude locations, since altitude sickness can be serious. If you suspect that you are experiencing altitude sickness, don't go any higher until your symptoms improve and move to lower ground if your symptoms get worse.
Happy Travelling!
Leh is the winter wonderland in India. If you have traveled to Leh in summers, then be ready to see a totally different picture in winters. Here are some of the most essential tips for making a comfortable winter trip to Leh.
1. Reaching Leh In Winters
During winters, all the high mountain passes on the Manali-Leh and Srinagar-Leh route are shut down due to heavy snowfall. There is no feasible land route to Leh. So the only possible way to reach there during winters is by flight.
Leh has good connectivity from New Delhi and Srinagar with daily flights however, the flight schedule might hit due to fog or snowfall. So be prepared to have some schedule shifts.
2. Colder Than You Can Think Of
The temperatures can dip to as low as -25 to -30 Degrees Celsius, and yes it is very very cold. So, the first thing you should care about is warm clothing. Good quality jackets with fleece lining and a wind proof outer shell is preferable for such condition. You should wear layered clothing with thermals inside the jacket for best insulation against cold. Keep yourself covered all the time and specially protect the chest part. Always wear a fleece cap and good quality layered gloves. Hitting by cold at that temperatures and altitude can lead to further issues. So if you are protected well, then there is not much to worry about the cold.
Also avoid getting the cloths wet. Wet clothes can amplify the cold and led to headaches. Eat well along the entire trip to keep your body warm and also drink lots of water to keep yourself well hydrated. Also keep a pair good quality shades along with you, they will make it more comfortable to enjoy the snow and will avoid any chances of snow blindness.
3. Once You Reach Leh
It is always advisable to spare a day for acclimatization after reaching Leh. In winters, it is even more important to acclimatize because your body is not used to such cold temperatures. Reach your hotel and have a cup of tea, you can also try Ladakhi Tea, which is said to keep the body warm. Keep physical exertion to a minimum on the first day so that you can enjoy your rest of the journey to this wonderland.
4. Choose A Good Hotel
Prepare the budget for a decent hotel during winters. Most of the hotels are closed at this time of the year and most of the remaining hotels don't have running water, as the water freezes in the pipelines and the storage tanks. So choose a good hotel with running water and room heater facility. It is advisable to choose an oil heater instead of a regular gas heater because the gas heater further reduces the Oxygen levels in the room.
5. Travelling Around Leh
Private taxi seems to be the only feasible option to travel around Leh in winters because shared taxis are not generally available due to very thin tourist traffic. So prepare a decent budget for travelling around Leh. Always confirm the vehicle condition with the tour operator before confirming the trip, because you might need the stuff like heater etc. in the vehicle.
Vehicle should also be reliable and not very old, because you can't afford the car breaking down in the middle of a thick sheet of snow. I always travel with a guy named Thinle (Ph: 9622977737). Very friendly guy with good vehicle options.
6. Buffer Days
The terrain here is unpredictable and winter snow and ice can make it even worse. Plan your trip with at least 2-3 buffer days. Always check the weather forecast for Khardunla and Changla before heading towards them to see if there are chances of heavy snowfall for the next couple of days. The BRO does an excellent job for keeping the high passes open, but if it snows very heavily then the passes may remain closed for a day or two before it opens again for general traffic.
Sometimes the flights get cancelled due to snowfall in Leh as well, so it is always advisable to plan your trip with such contingencies.
7. Must Visit Places
Leh becomes a wonderland in winter with places and conditions like you have never seen before. Frozen streams and lots of snow. There is actually more of ice than snow. Some of the must visit places are:
- Pangong Tso: Of course yes, Pangong Tso offers some unmatched views and unbelievable landscapes in winters. You might have seen the photographs with blue waters of Pangong, this entire lake turns into a blue colored ice slab. You can even drive your car on it (only the experienced ones here). You will encounter numerous frozen streams on the way and the Changla is a treat to be at. Have a look at the weather forecast at Pangong and avoid going there in case of snowfall because the blue color will be hidden deep inside a white sheet of snow.
It is preferred to make a day trip to Pangong because the accommodation availability is very thin during winters.
- Nubra Valley: The majestic Khardungla looks astonishing during winters and should be on your must visit list. Nubra Valley doesn't see much snowfall but the wide vistas are a treat to the eyes. Accommodation is very limited during winters so it is advisable to book a decent hotel in advance through your tour operator.
- Tso Moriri: Smaller than Pangong Lake but almost as beautiful and gets completely frozen during winters. It gets much more colder at Tso Moriri than Pangong, so avoid it if you are already feeling cold at Leh. If venturing to Tso Moriri, it is preferable to stay at Chumathang Hot Springs, because the temperatures here are much more comfortable than Korzok (near Tso Moriri). Also there is almost no availability of accommodation at Korzok in winters.
If you have some more days in hands, than you can also take up the monastery circuit tour. The monasteries remain very calm during winters because of very thin tourist traffic and fewer monks.
Happy Travelling :)
1. Train Yourself
Training and fitness should be a top priority for a trekker. The best way to prepare yourself for a long hard trek is to start at home. Start walking to the market, or the grocery shop. To train for a long tiring trek, your legs should be able to cope with the constant pressure.
2. Workout For Your Legs
Walking on a street seems normal but, scaling an alpine terrain is a totally different story. A slight strain on your leg muscle can lead to a major injury there. If you are a gym guy, do lots of weighted squats and lunges.
3. Start Carrying A Backpack
On most of the trekking trips, you will be carrying a backpack along with you which will contains stuff like food, cloths and water. So while training, make it a part of your workout to carry a backpack with some load in it, 3-4 kgs to start with. If you want to train hard, try carrying more load in it. This practice will train everything from your shoulders to your legs and lungs.
4. Choose The Right Footwear
Training your legs is not the only thing required, get your feet the much required comfort of a good pair of trekking shoes. Buy a good quality pair of trekking shoes, preferably water resistant and well ventilated. You should start wearing your shoes months before the actual trek. This will make them adapt more according to your feet and will avoid blisters during trek. The image below shows a horrible shoe choice!
5. Eat Right
Food and water are as essential as training for a trek. Keep enough stock for the entire trek. Nuts, dried fruits, chocolate etc are great source of some much needed energy on a trek. While gaining altitude, water is vital to fight the altitude sickness and the good news is that most of the high altitude streams, away from villages are fresh and clean to drink. So keep yourself filled up and well hydrated.
6. Carry Basic Medication
Cuts and bruises are common on treks when you cross dense vegetation or fall on slippery snow. So, always carry a basic first aid kit to handle these mishaps. Also take particular care of your medication if you are allergic to something. On long treks, when you are days away from the nearest population, you should have some medication at your rescue.
And, Always follow your instincts on a trek. If you feel that you are having some problem walking or breathing, call it out immediately.
Happy travelling :)
