Himachal Pradesh - monsoon time with baby

madamdarkin · Apr 29th, 2009, 16:35

The only time we can take off for our next trip to India will be July-Sept!! I've travelled to India before, but never to Himachal Pradesh.

I am really looking forward to it - but am wary re the weather. Any tips/suggestions would be great....we are travelling with our baby who will be 10 months then..

Thanks!!

delhiwala · Apr 29th, 2009, 16:43

It will be rainy season then.

madamdarkin · Apr 29th, 2009, 16:44

thank you delhiwala - i know its monsoon time

but travel is not impossible then, i'm trying to figure out if anyone has experience travelling there during this time....

gaurav1441 · Apr 29th, 2009, 17:06

Prefer September to July. Even in Monssons, it does not rain everyday. Also can think of making an itinerary starting from delhi to shimla etc..and moving uphills involving travles of 4-5 hours max perday and reach Kullu as the last destination. From Kullu you can easily fly into Delhi.

delhiwala · Apr 29th, 2009, 17:38

I just informed madamdarkin that it'll be rainy season, but ofcourse it can be done, if that's the only time available. It's just that outdoor activities will be restricted......

In Monsoons, some days it does not rain at all, some days it rains cats and dogs for hours, at some other days it drizzles for entire day...... So it's unpredictable.......

But if you are in a good resort, you can always enjoy monsoon from the Verandah or Balcony with a hot chai & pakoras....

And finally, Bhuntar is consideed one of the riskiest airports in India and in Monsoon, most of the time operations remain suspended as there is no ILS.

madamdarkin · Apr 29th, 2009, 17:41

thanks guys!!

i am thinking of doing the train from delhi to kalka and then the toy train from there to shimla...then head up to manali and go to the parvati valley....outdoor activities are not vital - i just want to breathe fresh air and absorb all the beauty india has to offer

i hope the toy train will be running...

delhiwala · Apr 29th, 2009, 17:48

Yeps ! It'll be........

Quote:

Originally Posted by madamdarkin

i hope the toy train will be running...

madamdarkin · Apr 29th, 2009, 17:48

oh yipee!!! we are in dubai now

cant wait to get to india and breathe real air!!!

gaurav1441 · Apr 29th, 2009, 17:49

Toy train would be running but do make sure to book early..

Quote:

Originally Posted by madamdarkin

thanks guys!!

i am thinking of doing the train from delhi to kalka and then the toy train from there to shimla...then head up to manali and go to the parvati valley....outdoor activities are not vital - i just want to breathe fresh air and absorb all the beauty india has to offer

i hope the toy train will be running...

indracal · Apr 29th, 2009, 21:14

Hello -

The following comes to my mind:

In Nov 2006, when we reached the Shimla station in the Shivalik Deluxe, the only way up was through some not-well-maintained stairs and the porters were asking high charges (don't remember the figure but about Rs. 100/- or more) to take luggages till the bus station on the road above. As you have a baby in your cradle, you probably need to hire them anyway. I am unsure of any alternate route. Everybody at the station said walking up is the only way. BTW, I could not locate a cloak room either.
You would also need to have a constant supply of hot sterilised water for the baby. In our 2008 HP Dharamsala-Dalhousie trip, we took electric rice cooker, in which we used to boile the bottles to sterilize them. Also we boiled mineral water in them for baby's consumption. We took 6 bottles (5 oz each) and supply of baby milk powder from the starting town (Pathankot). Ensure you make the bottom of the pan free of water, so that the coil does not conk off. Ours did, so we bought a big pan, in which we could accomodate the bottles - from an on-the-way utensil shop. Hotel guys generally do it for you, it's much better if you go and stand by. A little tipping also helps
We also kept 1 flusk with boiling water (it used to hold around the same temp for 16+ hours). Some boiled-sterilized-cooled water was kept in a PET bottle. We mixed these two waters on the fly, dropped the milk powder, and Voila: baby can have her milk without a single stop in the journey. Very handy if she starts crying for milk when your driver is trying to negotiate a sharp bend or narrow roads!
Need to talk to your paediatrician for medicines and carry them from your home. This is a must! We did that, spent some money on those, and none were needed except some cough/cold drops for the baby. So happy we were at the end of the trip that we spent for medicines and all were back intact. Also keep your paed's no. handy. If you know someone in India, keep his/her no. as well.
Electric cookers typically come with 6 AMP requirement, but the sockets available at hotels are 5 AMP. So it may be a good idea to check the plug for heating every 10 mins or so. I kept this doing so frequently that my wife called me a Plug-maniac (I am unsure of any pun - I lack sense of humour ) If it gets hot, simply unplug, wait for 5/6 mins and plug it back - or even better - locate a 15 AMP socket and plug it there. A 15AMP multi-plug with 5 AMP outlet would be handy.
Work out the altitudes of the places you want to visit and run a check with your paed.
Be careful of the drinking water during monsoon, you always get mineral water in the hill areas' shops, so that shouldn't be a problem at all.
You must carry some brushes to clean your baby's bottles. Probably the tour looks like a household chore for some time, but it's worth it for the baby.
We carried a small rucksack for my baby which had all her articles. We also carried a folded backpack with items needed for the baby during day trips.
I guess I would have taken a light waterproof and an umbrella. Waterproof for saving the person who carries the baby and the umbrella is for the baby.

My blubbering is over I guess .... enjoy Himachal with your bundle of joy! We did it with ours when she was 6 month old!

indracal · Apr 29th, 2009, 21:33

As far as rail booking are concerned, try to book as early as possible.

Train Number/Train Name/Date (DD-MM-YYYY)/Source/Destination
241 SHIVALK DLX EXP 12-07-2009 KALKA (KLK) SIMLA (SML)

I did the accomodation enquiry with random date in July 09 and the following came up from the Indian Railways site:

S.No. Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Class - CC
1 12- 7-2009 AVAILABLE- 0090
2 13- 7-2009 AVAILABLE- 0084
3 14- 7-2009 AVAILABLE- 0083
4 15- 7-2009 AVAILABLE- 0090
5 16- 7-2009 AVAILABLE- 0090
6 17- 7-2009 AVAILABLE- 0086

madamdarkin · May 1st, 2009, 15:22

Thanks so much for those tips, Indracal! She is mostly breastfed and only takes the occasional bottle, which helps. I will also take plenty of sterilizing tablets - what did you do about water to bathe your baby in?

I'm getting excited now....

indracal · May 4th, 2009, 14:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by madamdarkin

Thanks so much for those tips, Indracal! She is mostly breastfed and only takes the occasional bottle, which helps. I will also take plenty of sterilizing tablets - what did you do about water to bathe your baby in?

I'm getting excited now....

Nothing much there, used water from geezer in the toilet, she didn't complain. Made sure that we are not taking her out of the room in next 15-20 mins (no fluctutation in external temperature, that is!). Guess that's pretty common.

This strilizing tablet thing is unknown to me, could you give us a little more info? Also about their availability?

This might be a very helpful info for travellers with kids.

madamdarkin · May 4th, 2009, 22:25

Hi Indracal! You get something called Milton sterilizing tablets - you can use this to sterilize baby's water, fruit, bottles - most things. I have friends in Kenya who used this for baby's water (bottle)......they are found everywhere in the UK (also S. Africa, Kenya, Dubai).

indracal · May 7th, 2009, 16:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by indracal

used water from geezer in the toilet....

couldn't stop laughing when I looked up the meaning in net for the word "Geezer"... here it is!

Just visualizing my wife opening the toilet door to fetch hot water from an "Eccentric old man"!

@madamdarkin - what I meant was a "Storage Water Heater".

Apr 29th, 2009, 16:35	#1
madamdarkin Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Goa for now Posts: 169	Himachal Pradesh - monsoon time with baby The only time we can take off for our next trip to India will be July-Sept!! I've travelled to India before, but never to Himachal Pradesh. I am really looking forward to it - but am wary re the weather. Any tips/suggestions would be great....we are travelling with our baby who will be 10 months then.. Thanks!!

Apr 29th, 2009, 16:43	#2
delhiwala IM what IM Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Indeyah ! Posts: 4,817	It will be rainy season then. __________________ Travel only with thy equals or thy betters; if there are none, travel alone. - The Dhammapada

Apr 29th, 2009, 21:14	#10
indracal Wanderlust - but bills bug! Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Kolkata Posts: 514	from a father who travelled HP with 6 mo old kid! Hello - The following comes to my mind: In Nov 2006, when we reached the Shimla station in the Shivalik Deluxe, the only way up was through some not-well-maintained stairs and the porters were asking high charges (don't remember the figure but about Rs. 100/- or more) to take luggages till the bus station on the road above. As you have a baby in your cradle, you probably need to hire them anyway. I am unsure of any alternate route. Everybody at the station said walking up is the only way. BTW, I could not locate a cloak room either. You would also need to have a constant supply of hot sterilised water for the baby. In our 2008 HP Dharamsala-Dalhousie trip, we took electric rice cooker, in which we used to boile the bottles to sterilize them. Also we boiled mineral water in them for baby's consumption. We took 6 bottles (5 oz each) and supply of baby milk powder from the starting town (Pathankot). Ensure you make the bottom of the pan free of water, so that the coil does not conk off. Ours did, so we bought a big pan, in which we could accomodate the bottles - from an on-the-way utensil shop. Hotel guys generally do it for you, it's much better if you go and stand by. A little tipping also helps We also kept 1 flusk with boiling water (it used to hold around the same temp for 16+ hours). Some boiled-sterilized-cooled water was kept in a PET bottle. We mixed these two waters on the fly, dropped the milk powder, and Voila: baby can have her milk without a single stop in the journey. Very handy if she starts crying for milk when your driver is trying to negotiate a sharp bend or narrow roads! Need to talk to your paediatrician for medicines and carry them from your home. This is a must! We did that, spent some money on those, and none were needed except some cough/cold drops for the baby. So happy we were at the end of the trip that we spent for medicines and all were back intact. Also keep your paed's no. handy. If you know someone in India, keep his/her no. as well. Electric cookers typically come with 6 AMP requirement, but the sockets available at hotels are 5 AMP. So it may be a good idea to check the plug for heating every 10 mins or so. I kept this doing so frequently that my wife called me a Plug-maniac (I am unsure of any pun - I lack sense of humour ) If it gets hot, simply unplug, wait for 5/6 mins and plug it back - or even better - locate a 15 AMP socket and plug it there. A 15AMP multi-plug with 5 AMP outlet would be handy. Work out the altitudes of the places you want to visit and run a check with your paed. Be careful of the drinking water during monsoon, you always get mineral water in the hill areas' shops, so that shouldn't be a problem at all. You must carry some brushes to clean your baby's bottles. Probably the tour looks like a household chore for some time, but it's worth it for the baby. We carried a small rucksack for my baby which had all her articles. We also carried a folded backpack with items needed for the baby during day trips. I guess I would have taken a light waterproof and an umbrella. Waterproof for saving the person who carries the baby and the umbrella is for the baby. My blubbering is over I guess .... enjoy Himachal with your bundle of joy! We did it with ours when she was 6 month old!

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Apr 29th, 2009, 16:44	#3
madamdarkin Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Goa for now Posts: 169	thank you delhiwala - i know its monsoon time but travel is not impossible then, i'm trying to figure out if anyone has experience travelling there during this time....

Apr 29th, 2009, 17:06	#4
gaurav1441 Maha Guru Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 731	Prefer September to July. Even in Monssons, it does not rain everyday. Also can think of making an itinerary starting from delhi to shimla etc..and moving uphills involving travles of 4-5 hours max perday and reach Kullu as the last destination. From Kullu you can easily fly into Delhi.

Apr 29th, 2009, 17:38	#5
delhiwala IM what IM Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Indeyah ! Posts: 4,817	I just informed madamdarkin that it'll be rainy season, but ofcourse it can be done, if that's the only time available. It's just that outdoor activities will be restricted...... In Monsoons, some days it does not rain at all, some days it rains cats and dogs for hours, at some other days it drizzles for entire day...... So it's unpredictable....... But if you are in a good resort, you can always enjoy monsoon from the Verandah or Balcony with a hot chai & pakoras.... And finally, Bhuntar is consideed one of the riskiest airports in India and in Monsoon, most of the time operations remain suspended as there is no ILS.

Apr 29th, 2009, 17:41	#6
madamdarkin Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Goa for now Posts: 169	thanks guys!! i am thinking of doing the train from delhi to kalka and then the toy train from there to shimla...then head up to manali and go to the parvati valley....outdoor activities are not vital - i just want to breathe fresh air and absorb all the beauty india has to offer i hope the toy train will be running...

Apr 29th, 2009, 17:48	#8
madamdarkin Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Goa for now Posts: 169	oh yipee!!! we are in dubai now cant wait to get to india and breathe real air!!!

Apr 29th, 2009, 21:33	#11
indracal Wanderlust - but bills bug! Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Kolkata Posts: 514	As far as rail booking are concerned, try to book as early as possible. Train Number/Train Name/Date (DD-MM-YYYY)/Source/Destination 241 SHIVALK DLX EXP 12-07-2009 KALKA (KLK) SIMLA (SML) I did the accomodation enquiry with random date in July 09 and the following came up from the Indian Railways site: S.No. Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Class - CC 1 12- 7-2009 AVAILABLE- 0090 2 13- 7-2009 AVAILABLE- 0084 3 14- 7-2009 AVAILABLE- 0083 4 15- 7-2009 AVAILABLE- 0090 5 16- 7-2009 AVAILABLE- 0090 6 17- 7-2009 AVAILABLE- 0086

May 1st, 2009, 15:22	#12
madamdarkin Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Goa for now Posts: 169	Thanks so much for those tips, Indracal! She is mostly breastfed and only takes the occasional bottle, which helps. I will also take plenty of sterilizing tablets - what did you do about water to bathe your baby in? I'm getting excited now....

May 4th, 2009, 22:25	#14
madamdarkin Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Goa for now Posts: 169	Hi Indracal! You get something called Milton sterilizing tablets - you can use this to sterilize baby's water, fruit, bottles - most things. I have friends in Kenya who used this for baby's water (bottle)......they are found everywhere in the UK (also S. Africa, Kenya, Dubai).