mountains in January?

mindi

I had given up the idea of mountains in January because of the weather. Then I read the www.razdanholidays. com/temperature-guide.html, which said that temperatures in Shimla were average max. 20.0 and min. 2. This must be a misprint, as Shimla seems to high to be this warm in January. Am I right? Are the mountains in January out of the question for someone who feels the cold.

crvlvr

mindi,

everything is relative.. india does not get very cold.. but the infrstructure , heating etc., is not that great .. so you might not get any relief from the colds -- even if you are indoors.

himadventures

Thats information is correct. Shimla is situated in Shivalik Hills and although not much higher but do get good snowfall in Dec. and January.

vistet

on a wildly generalised scale : this story in phayul.com quotes a chinese metereologist saying that El Nino could mean record snow levels in the Himalayas this winter/spring

himadventures

I read about El Nino but would like to say that weather in himalayas can not be predicted. I remember couple of months back we had a large hue and cry about lake in Tibet being overflow and lot of stories about amopunt of flood,damagae and bla bla bla...

No two statements and conclusions were same. Nothing happened in 2004. Hope we will be having a 'cool'2005.
El NINO sundrome is right but we can not be sure right now and why we all are posting here is someone wanted to visit Shimla in January. I think what crvlvr had said is absolutely right.

vistet

yes .. but the temptation always remains.

the Leh morning routine : thawing the toothcream in a glass of boiled water...

Alan D

mindi

You can expect predominently sunny weather in the Himalayas over the winter period, which in places like Shimla will make it feel pleasantly warm during the day but cool to cold in the nights.

But there are no hard and fast rules concerning the weather and you can, at any time have weather systems forming and hanging about for a few days. These bring rain or snow and the temperature drops. The good thing is that when these pass you generally have clear air and great views of the higher Himalayas.

Most budget to mid-price hotels and guest houses hire out electric heaters at an additional charge of about 100 rupees per day and if you're feeling cold you can also buy woolen sweater, gloves, socks and hat locally. Hotels generally are not full at that time of year so there's usually spare bedding available.

If you're thinking of heading for the hills in January I think it's worth giving it a try. If you find you can't handle it then you can head for Rajasthan or further south.

vishant

Even ill be heading for manali this january (i hope i can)... wanna have a winters view of manikaran and pulga and tosh and kasol... any tips from anybody... is it managable this time of the year.

Yetijuice

Manikaran and Pulga will have too much shade in January. I was in Manikaran on November 2nd and 3rd. We did not get sunshine in Manikaran until 1000. At 1030 when we crossed the bridge to get to the taxi stand the south bank near the bridge was still in the shade. That was 48 days before the winter solstice. You would have the same conditions on February 7th. Shady in the winter means "cold."

Tos would be much better in the winter. It is on the north side of the valley and at a higher elevation. Tos would get much more winter sun.

himadventures

Yetijouce !

You are right about being in shade but I think this is understood when we choose to visit some hill place in winters. Still-your information is correct and true.

mindi

As I had already mentioned-Shimla is enjoyble in winters although crowdy. Almost all NORTHERN PLAINS preffer Shimla as winter hideout or say family fun on Christmas and New Year.

Punjabi's are famous in SHIMLA by this simple fact that in just 7 days, 24th Dec. to 31st dec. sale of liquor is sky high. If I am not forgtting,couple of years back it was 1,00,000,00 / INR

I do not think SHIMLA as much colder place-moreover room heaters and central heating system in hotels are there. ( wooden)

vishant

Thanks a ton Yetijuice n Himadventure... without u gus,,, world wud be a bigger place ... :-) ... i am definitely headed there... tickets done already... my second experience of winter himachal...

Pandupul would be too far to risk it...??? Would there be people in Tosh / Pulga or could i be at peace with myself there...???

Thanks again

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Yetijuice

I have only been in Parvati Valley in May and November. Parvati Valley runs west to east. There is a lot more shade in Parvati Valley than in the north to south Kulu Valley. In mid-winter Pulga gets only about 2 hours of direct sunlight.

Pulga is on the south side of the Parvati River. The shade in Pulga will enable a deep snowpack to accumulate. Pulga will probably have 2 to 3 meters of snow in January. The snow will limit the number of tourists in Pulga. Pulga should have plenty of peace and quiet in the winter.

If you want more sun stay in Tos. The Tos-Pulga-Khir Ganga triangle is a wonderful area to trek in during the spring and fall. About a 5 hour walk up the mountainside south of Pulga you will get a superb view of Sara Umga La in the upper Tos Valley and the U-shaped Pass of Oblisk. That view would provide an exquisite panorama in a movie.

Most years there is a winter monsoon in the Himalaya that lasts for a couple days at the end of January. That will produce a cold wave as far south as Goa. No, it doesn't snow in Goa. It will get a bit cool at night, especially so for those who sleep out on the beach. In mid-winter my feet prefer warm sand to cold snow. Stay warm!

IainC

Try Darjeeling. Same temperatures as Simla and good trekking.