sangla, kalpa, chitkul in tata indica ? please help

smnray

Hi,
I am newly joined member in indiamike, and needs others suggestion regarding sangla kalpa trip. I am planning to go to sangla in last week of september this year with my wife and two and half year old son. I am planning this trip with banjara camp. For transport, they are offering me either qualis ( 2200 per day plus tax) or tata indica ( 1800 per day plus tax ). My question is : is it advisable to go to sangla, chitkul, kalpa by indica ? ( Some website even suggest 4 wheel drive, that is why I have doubt ).
My plan is to stay 3 nights in sangla and 2 nights in kalpa.
- regards,
smnray

khaadu75

Hey, Its perfectly Ok to go to Sangla by an Indica ... just try and get a driver whos been there before !!!

Cheers

smnray

Thanks a lot Khaadu75. Assuming it is also ok to go to kalpa by indica !
My plan is
day 1> delhi to shimla to thanedar
day 2> sarahan
day 3, 4 and 5> sangla
day 6,7> kalpa
day 8> thanedar
day 9> shimla to delhi
Other than 3 nights in sangla, I am staying 2 nights in kalpa. Or I can stay 1 night in kalpa , 2 nights in sarahan.
question 1> Between sarahan and kalpa, which one is more beautiful to stay for 2 nights ?
question 2> I have read in some post, that lots of concrete structures are growing in sangla. Is it still worth to go to sangla and stay for 3 nights ?
- thanks,
smnray

AvidTrekker

Kalpa is most beautiful.

Then Sarahan.

In the Sangla region stay at Rakcham or Chitkul.. NOT Sangla.

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khaadu75

hey, The Indica will get you to Kalpa as well ... !!! As far as Sangla is concerned .. a lot of concrete structures have come up and have spoilt a lot of the original charm that Sangla had so as someone else mentioned its better to stay in Rakcham or even chitkul as those places are less commercialised and will make u feel closer to Mother Nature .

But it seems that you are doing the trip with Banjara camps adn their camp site is away from main Sangla so ur anyways away form the concrete . As for Thanedar are you staying ta the Banjara lodge there as well ???

Call me when u get to Thanedar ... maybe we cud meet up and Ill show you around the area !!!

Cheers

hitanshu

Batseri is where Banjara camps' sangla resort is (some 7km ahead), so its a nice place - but not as good as Chitkul, some 15km ahead. However, Banjara resorts would give you an overall comfortable and nice experience!

I would recommend one night in Chitkul instead of Kalpa - just my liking. Indicas do go there, though you seemostly scorpios and sumos. The cost differential is miniscule, so check the comfort of particular vehicles - some qualises these days have a mini tv screen just above the gearbox and nice rear a/c vents - that'd make del-shimla-del a heaven

smnray

Thanks to all you for your suggestions ! I joined indiamike just 2-3 days ago, and now feel that I am totally addicted to it. I will plan for staying in chitkul or Rakcham too (:-)
Yes in thanedar, I am planning to stay in banjara lodge. Khaadu75, myself and my family will love to talk to you while we are in thanedar. So once I finalize the plan for trip, I will contact you.
Thanks to all you again!
-
smnray

smnray

Hitanshu, Khaadu75 , AvidTrekker,
I read some of the threads posted by you regarding sangla, and now I have enough information even to suggest plan for sangla to others (:-).
Thanks to all of you for posting those info !

smnray

In one thread Family trek in Ladakh, AvidTrekker mentioned that altitude sickness starts at even 8000 ft. I am going to sangla, kalpa, chithul with my two and half year old son. I am now worried, as height of all these places are above 8000 ft. Is this trip recomended in end of september with two and half year old children ?
Waiting for your reply.

hitanshu

Not really. It didnt hit us maybe because we were on bikes and trekked less. It might hit you earlier cause of two reasons:
- The car might sway a bit and become a lil tough. Possibly. The bike is much more stable imo.
- We didnt travel much and walked slowly. If your son is hyperactive, like all good 2 yr olds, he might get badly out of breath (even we took 15 mins walking back from the baspa riverside) - you might need to discipline him a bit.

That's all conjecture from my side. You could ask your family doctor! I reckon shouldnt really be much of an issue!

smnray

Thanks hitanshu ! As you know, the problem with family doctor in delhi is that they may not know much about altitude sickness. I am mainly worried about kalpa, which is near 10000 ft. ( Some internet site shows its height as 10900 ft. Don't know which one is right ! ). I shall be staying in kalpa for two nights in HPTDC hotel. Since we are staying in sangla for 3 nights before going to kalpa, assuming that will acclimize us little bit.
Last year we wnet to around 8000 ft with no problem faced by my son. But is it too risky going to kalpa with the boy, since he does not learn to speak well till now ? Do we have to constantly monitor him ? You know, I don't want to be paranoid,i.e. very mild sickness is ok, but if it is real risk with possibly no proper medical facility there, it is better to cancel this trip and go some where else.
Let me know others's opinion regarding kalpa.

rajeev1008

Mountain sickenss cannot be generalised. We went to Kalpa and beyond in March, with my 2 year old daughter - she was absolutely fine. We spent a night at Yangthang - about 11,000 ft - no probs at all. She had no probs at Chitkul either. And none of others too.
But at 12000 ft, my wife had breating probs - though she had been fine at 14000 earlier. All very inconclusive.
I personally think that children are very resilient. And as your son has been to 8000 ft earlier, chances of his not having any probs are much better than otherwise.
And if you have time and inclination, maybe you could consider going to Khab along Sutlej from kalpa . I did write about it herehttp://indianvacations.blogspot.com/...ley-start.html

hitanshu

hi,

imo - rajeev is right you cant generalize AMS. Firstly, you CAN see its symptoms well in advance before thigns get bad. Secondly, in early stages, the solution is simple - just lose altitude.

I'd say take a chance - carry enough diamox and be prepared to turn back on a dime. Jus go slowly as well!

Yogesh Sarkar

I don’t think you would face AMS at that altitude; however you can never be too sure. Check out this article on AMS http://www.bcmtouring.com/articles/a...tain-sickness/

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smnray

Thanks Yogesh, Hitanshu and Rajeev ! I have decided to take a chance and go for the trip (:-). One final question ( I promise ;-) ! ), since both my wife and son are prone to motion sickness, I have to make difference between vehicular motion sickness and AMS. I assume that if they are not ok during travel in car but recover quickly after the journey end, it is motion sickness. But if bad condition continue even after end of journey in car, it is AMS. Am I right ?
I have also read other thraeds and planning to take precautions, like buying ginger capsules ( they are easily available in India). Since I can not give diamax to my son, I shall consult family doctor.
Rajeev, your link for Khab has some excellent photographs and description. If every thing ok, then I surely plan for that! Off course if I have to trek, I prefer to go alone. Once I tried to do soft trek with my son in my lap ( too small to walk 4-5 km ), and gave up after 2 km !
- Thanks,
smnray