Can you help my journey from Dharam to Leh come to fruition?

sodiesarin

I have been looking at Going from Dharamsala to Leh, or vice verse.
From Leh through the Indus valley (Stakna) over Taglang La, the second
Highest pass in the world, Lachlung La,Chukum Lake, Baralachala pass
up and over the Rotang pass to Manali, by Lagi Damn to Mandi (nh21?)
Get to Mandi and get on NH 20 and take into Dharamsala.
I don’t know the exact roads but you get the gest of what I want to do.
How do I do this? By myself? Join up with someone? Rent a jeep and go?
I know “what, where and when”, (which is May) I just don’t know the “how.”
I calculated the distance to be around 250 kms between the two places
and I got all the time in the world BUT a very limited budget thought.
Can someone please help me make this come to fruition please….

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Sometimes its better to burn all your bridges and just swim across the river.

vistet

Your basic inroad options :

1. Hope for peace ( a hope that have been thwarted many times ) and go via Srinagar. Easiest way of dealing with the altitude shift.

2. Fly in to Leh, second easiest on your body.

3. Manali-Leh road , definitely needs some careful planning.

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high road to ..

sodiesarin

Just found out the Manali to Leh road is closed in May, opens up by July......

vistet

I have travelled on this road a number of times both in June and October , when the guidebooks claim it´s closed . So have countless others . You´ll find the opening dates for the last seven years on my site , under the Manali-Leh category. This year the road opened May 17th - fairly normal , openings as late as in first week of June are unusual.

sodiesarin

After reading your,"Sleepless in Sarchu : Tweaking the Manali-Leh Highway" and:
"Chilling in Kargil : Tweaking the Srinagar-Leh road" I have now become aware of "Acclimatization",
which I didnt think about...at all.
I got a 6 month visa so hopefully I will be acclimatized before it expires!
Now Im gonna go read up on "Acclimatization."

sodiesarin

How does one get Acclimated properly?
I read your myth section but I didnt see
a "not myth" section; how should I get acclimated?

Brisso

Mountaineering organisations will have heaps of information on this issue. Above 3,000 meters, gradual increases daily - perhaps 400 meters max. If you feel unwell (research symptoms), descend immediately.

sodiesarin

if Im coming from New york and I end up in Dharamsala the next day, where do I descend to??
Do I go to Dehli?

Darmabum

I (not a doctor) really don't think that going to 6000 feet from New York in one day will cause you any problems. However, should it, it doesn't matter "where" you go, as long as it's down.

Personally I've gone from sea level to 15,000 feet in one day (driving) and had - besides a headache - no problem, also went from Chengdu, China to Lhasa, Tibet - a difference of at least 10,000 feet in two hours, again, no problems.

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Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate; our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure - Marianne Williamson

sodiesarin

thats good news, thanks.

Darmabum

P.S. Some internet research revealed that commercial aircraft maintain a cabin pressure equivalent of between 5000 - 8000 feet. You, if you are a "healthy" individual, should have no problems . . . but would suggest not running the Dharamsala Marathon (if there is one immediately upon arrival.

sodiesarin

I just read and looked at the train article
on this sites main page and I now know what
you mean by culture shock!WOW......
.....I will hold my pee for the whole
time!! DONT LAUGH cuz I bet you are!!
I am hoping(Praying) that there is a bus
that is a little bit better than the train
on this sites front page. You got to
go look at the train article.....I hope
you are able to tell me that there are
other alternatives... also, should
being a woman traveling alone in India
cause me to pause?? Heck, I can get to Delhi
ask the place Im staying at to please come
and get my Westernized butt right?
Im feeling like such a wussy, but Im so glad
Im learning all this now so by May Im as prepared
as I can be........
Deb...... 5 more months of learning to go

sodiesarin

Brisso

hehe ... don't believe all the hype - these days there is also a lot about India you will find familiar - goods, services, clothing and even attitudes. Besides, culture shock (such an extreme word!) is the best part.

Brisso

Darmabum

Brisso is right, don't believe ALL the hype, but do believe some of it, the "hype" is, after all, someone's experience . . . if you can't pee on a train your $2500 won't last long, and, your altitude problems will/may pale in comparison with your urinary tract problems . . . and again, with a nod to Brisso - "culture shock is the best part" . . . if not, go to Hawaii