Valley of Flowers & H Sahib with a 2 yr Old Kid

k_cborty

Will any one know of transporter in Delhi who have drivers with good knowledge of hilly terrains.

Pls suggest.

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Nick-H

ks_bluechip, my Indica was three years old when I got it, pre-turbo and just awful in terms of any kind of performance. I'm glad I never had to drive it up a hill . More recent ones may be better.

But the engine does not change the inside space: there is not enough for a family plus bags.

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Dilliwala

K C

1. I'm guessing u've read Valley of flowers with family in julyend-early august about travelling with kids.

2. As someone who has driven a LOT in Garhwal, including on roads which make Rishikesh-Badrinath look like a first-class highway in comparison AND on roads which are called 'roads' for lack of another word - u do NOT need a 4 WD to go to Govindghat/Badrinath. It will not help u if the road is partially missing due to landslides or is closed with a 6 metre high vertical pile of mud and stone caused by a landslide - there's only so much a 4 WD can do, it's not a Humvee. Where the roads are open, a 2 WD with a good engine is more than enuff, no matter what the road surface condition is. So better to save the cash u'd spend on a 4 WD and spend it on something else. Take a Qualis, or better still try to get a Bolero or Scorpio (2 WD), which have more powerful engines. They'll probably cost more though. On no account shud u take a vehicle with low ground clearance.

3. It shud be very easy to get a vehicle and driver with hills experience in Haridwar or Rishikesh. Raghu has given u the location in HW. Other than that, another member rishabh6296 knows a driver in Delhi with lots of hills experience including difficult terrain. I expect rishabh will be along soon with more info, or u cud PM him.

4. I wud try to move further up-valley on your first day instead of Shrinagar - to Rudraprayag, Karnprayag or Joshimath. The first 2 are comfortably reachable, Joshimath is pushing it to the limit espesh with father and child. But Joshimath is at a higher altitude, and it wud be less of a difference to the next night's altitude of Badrinath which is espesh imp for your father (I presume he will go directly there while u're at VOF). Plus next morning's gate-opening at Joshimath wud be easier to coincide with if u stay there.

5. It shud not be a prob for your father to go to Badrinath, if his general health is OK, so long as he will not have to be suddenly rushed to a proper hospital. U can forget about any emergency evacuation, and altho Joshimath has a hospital, it might be necess to go as far as Shrinagar, if lucky Rudraprayag or Gopeshwar. But acclimatisation is imp espesh for older folks, which is why I suggest Joshimath for your 1st night, rather than lower down. I'll go along with the others that it's highly recommended to discuss with his doc in detail. Take along ALL his medical supplies for the trip, espesh any hard-to-get meds. I know from experience that something easy to get in Dehradun or Mussoorie even was not available in Rudraprayag, for example. Don't rely on buying meds en-route except the very common stuff.

6. Vasudhara Falls is a 5-km walk from Mana, so it shud be no prob to do it same day as planned, also for your kid in a doli/kandi. Or u cud leave him behind at Badrinath along with father and maid if u feel he's not upto it.

solo_trekker

hiya, 4 wd vehciles are ideal, not essential.
it's best not to take a driver from delhi but to take one only once u reach haridwar / rishikesh.
rest assured about september - the trek to vof is perfect - the flowers, though fewer, are still there. hemkund sahib closes only in the first week of october.
the only precaution to take for your dad is acclimitisation - and if he spends time at joshimath while u r trekking, there is no problem at all. nose bleed at high altitudes for first timers and the elderly is common. take care.

capt_mahajan

Indica. Its good enough and you won't need the A/c in the hills, which gives you more power.

Its comfortable enough and cost effective . When hiring, say you want non a/c, its cheaper.

As the others have said, this is good enough.

Years ago, I did this trip in a seven year old Maruti 800, and four adults. Actually, I did it from Hyderabad

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k_cborty

I'm trying still trying to figure out a 4 WD Vehicle or 2 WD High Performance vehicle from Delhi...(Any info Welcomed!)

Will then start on 6th Sept (Friday) afternoon.
Suggestions on two areas needed:

Basic medicine to carry
Basic trekking material to carry

regards

Kaushik

Dilliwala

But now there'll be 4 adults + toddler plus all that stuff, espesh for the trek. Bit tight, no?

Very good point though, which the rest of us have missed, about hiring a non a/c vehicle.

Well, by ranking it wud have to be Scorpio (new model),Scorpio (old model), Bolero with turbo, Bolero without turbo, and Qualis. I wud avoid smaller-sized vehicles for comfort reasons.

Again I'll emphasise that u do not need a 4 WD. They are only required in purely off-road conditions; u won't be facing any. If it makes u feel more comfortable to take one, I wud suggest to do that only if the price difference is "minimal".

I shud point out in general that people who live in the hills buy their vehicles based on the same principles as plains-people, i.e., it's primarily pocket-dictated and not terrain-dictated. Which is why one sees plenty of M800's, Omni vans, Altos, etc on all kinds of roads up there - in all of the Himalaya there are not many spots where locals get stuck becos their engines aren't powerful enuff.

shahronakm

I did the following journey in a Non A/c Maruti Van (Omni)hired from Kathgodam during the month of Feb 05 along with my wife (Just two of us). Except for a puncture at Munsyari there was no problem at all. However during rains you have to be a little cautious.

Kathgodam - Nainital - Corbett - Binsar - Pithorgarh - Munsyari - Chaukori - Kausani - Joshimath.

Ronak.

k_cborty

Even i did Munsiyari on Omni with wife...there was no problem.

Bit life's different with a 2 yr old daughter

k_cborty

Now i'm all set to start in next five days.
Can't wait to see VOF anymore

My final plan chalked out ex Delhi

7th Sept (Fri)-Leaving for Hardwar via Jan Shatabdi (O/N Hardwar)
8th Sept (Sat)-Hardwar to Joshimath (O/N Joshimath)
9th Sept (Sun)- Roam around in Auli (O/N Joshimath)
10th Sept(Mon)-Joshimath -Govindghat- Ghangaria(O/N Ghangaria)
11th Sept(Tues)-Ghangaria-VOF-Ghangaria (O/N Ghangaria)
12th Sept(Wed)-Ghangaria-HS-Ghangaria(O/N Ghangaria)
13th Sept(Thurs)-Ghangaria-Govindghat-Badrinath (O/N Badrinath)
14th Sept (Fri)-Badrinath Darshan and Vasudhara Trek (O/N Badrinath)
15th Sept (Sat)-Badrinath to Rudraprayag (O/N Rudraprayag)
16th Sept (Sun)-Rudraprayad to Hardwar and board train

There are 5 of us now-Me,Wife,Kid,father-in-law and maid

Key logistics worked out:

-We are hiring a Scorpio from Hardwar for the entire trip (Cost-Rs6500 for first 3 days and then Rs 1200 for each day)
-Consulted child specialist for kid and are taking along all necessary medicines for us and kid
-Booking done for Hardwar and Joshimath

Suggestions needed:

-Hope the vehicle chosen and the cost is ok
-How is the weather now (If anybody is aware)
-How to get a booking done in Ghangaria and Badrinath(Is it necessary)
-Is the overall plan ok...any thing i missed out on

regards,

Kaushik

capt_mahajan

Vehicle is good.
Weather: Joshimath, clear.
Temperature 15C/7C

Booking at Ghangaria is always a good idea.

Missed anything? Checklist
Wallet
Money
Keys
Wife
Kid


Enjoy. Envy you.

k_cborty

Can anybody provide me with phone no through which i can get booking done in Ghangaria/Badrinath

infinion

monsieur Kaushik

my suggestions only. Hope your father in law does not get access to this posting.

buddy , wiser to split Hardwar - Joshimat journey into 2 = hard - Rudraprayag GMVN + rudra - joshimath - Auli. stay in the GMVN Auli wooden cottage ( book online ) with one of the best scenaries of mountains in the front. enjoy the second honeymoon, You may want to stay the same place again after 3 years , with another 2 year old with you !!

it is wiser , with the child, since you are suddenly gaining a height of 1000 meters+ straight from Rishikesh, to break the journey in the middle. Rudraprayag GMVN is a perfect place , it is at the Sangam itself.

always , while travelling in Uttaranchal , plan for 1 extra day , in case of any emergencies.

bon voyage
<>
www.infinions.blogspot.com

infinion

reservation offices - GMVN , more details at www.gmvnl.com

Uttranchal Tourism
PRO Haridwar
PRO GMVN Ltd.Haridwar.
Lalta Rao Bridge, Haridwar-249408.
Tel.: 01334-228686.
Fax: 01334-226430.

Uttranchal Tourism
PRO Delhi
Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam Ltd.
102- Indraprakash Building, Barakhamba Road,
New Delhi 110001
Tel.: 011-23350481, 23326620.
Fax : 011-23327713.
Email: delhi@gmvnl.com .
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Ghangaria
Altitude : 3048 m
Prime Time
( Jun - Oct )

Room Type Tariff

DLX Rs. 950
ECO Rs. 750
DORM Rs. 150
DH Rs. 900
FGH4 Rs. 600
FGH10 Rs. 1500

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rudraprayag
Phone No. : 01364-233347
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Badrinath
Altitude : 3411 m
Temp : Max (5.9oC)
Min (oC)
Phone No. : 01381-222212



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Sadanand Kamath

I agree with infinion's suggestion to split the Haridwar-Joshimath in to two days.You will be covering 280 kms from Haridwar to Joshimath in a single day with an altitude gain of about 6000 ft which may be tough for your child.

In September 2000, I travelled with my family from Haridwar to Joshimath in a taxi. My mother (76 years at that time) had problem with acclimatisation at Joshimath. Next day she was alright at Joshimath but at Badrinath she had breathing problem. After taking darshan, we immediately started return journey and stayed at Nandaprayag where she was normal.

If you can consider taking Shatabdi Express from New Delhi which reaches Haridwar at 11.30 hours, you can reach Rudraprayag by evening on the same day by taxi. In this way, you can keep your schedule from Sept.9 onwards intact.

Sadanand

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