Ramanan Ramesh

ADVISORY for those headed to Ladakh I am getting such calls multiple times a week these days. Thanks to social media and better roads, an increasing number of people want to drive nonstop to Ladakh, especially Pangong. As the calls keep coming, I often hear the same concerns - 'We're currently on our way from Manali and plan to reach your place by night. Could you guide us in booking your rooms? We're also travelling with children. The issue is that they only see the distance (500km) and don't have any idea about the road, crazy elevation, and dangers involved in a nonstop run from 5,500 feet to 14,000 feet, including 18,000-foot passes. The key reasons are the lack of homework and research. Such families end up getting stuck in remote places, and in most cases, AMS (acute mountain sickness) hits them hard as well. If you plan a road trip to Ladakh, please do some basic research. 1) Via Kashmir is far better. Better roads, better mobile signal and less elevation changes. Still, break your trip at Kargil (if doing Srinagar to Leh) 2) Via Manali is adventurous but comes with its own set of challenges. Post Manali, stay at Jispa or Keylong. Most don't want to as "it's just a 3-hour drive." They don't understand that the body has moved from 5500 feet to 11000 feet, and post Jispa (Darcha), there are no proper night halts. Staying at Sarchu (14000 feet) post Manali will be bad for the body. Next night after Jispa / Keylong can be Sarchu, driving straight to Leh via Tanglang la pass (17000 feet) will invite AMS. PLEASE pass this onto anyone planning a roadtrip to the roof of the world. And NO, Pangong doesn't have night markets, cafes, or rooftop restaurants, or even Wi-Fi and 24x7 electricity, for that matter. It's a remote place with basic amenities. If you want a Smart TV-equipped room with heated beds and multi-cuisine meals, you are NOT meant for this place.