Best time to visit the Andaman Islands

August 31, 2015 Aseem Bhatnagar Leave a comment

Are you planning a vacation with your family or friends to Andaman Islands?? and still wondering when it is the best time to visit ?? Well we at Trip Platform have prepared a season wise breakup for you to understand and decide for yourself when it is the best for you to visit the Andaman Island and enjoy your holiday and indulge in water sports along with your family and friends.

The emerald islands of Andaman and Nicobar is situated at a distance of 900 km from India in the Bay of Bengal and is a popular tourist destination of India. The island offers visiting tourist with breathtaking natural beauty, wonderful landscapes and lush vegetation. Furthermore, the islands provides a clean environment for tourist to enjoy thrilling adventure sports and above all the warm hospitality of the people of Andaman which attracts thousands of nature lovers and holiday makers from across the globe all year round.

Climate

The Andaman Islands is blessed with a nice weather throughout the year. The Island experiences a tropical climate with an average temperature ranging from 22 degree Celsius to 35 degree Celsius and relative humidity ranging from 70 % to 90 %.

About 86% of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is covered with tropical rain-forest and is not known for any severe climatic conditions with an exception of tropical storms and heavy rains in the monsoons and late summer.

The islands receive an annual rainfall of 3000 mm and there is no fixed climate in the islands as out of nowhere it may start raining and all of a sudden there is bright sunshine after a drizzle or heavy downpour. Usually the tourist season is from October to April and OFF season is from mid May to September.

The best time to visit Andaman and Nicobar Islands if from November to April.

Seasons

Monsoon (June to September) and Post Monsoon (October to mid December)

The islands experience monsoon season almost twice a year, the reason is the first monsoon takes place under the influence of southwest monsoon winds which starts from mid May and lasts till September. However the post monsoon continues under the influence of the northeast monsoons winds from October to December.

Lightning a common occurrence at a beach in the Andaman during Monsoon.

Andaman Islands receive heavy rainfall which is accompanied with strong winds from mid May to September while from October to December the rainfall is fairly moderate and during this time the weather is hot and humid.

A boat man signals of a heavy downpour as a tourist boats rush towards the coast.

Many tourists avoid visiting the islands during the peak monsoon season (June to September), as during this time the islands are more prone to heavy rains and thunderstorms which makes it very difficult for them to enjoy sightseeing and indulge in other outdoor activities.

A Tourist walks along a beach on a cloudy evening as the sunsets

Though the monsoon season may not be a good time to visit the Islands, but it is a wonderful time for nature lovers to come a explore nature and admire the lush greenery and pristine beauty of the islands and at the same time take pleasure of the rain. Moreover during this time hotels give attractive discounts which make a visit even more memorable.

Winter (December to February)

Technically speaking there are only two seasons in Andaman Islands i.e. summers and monsoons.Andaman does not have chilly winters like north India, but during the months of December to February the weather is mild and pleasant as the temperature hovers around 20 degree to 30 degree Celsius during this time.

Tourist enjoy a pleasant weather while relaxing at Havelock Island.

This is the best time to visit Andaman’s and enjoy water sport activities and explore the islands without any worry.

Summer (March to May)

Summers in Andaman begins by March and ends by mid May these months are warm with pleasant sea breeze blowing throughout the day and humidity is about 80 % during this time.

Tourist enjoying water sports at the Water sports Complex at Port Blair

During this time tourist can indulge in all kinds of activities which are in full swing without any interruption.

For booking for Water Sports Activities and other Adventure Activities please click here

Activities

If visiting during Monsoon season(June to September)

Pros:

An experienced surfer negotiates huge waves

During the monsoon months (June to September) Little Andaman islands is famous for its pumping and high rise waves this is the ideal time for experienced surfers to enjoy some serious surfing.
Furthermore during monsoons visiting tourist can enjoy the scenic beauty and enjoy solitude as there are minimum tourists during this time and can avail of attractive discounts.
The month of October is time for festivals like Durga Pooja and Mari Amman which are celebrated in a grand scale.

Locals of Andaman celebrating Durga Pooja with great fanfare

Cons:

A tourist spends time relaxing at a resort and singing songs on rainy day at the Andaman Islands.

Activities like Sea walks, scuba diving, snorkeling is not operational from June – August due to poor underwater visibility.
During monsoons ferry schedules are erratic and get cancelled whenever there are heavy rains and storms hence island hoping becomes impossible.
Private cruises like Makruzz and Coastal Cruise are not operational from June to August and tourist will have to make use of Government services which is operational all round the year.

If visiting during Winter & Summer season (November to May)

Water sport activities in full swing at the Andaman Islands

The tourism season sets in and the island is full of tourist from all over India and abroad. Tourist can enjoy thrilling activities like water sports, trekking, visiting active volcanoes, wildlife safaris, beach volley ball, game fishing, sea walking, turtle nesting and many other adventure activities uninterrupted. Tourist can also take part and enjoy in the 10 day Andaman and Nicobar Island festival which is held in December.

Trekkers enjoying a trek on a sunny day at the Andaman Islands.

A Word of Caution

The Andaman Islands has witnessed 3 major storms in the last 10 years

Cyclone Sidr in 2007 on November 15, 2007.
Cyclone Phailin in 2013 on October 6, 2013.
Cyclone Hud Hud 2014 on October 12, 2014.

These three storms started in the ocean of Bay of Bengal and reached mainland India after crossing Andaman Islands. So travelers visiting Andaman should keep a constant tab on the weather and also plan their travel smartly.

Cyclone Hud-hud Batters Andaman and Nicobar Islands

It is a good idea to reach Port Blair 2 day before your departure especially if you are flying out of Port Blair, the reason is that in case of a sudden bad weather everything on the island stops, and there will be no ferry service to transport you from one island to another.

Ideally opt for a packaged tour if you are planning 10 days in Andaman Islands and once you reach customize your travel accordingly, the reason is always have a point of contact with someone local who can help you in case you land in odd situations, as in the past there have been situations where travelers have got stranded at remote islands for a day or two before help came their way.

So, that’s it! Hope this information helps all readers to plan their visit to the enchanting Garden of Eden – The Andaman’s!!

How to reach Andaman Islands

August 26, 2015 Aseem Bhatnagar Leave a comment

Locating the Andaman and Nicobar islands at one go on the map of India is never easy, sprinkled far away in the Bay of Bengal these beautiful emerald islands are a part of the Indian territory, even though they are geographically closer to countries like Thailand and Myanmar.

The Union territory of Andaman and Nicobar islands consists of about 572 islands out of which very few islands have been inhabited.The Andaman group of islands comprises of North Andaman, Middle Andaman, South Andaman and little Andaman in addition to many more smaller islands.The Nicobar group of islands consists of the Great Nicobar, Car Nicobar, Nancowry, Katchal and Chowra.The territory’s capital is Port Blair and is situated in the Andamanese islands.

Port Blair is the major gateway to Andaman islands and is directly connected by air and sea from 3 major cities of India viz Chennai, Kolkata and Visakhapatnam.As an Indian national you do not need any permit to visit Andaman islands.However, you will require a permit to visit the Nicobar islands and other tribal areas, and these permits are only issued in exceptional cases by the deputy commissioner of Andaman district at Port Blair.

By Air

This is by far the best and easiest way to reach Andaman islands and most tourist prefer reaching the Andaman islands by flight.The airport at Port Blair i.e. ‘Veer Savarkar International Airport’ is connected with airports at Chennai and Kolkata and the air journey is approximately about 2 hours from both places.There are also a few flights every month from Bhubaneshwar on certain days.Tourist from Mumbai and Delhi can travel to Port Blair by a direct flight (with a brief halt at) via Chennai or Kolkata.

A view of Veer Savarkar airport at Port Blair

The flight fares from Kolkata and Chennai to Andaman Islands are expected to be anywhere between INR 7000 to INR 15000 depending on the choice of airliner.While air fares from Mumbai and Delhi are expected to be anywhere between INR 10000 to INR 25000 depending on the flight duration and halts.

Passengers board an airliner at the Veer Savarkar airport at Port Blair

The major airlines that operate airway services to and from Port Blair are Jet Airways, Air India, Go Air and Spice Jet.These airliners operate regular flights to Port Blair on all 7 days of the week.Private jets and chartered flights are permitted to land at Port Blair airport only after fulfillment of all guidelines laid down by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

By Sea

The Andaman and Nicobar islands are located far away in the Bay of Bengal, this isolation makes tourist and local islanders heavily depend on water ways to reach Port Blair as the Ship fares are cheaper as compared to the flights.

Traveling to the Andaman islands by sea is less preferred by tourist because of the long and arduous journey, but a journey by sea is enjoyed by adventurous travelers and is also preferred by honeymooners who have all the time in the world to enjoy and experience a wonderful 3 day journey by the sea.

One of the best things of going by sea is that you get to see beautiful sunsets over the Bay of Bengal and get a rare glimpse of the dolphins gliding through the waters and flying fishes.

Regular cruises and passenger ships are available for Port Blair from Chennai, Kolkata and Visakhapatnam.There are about 3 to 4 sailings every month from Kolkata and Chennai to Port Blair and vice versa, while there is only one sailing from Visakhapatnam in a month.

Chennai to Port Blair – Voyage time about 60 hours (1190 kms).
Kolkata to Port Blair – Voyage time about 66 hours (1255 kms).
Visakhapatnam to Port Blair – Voyage time about 56 hours (1,200 km).

After reaching Ships normally dock at Port Blair for about 2 to 4 days.

Please note : Schedules of ships can be erratic and cancellations are common due to weather and sea conditions so kindly keep a day or 2 in buffer during your trip.

Regular Ships traveling for Port Blair

M.V Nicobar.
M.V Nancowry.
M.V Swaraj Dweep.
M.V Harshvardhana.
M.V Akbar Deluxe.

Accommodation types and rates on ships

Deluxe Cabin – Between 7000 to 8000.
1st Class Cabin – Between 6000 to 6500.
2nd Class Cabin – Between 5000 to 5500.
Bunk – Between 1500 to 2000.

You can choose deluxe cabins; air conditioned dormitories or bunker class depending on your budget.

A family relaxes inside the MV Nancowry during their journey to Port Blair

Please note the above mentioned fares are for visiting tourist, each class on a ship has separate charges for local islanders and for tourist.

Know more about the latest Andaman ship schedules and fares 2015

and

Mainland Ship Fare for the Year 2015-2016

Contact details of Shipping Services

The Directorate of Shipping Service.
Andaman and Nicobar Administration,
Phoenix Bay Jetty,
Port Blair – 744 101.
Telephone : (03192) 232528 / 232742.

Shipping Corporation of India Limited.
Shipping House,
No.18 Strand Road,
Kolkata – 700 017.
Telephone : (033) 22482354 / 22488013.

The Deputy Director of Shipping Service.
Andaman and Nicobar Administration,
6 Rajaji Salai,
Chennai – 600 078.
Telephone : (044) 25220841 / 25226873.

M/S A.V.Bahanojirow and Garuda Pattabhiramayya & Co.
Agent – Shipping Corporation of India Ltd,
Post Box : No – 17,
Vishakhapatnam.
Telephone : (0891) 2565597 / 2562661.

Inter – Island Transport in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The inter – island transport system is the lifeline of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and all islands here are located at a considerable distance from each other, so these inter – island transport system plays an important role in connecting all inhabited islands. There are two kinds of transport systems i.e. water transport and road transport.

Tourist boarding a Government Ferry at a Jetty

Inter – Island connectivity by Ferry (Government Services):

The Ferry services run by Andaman and Nicobar administration and the Directorate of Shipping Services is the main mode of transport for tourist and local residents while traveling in and around Andaman islands. The administration operates regular ferry services from Phoenix Bay Jetty, Fisheries Jetty and Chatham Jetty all at Port Blair to various tourist places in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands like Havelock Islands, Neil Islands, Rangat, Mayabunder, Diglipur, Little Andaman, Car Nicobar, Chowra, Nancowry, Katchal and Campbell Bay.

The sailing schedules are published in local newspapers like ‘The Daily Telegram’ (English Daily) and Dweep Samachar (Hindi Daily), the sailing schedules are also announced on AIR(All India Radio) and Doordarshan.

Ferry ticket reservation counter at the backdrop

Tickets for ferries are issued through ‘STARS’(Ship Ticketing advanced Reservation System) counters which is managed by the Directorate of Shipping Services.

Ferry Timings

Government ferry to Havelock Islands starts at 6 a.m. 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Government ferry to Port Blair starts at 9 a.m. 2:00 p.m. 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Fares of Mainland and Island Vessels in Inter – Island Sector

Inter – Island connectivity by Ferry (Private Services):

Apart from the inter – island ferry services of Directorate of shipping services, there are a few private players providing ferry services to visiting tourist that operate from Aberdeen Jetty(Andaman Water Sports Complex) to nearby popular tourist destination including Havelock Islands, Ross Island, North Bay and other popular islands. This private service is highly recommended for visiting tourist since your travel time will be considerably cut down and is hassle free.

Inter – Island Luxury Cruise Vessel (Private Service):

MAK Logistics is a major private player in Andaman and Nicobar islands that operates passenger shipping services. They have introduced a daily passenger luxury cruise namely M.V. Makruzz that connects Port Blair with Havelock Islands. This passenger cruise can seat 280 people and can reach Havelock islands in 90 minutes. It starts its daily service from Port Blair at 8:30 a.m. and returns from Havelock Islands by 4:00 p.m., tickets for the luxury cruise can be booked online through tour operators, travel agents or hoteliers at Port Blair.

M.V. Makruzz Fares

Royal Class – INR 1000.
Deluxe Class – INR 750.
Premium Class – INR 650.

Contact Information

Website: www.Makruzz.com
Telephone: 03192 212355 / 236677.

Inter – Island connectivity by Air:

Recently the Directorate of Civil Aviation has introduced sea plane service for tourist places like Havelock Islands, Hut Bay and Diglipur. Tourist can also avail daily helicopter services from Port Blair to other nearby islands such as Havelock Islands, Diglipur, HutBay etc.

Please click here for Helicopter Inter Island Schedule

and

Please click here for Helicopter Fares

Getting around Port Blair by Road

Since there is an absence of rail transport within the islands, road transport is the backbone for both long and short distance travel within the island.

Rent a metered taxi and explore Port Blair

The city of Port Blair has various modes of transport to choose from, metered taxis are easily available while auto rickshaws (Tuk – Tuks) can ferry you to various points of the city. There are also government buses that are ideal for visiting far away destinations within the island.

Tourist prefer renting a bike to explore Port Blair

Motorbikes, scooters and mopeds are easily available at most resorts for hire for a price of about INR 500 per day and is an ideal way to explore the island at your own pace, furthermore the roads are in good condition so tourist will definitely enjoy the drive.

Why Visit the Andaman Islands

August 19, 2015 Aseem Bhatnagar Leave a comment

Whatever you have desired in a fascinating holiday the Andaman Islands has it. The island is a tropical fantasy in the Bay of Bengal and is blessed with endless beaches, natural wonders, historical monuments, culture, adventure sports, spas and shopping. So get inspired and enthralled as I share with you the major attractions of this magical place that will give you a reason to visit the beautiful islands of Andaman’s.

An aerial view of the picturesque Andaman Islands

Beaches

While there are many places in India that offer sandy beaches but none can be compared to the gorgeous collection of sandy beaches with clear blue waters of the Andaman Islands. Visitors will feel relaxed the minute they set foot on any of the beaches and enjoy the sun, the waves, and the scenic beauty all around and indulge in a host of beach activities. For the more adventurous and romantic couples it is ridiculously easy to find a deserted beach and call it their own for the day.

Here is a list of fantastic beaches to choose from: Radhanagar beach, Ross and Smith beach, Wandoor beach, Corbyn’s Cove beach, Elephant beach, Long Island beach and many many more.

Untouched Virgin Islands

Tourist can pack a picnic to one of the several untouched islands and have the island completely to themselves with pristine beaches and crystal clear waters; tourist can also explore the untouched island from within which is home to many rare species of flora and fauna.

A view of the Havelock Islands in Andaman

Hire a boat and take your time in exploring every island in the vicinity, which are unique and have their own beauty and charm for every traveler to experience once in a life time.

Tourist on a boat exploring the virgin Islands of Andaman

Tourist can go island hoping as there are many islands to choose from and some of the most beautiful and visited islands are the Havelock islands, Ross and Smith islands, Hut Bay islands, Campbell islands, Avis islands and many more.

Explore the rich marine life

The clear blue seas of Andaman are home to numerous water sport activities like snorkeling and scuba diving where divers can explore the treasure trove of coral reefs and the rich marine life in all shapes and sizes.

Even if you do not know how to swim you can still get an experience of the beautiful marine life as you will be escorted by experienced seas divers.

A diver gets a close up view of the coral reefs

Best diving sites for Scuba diving and Snorkeling: Havelock Islands, Rutland Islands, Jolly Buoy, North Bay, Cinque Islands, Red Skin, Bala Reef and many more.

Climate

An excellent weather awaits you from winter to summer i.e. (December to April) when the weather remains pleasant throughout the day for sightseeing, beach activities and water sports.

Children enjoy themselves on a sunny day at the Andaman Islands

Winter (December to February)

During winters the minimum temperature remains around 22 degrees while the average maximum is around 30 degrees making the daytime a bit warm.

Summer (March to May)

In summers the average minimum temperature remains around 24 degrees while the maximum temperature is generally in the mid-thirties making it a slightly uncomfortable time to visit.

Monsoon (June to September)

A visit to Andaman should be avoided during this time as the entire Bay of Bengal region is home to tropical storms and heavy winds. However, the post monsoon rain continues till December and the weather during this time remains hot and humid.

Food Lovers Paradise

A paradise for sea food lovers, as the island offers them with fresh and wide variety of fishes, crabs, prawns, and lobsters to choose from.

Availability of fresh sea-foods like lobster and prawns at the Islands make it a food paradise.

Apart from sea foods both vegetarian and non vegetarian cuisines of Indian, Chinese, Thai, Continental, South Indian, Bengali and Israeli origins can be relished at some of the most popular restaurants of Andaman.

Adventure Sports Activities

Are you a water sports enthusiast? If yes, then you can’t afford to miss this when in the Andaman’s, the Andaman Water Sport Complex offers all kinds of water sports facilities like Para-sailing, sail boats, rowing boats, water scooters, paddle boats, kayaks and water skiing, So gear up for your adventure trip and experience some adrenaline rush at the picturesque spots on the islands.

A tourist enjoying a ride in a Water Scooters at the Andaman Water Sports Complex.

Take a trek through nature from Mount Harriet to Madhuban and get a firsthand experience of the forest life in Andaman’s which is home to some rare exotic flora and fauna.

Tourist trekking through the dense forest in an Island.

Travelers can add more adventure to their trip by enjoying Island camping at Havelock Islands on the white sandy beaches and club Island camping with backpacking or hiking which will further enrich their trip to the Andaman’s.

Take a Wildlife Safari

Discover some enticing wildlife that is hidden deep in the jungles of the islands or in the lagoons surrounding the islands.

A herd of elephants cooling themselves from the heat.

Andaman’s is home to famous National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries like Wandoor National Park, Saddle National Park, The Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve and Marine National Park. These Parks boast of a diverse range of wildlife and are a bird watchers paradise.

Turtle Nesting

For some more adventure, visit the Kalipur beach in Diglipur and get mesmerized by this craggy island as this is the only place in the world that boasts of nesting by four types of sea turtles i.e. Leatherback turtles, Olive Ridley, Green turtles and Hawks Bill.

Tourist get a rare glimpse of a huge Leather-back turtle

Apart from this beach, turtle nestling takes place at many other beaches in Andaman’s and the best time to get a glimpse of Turtle nestling is from December to February.

Relax and enjoy in solitude

Escape the hustle and bustle of the daily city life and come on a unhurried holiday into a different world where you can enjoy a quiet village life in solitude, in midst of lush green forests and sandy beaches and breathe fresh air and feel rejuvenated.

A Romantic Getaway

Getting Married? Are you planning your honeymoon and undecided where to go? Visit the Andaman Islands which is one of the top honeymoon destinations of India.

Be it a honeymoon or just a romantic getaway, couples can enjoy romantic moments on quite beaches, with clear waters and calm surroundings and share special moments of love with their partner.

Apart from being paradise for honeymooners, the island offers an exotic environment, world class hotels, privacy, fine dining and loads of adventurous activities for couples to remember for a lifetime.

Meet cheerful and kindhearted people

Andaman is a unique tourist destination and has been home to no one particular religion, language or caste, but to people of all religions. Andaman’s is inhabited by people from different ethnic backgrounds like Tamil’s, Telugu, Punjabi’s and Bengali’s who now form the local population, Hindi is the common language and is used and understood by most, also the people here are very kindhearted and welcoming and value visiting tourist very much. Furthermore, the Andaman Islands is very safe to visit and solo female travelers can travel here without any worry.

Female tourist being welcomed by locals of Andaman

With this post, I hope readers have enough reasons to visit the Andaman Islands, Get inspired and live their dreams.

Precautions to be taken before and after reaching Leh by Air

August 13, 2015 Aseem Bhatnagar Leave a comment

In recent times Ladakh has become a major tourist hotspot, and every year thousands of tourist visit Ladakh to enjoy the scenic beauty by the lakes and breathtaking views of long stretched landscapes.

The city of Leh is situated at 11,500 feet above sea level and traveling around Ladakh will take travelers further above 15,000 feet every time they get over some pass. Furthermore Ladakh experiences considerable fluctuations in day and night temperatures even during summer months from (June to September) which further adds to the unfavorable living conditions.

An aerial view from an aircraft flying above the snow white peaks of Ladakh.

So if you are planning to fly into Leh, it is very important for you to understand the precautions you must take while visiting places on high altitudes and take AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) seriously.

Understanding AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) and Acclimatization.

High altitudes can be classified into the following:

High Altitude – Between 8,000 feet to 12,000 feet.
Very High Altitude – Between 12,000 feet to 18, 000 feet.
Extremely High Altitude – 18,000 feet and above.

An average person can easily travel up to 8,000 feet without any problems of mountain sickness, but as the altitude of the traveler increases the barometric pressure starts to decrease resulting in reduced oxygen intake per breath. Now in order to balance the oxygen intake your body needs to increase your breathing rate. However, even after increased breathing rate and increased oxygen level in blood, there is no increase in oxygen level that is actually required to maintain balance.

A group of Trekkers taking a break and acclimatizing to the high altitude.

Hence by spending sometime (few hours) at high altitudes the traveler’s body begins to adapt to the changes in the oxygen levels and this process is called as Acclimatization. Acclimatizing to high altitudes differs from person to person and each person copes at a different level.

A traveler showing symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness.

Understanding level, symptoms and cure of AMS

AMS Level : Mild.
Symptoms of AMS : Headache, dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, nausea, disturbed sleep, and a general feeling of uneasiness.
Possible Treatment : Medication or Descend.

AMS Level : Moderate.
Symptoms of AMS : Decreased coordination (ataxia), Severe headache (not relieved by medicine), other mild level symptoms with increased affect.
Possible Treatment : Advanced Medication or immediate descend of about 1000 to 2000 feet.

AMS Level : Severe.
Symptoms of AMS : Inability to walk, decreasing mental status, and fluid build-up in the lungs.
Possible Treatment : Immediate Descend of about 2000 to 4000 feet.

Precautions before flying into Leh

In case any traveler suffers from any kind of blood, lung or heart related problems they should consult their doctor before visiting Ladakh as a visit may cause serious additional problems.

Experienced travelers and trekkers suggest one Diamox tablet per day should be taken for 2 days prior to your departure for Leh by air, and continue it within Ladakh for a day or two if required, to overcome the effect of high altitude. However, travelers MUST consult their family doctor before using medicines like Diamox. Please note: Diamox does not ‘mask’ AMS symptoms; it actually tricks your body into breathing a little faster, and thus helps you in acclimatizing faster.

Carry all other essential medicines, including those prescribed by personal physicians.

A couple of weeks before leaving for Leh, indulge in an Iron rich diet i.e. dark green leafy vegetables, meat and drink vegetable and fruit juices instead of milk or tea, as it will help your body in maintaining high energy levels and will be helpful during your visit to Ladakh.

A family spends time relaxing in a hotel garden after their arrival to Leh

Precautions after reaching Leh by air

On arrival devote two days to just resting and letting your body get used to the high altitude and climate of Leh.

Apart from rest, drink ample of water or any liquid that can keep your body hydrated. Beware ‘DO NOT OVER HYDRATE’.

Do not set off for high energy activities such as trekking, instead after 5 – 6 hours of rest make leisurely visits to nearby markets and monasteries of Leh.

Avoid smoking or consuming alcohol until you are fully acclimatized.

In case you do experience shortness of breath, disturbed sleep, lethargy, loss of appetite, constant coughing or nausea seek medical assistance at the local hospital ‘Sonam Norboo Memorial Hospital’, which is well equipped to handle acute mountain sickness and other ailments.

Travelers can purchase portable oxygen cylinders, which are available at chemist shops which provide temporary relief, in case you or other family members start feeling uneasy.

Be flexible with your travel plans while touring Ladakh, do not over-stress or push yourself at the cost of your own health and well being.

Keep yourself warm at all times by wearing woolens and make sure your clothes are always dry.

Eat a high carbohydrate diet while you are traveling or staying at high altitudes.

Avoid overeating and eat light with frequent small meals during the day.

Follow the trekkers mantra, ‘Climb high and sleep low’ i.e. even though you might travel across high altitudes and passes during the day, you should try and sleep at places at the lower altitudes.

Pangong Lake in one day and two days

August 11, 2015 Aseem Bhatnagar Leave a comment

Pangong Tso Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in Ladakh and a trip to the lake will always remain the most memorable travel experiences of your life and as most visiting travelers say “A trip to Ladakh is incomplete without a visit to this beautiful Lake.”

Today, Pangong Tso Lake has become one of the most visited places by domestic tourists ever since the Bollywood blockbuster ‘3 idiots’ was shot here. One can see a more and more films being shot around this mesmerizing lake. From May 2014 onwards, Indian Tourists do not require an Inner Line Permits for visiting Pangong Tso Lake.

A tourist admiring the beauty in solitude at Pangong Tso

A one day trip to Pangong

If you are planning a day’s trip to Pangong Lake then make sure you leave early in the morning, a round trip to Pangong Lake is 340 km and involves a minimum of 10 hours of travel. Leaving early will allow you to take halts during the journey and enjoy the panoramic views of the landscape. Also you can make quick visits to popular tourist destinations on the way like Choglamsar, a place where Dalai Lama stays whenever he visits Leh, Shey an ancient capital of Ladakh, the Thikse Monastery, etc and spend some time at the Changla Pass, the world’s third highest motor able road.

After reaching Pangong Lake by noon, you can spend a couple of hours by the Lake close to nature and enjoy the scenery which is unforgettable and around late afternoon drive back to Leh so that you reach safely by night fall. Though a day’s trip is not recommended as it leaves you with very little time to spend at Pangong Tso Lake and also you will miss on the scenic beauty of the changing colours of the Lake during sunrise and sunset. But nevertheless many travelers visiting Ladakh prefer the Leh – Pangong Tso excursion as a day trip and return to Leh by night fall due to the limited time they have in hand.

A two day trip to Pangong

A two day trip is highly recommended as you get to spend a memorable night by the Lake and also get a rare glimpse of the changing colours of the Lake and the entire landscape of Pangong Tso during sunrise and sunset. Travelers can also explore the entire Pangong Tso area and villages further away from the lake at leisure.

Tourist enjoying themselves at the Pangong Tso Lake

Apart from traveling at your own pace to and from Leh, you can spend time visiting attractions on the way like Hemis Monastery, Thicksey Monastery, Shey Palace and many other attractions of your choice with leisure without having to worry about the time and add excitement and a great level satisfaction to your trip.

Travelers pitch their tents by the Pangong Tso Lake.

An ideal two itinerary:

On Day 1: Leh – Visit to Hemis Monastery – Spend entire day at the Pangong Tso Lake.

On Day 2: – Enjoy the sunrise at Pangong Tso Lake – Visit the Thicksey Monastery on the way – Visit the Shey Palace – Reach Leh by nightfall.

Journey from Leh to the Pangong Lake via Chang La

Total distance: 175 kms

Leh – Shey – Karu (45 kms)
Karu – Shakti – Chang La (40 kms)
Chang La – Durbuk – Tangste (60 kms)
Tangste – Lukung – Spangmik – Pangong Tso (30 kms)

Let’s briefly understand this route and know what’s in store for travelers.

Leh – Shey – Karu: The distance between Leh and Pangong Lake is 175 kms and the roads are in a pretty good condition even then it might take you more than 5 hours to reach Pangong as you might want to take frequent stops to enjoy the beautiful vistas.So start early and take the Manali – Leh highway and drive till you reach Karu, this should take you less than an hour.

Karu – Shakti – Chang La: After reaching Karu, leave the Manali – Leh highway and take the left towards Shakti and continue towards Chang La, the ascent for Chang La starts within a few kilometers after you have crossed Shakti.

After sometime you will reach Chang La which is at 17,590 feet and is known to be the third highest motor-able road in the world, Once here take a break and enjoy a hot cup of coffee or tea at the small cafeteria and enjoy your Chang La moment with a few rounds of photography with your friends and family.Nearby there is a small temple built by the Indian Army called ‘Chang La Baba Ka Mandir’, travelers seek blessings at the temple in order to have a safe journey.

Chang La – Durbuk – Tangste: After Chang La, continue your journey and descend towards Durbuk. While descending initially the road could be a little bad but later it is a smooth drive for rest of the journey.

After a couple of hours, you will reach the town of Tangste, a major town on this route where you will find several shops, hotels and guest houses. If you reached Tangste around noon, then have your lunch here and if you have reached Tangste in the evening then it is advisable to spend the night at Tangste rather than continuing your journey to Pangong as finding a decent accommodation at Lukung or Spangmik without prior booking may be difficult.

Tangste – Lukung – Spangmik – Pangong Tso : After leaving Tangste it is a fairly smooth and straight drive to the village of Spangmik, however there are a few areas on the way where you will find streams of water flowing down from the hills on the road, drivers should drive with caution as these streams and water puddles may be deep. Within an hour’s drive from Spangmik, the tar road turns into a dirt track, from here on you will start getting the first glimpse of the beautiful lake and an indication that you have reached Pangong Tso.

Accommodations

If you are planning a 2 day trip then it is very important to know about the accommodations in and around Pangong Tso.

Tangste: A major town of this region is 32 kms before Pangong Tso, and is an ideal place to spend the night, due to the sheer number of restaurants, hotels and guest houses which are of better quality and standard as compared to places like Lukung and Spangmik.

Eco huts on the banks of Pangong Tso Lake

Lukung: At Lukung Eco Huts are situated just right of the shore of Pangong Tso. The major issue here is that there is no electricity or proper toilets, just camping grade toilet and facilities with warm water courtesy solar water heater which is ideal for adventure travelers. Apart from this, travelers can pitch their own tents here and spend the night.

Spangmik: The village of Spangmik has only one hotel which offers decent rooms as well camping facilities by the lake on luxury tents which can be expensive; however budget travelers can also opt for a suitable accommodation at family run guest houses or home stays for spending their night.

Different Seasons at Pangong Tso

From December to March, Pangong Tso Lake remains frozen and with extremely cold conditions all around there are no facilities of staying around the lake. Come April and the snow begins to melt and slowly the Lake starts transforming into beautiful multi shades of blue. From May to August is the peak tourist season and travelers from India and abroad generally flock to the shores of the Pangong Tso Lake. During this summer period, a large number of migratory birds can also be seen around the lake which include the the bar headed goose and Brahmini ducks.

A traveler enjoys the view of migratory birds at the Lake.

From September onwards to early October, tourist traffic begins to fall as the cold season starts to set in and tents at campsites begin to pack up. But according to many adventure travelers this is the best time to visit Pangong Tso as it is in its full glory with beautiful shades of blue colour also travelers can get better deals on accommodation and enjoy more in solitude. After the second week of October up to December, all accommodation at campsites pack up and now the only nearest place you can stay is either at some home stay with basic facilities in the nearby villages of Spangmik or Lukung or at a family run guest house at Tangste which has better facilities to fight the bitter cold.

Different Cuisines of Ladakh

August 1, 2015 Aseem Bhatnagar Leave a comment

Ladakh lies at a high altitude in a cold and arid region of India, hence its traditional cuisines are highly influenced by its agricultural produce which depends on the climatic conditions and on the limited variety of crops.

Ladakhi cuisines are considered to be a blend of Chinese, Kashmiri and Korean cuisines and there are about 60 traditional dishes which the locals of Ladakh prepare, these cuisines are prepared in a very simple style accompanied by some mild and tasteful ingredients.

A traditional Ladakhi kitchen at a home-stay in Leh

Authentic cuisines of Ladakh greatly differ from the usual cuisines of India which are generally curry based and spicy.But in present times the Ladakhi people are getting influenced by new cooking styles and are blending these new styles in their traditional cooking.

Due to limited availability of vegetables, vegetarian food mainly consists of vegetables like beans, beetroot, potatoes and pumpkins which are mixed with ingredients like milk and butter, along with vegetarian food Ladakhis also consume meat products. Ladakhi food is often accompanied with various kinds of sauces made from various spices which add to their taste.

So, if you are planning to visit Ladakh, ideally stay in family run guest houses or home-stays where you will get the taste of authentic Ladakhi cuisines.

Traditional Cuisines of Ladakh

Momos:

Locally known as ‘Kothey’, Momos are one of the most liked dishes by the people of India, and it is one of the most wonderful gift to the country by the people of Ladakh and from the Northeastern states.

Today, there are many variants of Momos available everywhere in India, but in Ladakh Momos are prepared using dough of white flour with water and minced vegetables, meat or cheese is stuffed into the dough.They are then either steam cooked or deep fried as per choice and is served with chili sauce and soup.

Thupka:

Thupka finds its origin to Tibet and in Tibetan language Thupka means noodles; Thupka is basically a noodle soup which is prepared by mixing noodles with boiled vegetables and adding chunks of Yak meat or chicken.

Thupka is a very popular soup in Ladakh and is prepared by the locals in different varieties to suit each taste.

Thenthuk:

Thenthuk is a noodle soup made of wheat flour; the soup contains a mixture of vegetables and pieces of Yak meat or mutton.

Thenthuk is considered a heavy food and is served as lunch or dinner by the Ladakhis.

Skyu:

Skyu is a traditional dish which is part of the daily meal of local Ladakhis, Skyu is prepared with soft wheat dough which is kneaded into small sized balls and cooked with meat and vegetable stew.

Skyu is generally enjoyed with Momos.

Paba and Tangtur:

Paba and Tangtur is a staple food of Ladakh and is considered as a very nutritious dish.

Paba is basically a bread made from a mixture of roasted flours of barley, buckwheat, wheat, Ladakhi black beans and peas which is mostly eaten along with local dishes like Tangtur and Zathuk.

Tangtur is a different type of buttermilk in Ladakh which is made from wild vegetables that are locally available.

Khambir:

Khambir is another variant of Ladakhi bread made from whole wheat and is oval in shape; Khambir is a popular breakfast item and is eaten along with mildly salted butter tea.

Tourist can also relish freshly prepared bread from bakeries of Leh along with locally made Apricot Jams.

Chang – The Local Beer:

Chang, a local brew is prepared by fermenting miller with yeast in a traditional cylindrical porcelain pot. Chang beer is mildly intoxicating and keeps locals warm during the chilly winters of Ladakh.

A word of caution: High altitudes and too much alcohol do not mix well, so nevertheless do try out this local beverage but drink responsibly.

Ladakhi Tea:

Tea preparation in Ladakh is different from the way it is prepared in other parts of India. Traditional tea of Ladakh is prepared using butter and tastes more like soup. The tea at first prepared very strong, brewed for a long time and then diluted to a drinkable strength.

Tea is made in bulk and is kept hot using a traditional decorative copper pot or a charcoal brazier and more often in the prosaic thermos. Tea is drunk in enormous quantities by the Ladakhis and consuming thirty or forty cups a day is a norm. Ladakhi tea is considered both warming and nourishing, particularly when accompanied with Tsampa and is a comforting drink during cold seasons.

Cholak:

Tsampa is a staple food and is prepared by mixing barley, roasted grain and saltwater this dish is then accompanied with Chang or buttermilk. The combination of all ingredients and dishes is called as ‘Cholak’.

Holkur:

These are homemade biscuits that and are prepared by mixing whole grain with nuts and sugar. These biscuits are very popular with visiting tourist and they are freshly prepared, baked and served by the hosts to visiting tourist during their stay at guest houses and family run home-stays.

Seabuck thorn Juice:

Sea buck thorn berries are found in abundance in Ladakh, this wonder plant is well known for its medicinal and nutritious properties.

Sea buck thorn berries of the wonder plant

Sea buck thorn berry juice is a popular drink in Ladakh and is made from the nectar of the sea buck thorn berries and is enjoyed by locals during special occasions and festivals.

Tourist visiting Ladakh must enjoy a glass of freshly prepared sea buck thorn juice which is available only in Ladakh and nowhere else in India.

Food Festival in Leh:

The best way to enjoy traditional food of Ladakh is by visiting the 2 day Food festival organized by an NGO (Women Alliance of Leh), where all local cuisines are prepared and served hygienically and the intent of organizing this festival is to popularize the rich culture of Ladakh and promote tourism.

The Food Festival is being celebrated for the last 15 years and every year it attracts more and more tourist from all parts of the world. The Food festival is organized during the month of August and dates of the festival could differ each year depending on the organizers.

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Monthly Archives: August 2015

Best time to visit the Andaman Islands

Climate

Seasons

Activities

A Word of Caution

How to reach Andaman Islands

By Air

By Sea

Contact details of Shipping Services

Inter – Island Transport in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Why Visit the Andaman Islands

Beaches

Untouched Virgin Islands

Explore the rich marine life

Climate

Food Lovers Paradise

Adventure Sports Activities

Take a Wildlife Safari

Turtle Nesting

Relax and enjoy in solitude

A Romantic Getaway

Meet cheerful and kindhearted people

Precautions to be taken before and after reaching Leh by Air

Understanding AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) and Acclimatization.

Precautions before flying into Leh

Precautions after reaching Leh by air

Pangong Lake in one day and two days

A one day trip to Pangong

A two day trip to Pangong

Journey from Leh to the Pangong Lake via Chang La

Accommodations

Different Seasons at Pangong Tso

Different Cuisines of Ladakh

Traditional Cuisines of Ladakh

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