Ladakh – Complete Guide
This will help you in planning the trip and may be getting some more like minded people to get along with… This thread will be used a platform for sharing ideas and views on the remarkable journey to abyss in land…
To know the best info on the place, you need to study about where you go…
For your bike:
1. Original and photo copies of you bikes papers, license and PUC.
2. Tool kit along with puncture kit.
3. Extra reflectors
4. Spare tyre tube for your tyres.
5. A foot pump or electric pump (both available in Markets like Karol Bagh).
6. Clutch wire.
7. Accelerator wire.
8. Headlight and break light bulbs.
9. Spark plug at least 2.
10. Engine oil 1lt.
11. Disk break oil {optional}.
12. CDI kit {Optional}.
13. Rear view mirror – You Must have one.
14. Duplicate key of your bike.
15. Get your Carburetor cleaned before going.
16. Sleeping bag and tent in case you plan to visit remote locations such as Pangong Tso Lake.
17. 10 lts cans – 2 if you decide to not buy from Locals…
18. Extra air filters sponge.
19. Maps – You don’t want to get lost in the worlds most unpopulated area…
2. Tank Bag – Very useful for people who have bigger cams…
3. Bungee Codes – get Nylon / Plastic once… they are expensive but by far the most reliable
4. Water Bottle
5. Ready to eat food
6. Small Gas burner bottle – costs around Rs. 150/-
7. Lighter
8. Swiss Army knife
9. Warm woolen fur coat
10. Thermos inner
11. Knew pads, elbow pads/guard, Knuckle guard
12. Lens Cleaner – can be used to clean the helmet visor as well
13. Velvet / nylon cloth {small to clean your helmet visor / lens of camera}
14. Extra memory card if you use digital camera {2 GB}
15. Extra batteries for electronic items
16. Battery charger
17. Woolen Socks
18. Woolen Gloves
19. Sunglasses {important}
20. First aid kit and medicines like Diamox, benedrill {Cough syrup}, paracetamol, eno, etc.
You can buy a normal bag for your luggage… Side bags, tank bags are always helpful…
You need to get your bikes serviced before leaving, fill extra 100ml of engine oil as it would help you afterwards.
Last place to get a good service is Keylong – while going thru Keylong you will find a small workshop on the right side of the road. Very knowledgeable mechanic who can get things running for you, the guy also fixed Comets rear disc break
Diamox is needed for all but rarely people get affected by AMS … in our ride … only one guy was affected by AMS and due to that he lost his balance and fell from the bike and broke his wrist. So please do carry Diamox – at least 1 strip for the group would be sufficient enough.
This Trip can be done around August – September only. Its very good time to ride around. But after or before means bad weather and we were unlucky to encounter heavy rains.
– PLEASE TAKE CARE OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED THINGS AS ITS VERY IMPORTANT.
Acute Mountain Sickness Acute mountain sickness can occur to anyone at an altitude above 10,000 Ft. from the sea level. The most common symptoms of acute mountain sickness are headache disturb sleep, loss of appetite, nausea, coughing, irregular breathing, breathlessness, lassitude and lack of concentration. Since Leh Town is situated at an altitude of 11,500 Ft. above sea level. It is advisable to take the following precautions, so as to acclimatize your body properly. Take complete rest for the first 24 hours of your arrival in Leh. However, this period may vary with different individuals. Your body should get used to the lower oxygen levels. No matter how physically fit you are do not run or exhaust your body for the first day. Because of the Army and borders Ladakh has well equipped Army hospital where the facilities of an Oxygen Chamber are available in case of emergency. The SNM hospital at Leh is also good and Doctors experienced in treating Acute Mountain Sickness.
Telephone SNM Hospital Leh: 252360 Ambulances: 253629
Clinics, Opticians & Chemists
Soway Clinic: Consultant: Dr. Tsering Norboo, Surgeon Specialist
Siachen Chemist: Consultant: Dr. Nurboo Tsering: Tele No. Res.: 53229/ 52758, 52329
Ladakh Medicate Chemists and Druggists: Consultant: Dr. Nurboo Tsering.
Indus Clinic, Choglamsar: S. Dawa Lonpo / Dr. Stanzin Punchok
Nurboo Optical, Chemdey Labrang, Near I.T.B.F Headquarters.
Alamdar X- Ray, Balkhang: Consultant: Dr. P.T Angchok.
Dr. Shoukat Ali, Gompa Complex. 1000 hrs to 1600 hrs.Ph 44088
Noble Medical Hall Lingshet Labrang 53865 9AM -10AM and 4PM – 6PM
CLIMATE
The main features of this COLD DESERT are:
Seasonal fluctuations in temperature with -40°C in Winter and + 35°C in Summer
Precipitation is very low with annual precipitation of 10cm mainly inform of snow.
Air is very dry and relative humidity range from 6-24%
Due to high altitude and low humidity the radiation level is very high. The global solar radiation is as high as 6-7 KWh/mm (which is among the highest in the World)
Dust storms are very common in the afternoon
Soil is thin , sandy and porous
The entire area is devoid of any natural vegetation
Irrigation is mainly through channels from the glacier-melted snow
Day 3 Sarchu – Leh:
You will witness the Gata Loops [ 21 in total ]
The another pass - Nakee La [15547ft above sea level], not far off from there you will come across another high pass Lachulung La (16616 ft). You would reach here by 11am or so … if you had left early … take your time enjoying the beauty of the hills and the Ladakh Valley……
