Family’s Dream Holiday in Ladakh Turns into Nightmare: Man Shares Harrowing Experience
Family's Dream Holiday in Ladakh Turns into Nightmare: Man Shares Harrowing Experience
Ladakh, known for its stunning landscapes and unique culture, is a dream destination for many travelers. However, for Kirubakaran Rajendran and his family, their holiday in Ladakh quickly became a nightmare due to severe altitude sickness.
Rajendran shared his harrowing experience on social media. He explained that how their troubles began as soon as they landed at Leh airport. The family faced difficulties breathing due to the high altitude. He detailed that reaching popular destinations like Nubra Valley or Hanle requires traversing high passes such as Khardung La Pass, situated at 18,000 feet. The thin oxygen at these altitudes made it challenging to breathe, and even local cab drivers advised against standing outside at these peaks for more than 10 minutes.
Despite waiting for two days to acclimatize, the family was unable to adjust to the low oxygen levels. Consequently, they had to cancel their bookings and return home. Rajendran emphasized that while July is generally considered an ideal time to visit Ladakh, the altitude can be daunting, and not everyone may be able to adjust.
His post, shared on July 30, has garnered over 4.1 million views and numerous likes and comments, highlighting the importance of being well-prepared for a trip to Ladakh.
Here’s how people reacted to it:
An individual wrote, “Sad to hear that, didn’t you visit the local hospital for symptoms? Some people are not used to high altitude. My partner had to take an injection and she was fine next day and We moved to Nubra.”
Another X user, Dr. Aarathi Bellary, said, “You shouldn’t land directly in Leh ever. Srinagar to Leh is the best and safest way to get acclimatised to the basics of research, especially when you are travelling with a kid.”
“You did everything right. It’s just bad luck. It has happened to mountaineer friends too. Driving up over three days with the right halts seems to improve one’s chances of acclimatisation. I have never flown in. But I have once had one temporary episode midway. some people seem more susceptible than others. Not acclimatising over two days in Leh is definitely a red flag, and you did the right thing again by returning,” commented a third
Rajendran’s experience serves as a cautionary tale for travelers planning to visit this beautiful but challenging region.
