Chennai Man Shares How His Family Trip To Ladakh Turned Into A Nightmare

Ladakh has become a dream destination for travellers around the world, attracting millions with its stunning natural beauty and rich culture. However, beneath its rugged beauty lies a hidden danger that can be risky for the unprepared. Chennai resident Kirubakaran Rajendran recently shared his harrowing experience in Ladakh, which was meant to be a relaxing holiday with his family. They had planned to enjoy stargazing, claiming that due to less pollution in the region, the “Milky Way is clearly visible” with the naked eye. However, their excitement was short-lived. Upon arrival at the Leh airport, Mr Rajendran and his family struggled to cope with the Chennai Man Shares How His Family Trip To Ladakh Turned Into A Nightmarehigh altitude, leading to a desperate struggle for oxygen.

In a series of threads on X, Mr Rajendran shared the most daunting parts of his journey. “Please note that oxygen availability goes down once you move to higher altitude regions,” he wrote. “As the altitude increases, the atmospheric pressure drops and the number of oxygen molecules per breath is reduced. Compared to sea level, places like Leh/Ladakh have less oxygen in the air.”

He said that they found it hard to breathe as soon as they landed in Leh airport, located more than 10,000 feet above sea level. Even simple activities became exhausting ordeals for them.

He added, “It takes a minimum of 5 hours of travel from Leh city if you have to reach places like Nubra Valley or Hanle. To reach those places, you have to cross high passes like Khardung La Pass, which is located at 18k feet. And the oxygen at these places is so thin, which makes it very difficult to breathe, even cab drivers ask you not to stand outside at these peaks for more than 10 minutes.”

Despite allowing two days for acclimatisation, Mr Rajendran and his family found it difficult to breathe and cope with the high altitude in Ladakh. So, they cancelled their bookings and took a flight back home.

“The vacation was supposed to be relaxing and enjoyable, but not this adventurous, putting the health at risk. Ladakh is so beautiful, no doubt about it, but it might not suit everyone,” he concluded.

He also informed that all three of them were absolutely fine as soon as they landed in Chennai.

The post has been viewed by over 6 million people since it was shared two days ago. Many users thanked the poster for sharing his informative thread, while others offered tips and advice for his next journey. However, some users took a more critical tone, scolding the poster for not doing basic research before travelling to a high-altitude region with a child.

A user said, “Bro high altitude places are not to be hurried. Acclimatisation, step-by-step altitude increase, and a lot of rest are necessary. One of my friends works there as a tour guide and has many horror stories of how people fail to cope. Good that you guys are safe and sound.”

“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,” suggested a user.

Another user wrote, “Terribly sad that the kids will carry this memory from Ladakh. If you ever plan to go again, fly to Srinagar. Stay for a day and then drive to Leh. It’s a beautiful drive, and the acclimatisation happens along the way. I still need 2 days in Leh to get used to the oxygen levels.”

“You did nothing wrong, you took all precautions, yet it happened, and that’s bad luck. BTW, by any chance your child was having nose block (mucus) before coming to Leh? When I visited, my oxygen level dropped to 80 in Leh, and it was around 70-72 at Changla Pass. I felt dizzy!!” shared a user.

Someone else added, “Informative thread. We just completed our ten-day’ bike ride expedition in Leh, Ladakh. We are 50+ in age. Everything you’ve informed is so correct. Would add one more here. Since Leh is a cold, dry desert with almost no vegetation, the oxygen levels drop even further during nights.”

While Ladakh is well-known for its breathtaking scenery and rich culture, the region poses serious risks to unacclimatised visitors. Hence, it is advised to follow the health advisory issued by the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC).