Kathmandu to Nepalganj 22 May 2011
During the first leg of the trip from Kathmandu to Salagramam and Lumbini and back to Kathmandu, it was just the five of us travelling together. For the next leg to Kailash, Samrat Travels had a group of 16 people. Some of them had booked directly with Samrat and others with local travels in Mumbai/ Delhi. These travel agents had sub contracted the tour to Samrat. We got to know that there are only a few India travel agents who take you to Kailash directly. These travel agents travel along with the group. Others have tie ups with Nepal travel agents.
Started our Kailasa Yatrai with the 1 hour flight from Kathmandu to Nepalganj. 30-35 people can travel by the flight. This is a scheduled flight, serves you a cup of soft drink. Nepalganj is the border town between India and Nepal, situated on the plains. We stayed in Siddharth, clean rooms, good service. Better than expected accommodation.
Nepalganj to Simikot 23 May 2011
Then, it is another 1 hour flight to Simikot the next day. About 20 people can travel in the flight. This is similar to Pokhara - Jomsom flight, a primitive aircraft. The flight is tricky with just visual navigation. Simikot is near Nepal China border at 10,000 feet. Surrounded by snowy mountains.Flight was delayed by 3-4 hours due to rains in Simikot. Simikot's runway is an unpaved mud track. Rains make the runway muddy, all flights are cancelled. There are no roads anywhere near Simikot, the nearest road head is 7 days walk. So, everything, including bags of onion and garlic are airlifted. The place is a one street affair with just one hotel, named Sun Valley Resorts. The hotel is a steep 30 minute walk from airport. Sudden increase in altitude and steep walk in a rocky path makes one short of breath. Older travellers needed a lot of help, rested every few metres. It is cold, may be 5 degrees C. We started wearing our winter wear. The hotel has good views, about 10 rooms, just a few of them have attached bathroom. We were using common bathrooms. The hotel staff took care of us very well. Sitting in the room, you can see the runway, mountains all around.
Simikot to Taklakot to Burang 24 May 2011
Morning, we took the 20 minute helicopter ride to Taklakot, at Nepal China border. The helicopter ride a exciting, with vertical take off and swerving in multiple axis. The pilot was highly experienced, you can see him skillfully maneuvering through narrow gaps between peaks and gaining height.
Taklakot is at 12000 ft, no vegetation. Dry barren rocky landscape. Now, we should walk about a km and cross a river on a rope bridge to enter Tibet. This walk is also tough for older passengers.
Once you enter China, Chinese immigration officials, grim & robotic movements, check your passports and let you in. We had to stay under hot sun at 12,000 feet for nearly 3 hours as our passage into China was not properly coordinated. But then, that is how life is and there will be minor inconveniences.
Once you enter China, mobiles work very well, emails stream into your blackberry and you can probably run your office from this remote place. Burang is an hour drive on excellent roads. After further checking, screening of baggages, we reach Manasarovar Guest house.
Chinese customs officers are very suspicious of anything paper, maps, word Tibet printed anywhere. The office is very good, officers well dressed, walking with a swagger. I could notice an critical difference between Indians and Chinese. Indians use the wet process in Western toilets, rendering it completely soggy and unusable. Chinese use dry process in Indian (Chinese) toilets, blocking the basin leaving dirty smelly toilets with half doors. Toilets are the same for women and men. The beautiful Chinese customs office had completely unusable toilets.
During the first leg of the trip from Kathmandu to Salagramam and Lumbini and back to Kathmandu, it was just the five of us travelling together. For the next leg to Kailash, Samrat Travels had a group of 16 people. Some of them had booked directly with Samrat and others with local travels in Mumbai/ Delhi. These travel agents had sub contracted the tour to Samrat. We got to know that there are only a few India travel agents who take you to Kailash directly. These travel agents travel along with the group. Others have tie ups with Nepal travel agents.
Started our Kailasa Yatrai with the 1 hour flight from Kathmandu to Nepalganj. 30-35 people can travel by the flight. This is a scheduled flight, serves you a cup of soft drink. Nepalganj is the border town between India and Nepal, situated on the plains. We stayed in Siddharth, clean rooms, good service. Better than expected accommodation.
Nepalganj to Simikot 23 May 2011
Then, it is another 1 hour flight to Simikot the next day. About 20 people can travel in the flight. This is similar to Pokhara - Jomsom flight, a primitive aircraft. The flight is tricky with just visual navigation. Simikot is near Nepal China border at 10,000 feet. Surrounded by snowy mountains.Flight was delayed by 3-4 hours due to rains in Simikot. Simikot's runway is an unpaved mud track. Rains make the runway muddy, all flights are cancelled. There are no roads anywhere near Simikot, the nearest road head is 7 days walk. So, everything, including bags of onion and garlic are airlifted. The place is a one street affair with just one hotel, named Sun Valley Resorts. The hotel is a steep 30 minute walk from airport. Sudden increase in altitude and steep walk in a rocky path makes one short of breath. Older travellers needed a lot of help, rested every few metres. It is cold, may be 5 degrees C. We started wearing our winter wear. The hotel has good views, about 10 rooms, just a few of them have attached bathroom. We were using common bathrooms. The hotel staff took care of us very well. Sitting in the room, you can see the runway, mountains all around.
Simikot to Taklakot to Burang 24 May 2011
Morning, we took the 20 minute helicopter ride to Taklakot, at Nepal China border. The helicopter ride a exciting, with vertical take off and swerving in multiple axis. The pilot was highly experienced, you can see him skillfully maneuvering through narrow gaps between peaks and gaining height.
Taklakot is at 12000 ft, no vegetation. Dry barren rocky landscape. Now, we should walk about a km and cross a river on a rope bridge to enter Tibet. This walk is also tough for older passengers.
Once you enter China, Chinese immigration officials, grim & robotic movements, check your passports and let you in. We had to stay under hot sun at 12,000 feet for nearly 3 hours as our passage into China was not properly coordinated. But then, that is how life is and there will be minor inconveniences.
Once you enter China, mobiles work very well, emails stream into your blackberry and you can probably run your office from this remote place. Burang is an hour drive on excellent roads. After further checking, screening of baggages, we reach Manasarovar Guest house.
Chinese customs officers are very suspicious of anything paper, maps, word Tibet printed anywhere. The office is very good, officers well dressed, walking with a swagger. I could notice an critical difference between Indians and Chinese. Indians use the wet process in Western toilets, rendering it completely soggy and unusable. Chinese use dry process in Indian (Chinese) toilets, blocking the basin leaving dirty smelly toilets with half doors. Toilets are the same for women and men. The beautiful Chinese customs office had completely unusable toilets.
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