#304
Vaishno Devi Travel Tips from a
Cardiologist
From: Padma Shri Dr K.K. Aggarwal, Founder of the Heart Care
Foundation of India
The shrine of Mata Vaishno
Devi, one of the most
visited pilgrim sites in India,
is situated at a height of
5, 300 ft., inside a cave in
a hill. Mountain travel is
classified thus:
• High Altitude (492111,483 ft), such as
Vaishno Devi
• Very High Altitude
(11,483-18,045 ft), such as
Kedar Nath
• Extreme Altitude (18,04529,035 ft—for example
Gangotri Glacier.
High-altitude illnesses
are common with abrupt
ascent to above 8202 ft.
The illnesses include acute
mountain sickness; high-
altitude cerebral edema,
which afflict the brain; and
high altitude pulmonary
edema, which afflicts the
lungs.
You are at a higher risk
if you have a history of
high-altitude illness. Other
risk factors: rate of ascent;
vigorous exertion prior to
acclimatisation; substance
abuse (alcohol); associated
diseases that interfere with
respiration (neuromuscular
disease) or circulation
(pulmonary hypertension).
Controlled hypertension is
not a risk.
Avoid alcohol, sleeping pills
and a high-carbohydrate diet
during acclimatisation.
32 Travel Secrets November-December 2015
#305
Mystic Mustang, Nepal
From: Anunoy Samanta, [email protected]
“It’s extravagantly beautiful,
and extremely dangerous.
Which is what makes
Mustang worth exploring.
Either you can plump for
a 30-minute exhilarating
air route from Pokhara to
Jomsom (district headquarter
of Mustang) or take the
daylong road journey which
will take you through some
rare vistas formed by the
snow-white Annapurna,
infinite waterfalls, changing
patterns of vegetation,
magical rays on snowy
peaks, roaring Kaligandaki,
excessively pampered road
and occasional trekkers. Of
course, we chose the second
option.
There’s a third premium
option too but only for those
bravehearts who are travelling
with time in their rucksack.
You can trek all the way from
Nayapul (almost 2 hours bus
ride from Pokhara) to Jomsom
to get intimate with the
spectacular terrain in a more
sensual way.We remained
engrossed in the ongoing
live documentary of silently
watching our vehicle crossing
some shallow tributaries,
charismatic setting sun, fading
frozen summits, apple gardens
of Marpha village and finally
reaching the town of Jomsom,
looking more mysterious with
the cloak of darkness of late
evening.”