UPDATE MAY 2014 

There is good news for indian tourist who have a small amount of time and dont want to waste a day applying for permits in Leh. From this May onwards Inner line permits are NOT required to indian nationals. Your ID ( License, Pan card, Passport etc ) would work as your permit is anyone checks it at any post along the way. But you would still require a permit if you visit remote places like Hanle, Chusul, Chumur , Marsimik La and batalik Sectors. 

However Foreign Nationals still require a permit  like before. Guide on how to get one is given below on this page. 

Here is a copy of the circular for Reference. ( Credits : Kumar HV Fan and Forum on Facebook)

 

 

Tourist don't require permit for Leh. However, all foreigners who are travelling by road are required to register at Koksar, Darcha, Sarchu, Pang and Upshi on their way to Leh. Those traveling by air get themselves registered at the airport. All the Tourists (indian/foreigners) are required to get a permit for restricted areas like  Khardung La, Tsomoriri, Tsokar, Pangong Lake and Nubra Valley, which can be obtained through registered travel agencies or DC office which is located in Leh town . Make it sure to carry at least 10 photocopies of the permit while traveling, to submit at the Checking points.

Here is the Process for Indian Citizens :-

For Indian Citizens, Process is very simple : The DC's office is near the Polo Ground.

Go to the DC office, it's next to the polo ground.

Take a handwritten application along with you. Application should state

1 – That you are an Indian national

2 – The list of areas that you wish to travel to AND the travel dates AND also the number of days. I would personally advise : Also, put in extra dates for duration of the permits. Say you are planning to leave ladakh by the 10th day, take permits upto the 15th day ( there's no extra charge anyways ) so that just in case you want to stay a day extra here or there, you dont have to go for permits again.

3 – Your full name incl. father's name and correspondence address – Ok to write the full address of only one member and the cities for the rest.

Go to the ADC and get this application signed off by him. He'll shall usually do it without any bother.

Then take this signed off application to the permit office, that's the office on your left just as you enter the DC office compound.

Ask him for the form to be filled up..( Or you can Download the form Here ). he'll probably give you 1 copy and ask you to make 3 more copies of the same ( there is a copier shop just a few hundred metres from the DC office).. get the copies done and fill up the details on all the copies….

Fill up the form and get it initialled by the head clerk… and take it from him and again approach the ADC for his signature…

Once that is done .. again take the forms and go to the head clerk… he'll take two copies for their records… and stamp and give one back to you…

well… your ILP's are ready…

This process may sound complicated and long drawn… but believe me it's very easy and wont take more than 20 mins if all concerned are in office…

OR, take the easy way out – ask your hotel / travel agent to get them for you. He'll charge something between 100 – 300 Rs. for getting it for you. If you go by this method – check that the locations that you plan to travel are specifically written in the permits. Usually, the agents write the general routes that everybody take and miss out any location that you might be travelling.

Once you have the permits – first thing you do is to get around 10-15 copies made as you shall have to handover 1 copy at all the traffic points as you will not find any coy machins at an altitude of 18,000Ft. ))

(Source: Permits Requirement for Leh – India Travel Forum | IndiaMike.com, For The Application form :Devil On Wheels)

FOR FOREIGN CITIZENS BEST OPTION IS TO GET YOUR PERMITS THROUGH TRAVEL AGENTS.

 

SOME IMPORTANT THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND:

• Permits are issued from DC office in Leh. Application submission timings are from 9.00 Am till 3.00 Pm however its better to be there at earliest time you can. DC office is closed on Sundays.
  

• Permit fees is 20 Rs/person/day. 
  

• Photocopy of your nationality Proof is required ( Passport, Pan card, etc)
  

•  Application form is supposed to be carefully filled. 
  

• Sample Application form can be downloaded from Here.
  

• Be Precise on places you want to visit. Because if the place is not mentioned in the permit, you'll not be allowed to go there. 
  

• A written application is also required beside the application form for the approval of your permits.  In the application, you need to express your interest to visit the places you wish to travel along with the dates you would be visiting these places.
  

• Make Sure the Request letter and the application forms are in SYNC.
  

• Validity of the inner line permits are 3 weeks for Indians and 1 week for foreigners. However, there is no limit on the number of times you enter a place in the valid period provided you have the permits with you for that place.
  

• Permits for Changthang are issued only to Indian Nationals not for foreign tourists.
  

• If you need less hassle and less running around, best bet will be to let a travel agent sort out the permits for you. however they will charge you anything between 100-350 Rs.. 
  

 

Many of us takes  the precautions we need when we are on our way to high altitude places. Like over from Manali – Leh and further in Ladakh region. If we are riding we get spares for our bikes, warm clothes, recharge our cameras and ipods..etc.

But most of us forget about the most important factor in this reagion which is not to be taken lightly at all as it can be life – threatning I.e AMS (  Acute Mountain Sickness ).

No one can predict who will suffer from AMS and how bad it’ll get. Some people can suffer mildly, some wont even feel it whereas for some it can get real bad. 

It commonly occurs above 2,400 metres (8,000 feet). 

Altitude can be categorized under 3 categories: 

1. High Altitude – 1500 – 3500M (  5,000 – 11,500 feet )
2. Very High Altitude – 3,500 – 5,500m (11,500 – 18,000 feet )
3. Extreme Altitude – 5500m+ ( 18,000 feet above ) 

 

Here i will try to help you with some more deep information about AMS and how to prevent it :

Causes:  

Acute mountain sickness is caused due to a combination of reduced air pressure and lower oxygen levels at high altitudes. Although the proportion of oxygen in the atmosphere always remains the same (21%), as we go higher the "driving pressure" decreases. The driving pressure depends directly on the barometric pressure, and forces oxygen from the atmosphere into the capillaries of the lungs. Reduced driving pressure results in decreased saturation of oxygen in the blood and throughout the tissues. The main cause of altitude sickness is ascending too rapidly. It may also be caused by going too high and staying there for too long. The human body needs to adapt to the lower air pressure and decreased levels of oxygen – for that it needs a gradual progression (acclimatization). The faster you climb to a high altitude, the more likely you will get acute mountain sickness. Your symptoms will also depend on the speed of your climb and how hard you push yourself.

You are at higher risk for acute mountain sickness if you live at or near sea level or if you had the illness before.

Symptoms :- 

The primary symptom to diagnose altitude sickness is a headache. However, one of dehydration's symptoms is also headache. Therefore, for proper diagnosis, experts say the patient needs to be at a height of at least 2,500 meters (8,000 feet), has a headache, as well as at least one of the signs and symptoms listed below:

• Lack of appetite, nausea, or vomiting
• Exhaustion or weakness
• Dizziness (light-headedness)
• Rapid Pulse
• Insomnia
• Pins and needles
• Shortness of breath
• Feeling sleepy (drowsiness)
• Swelling of the hands, feet and face 

Symptoms generally associated with more severe acute mountain sickness include:

Prevention :

Ascending slowly is the best way to avoid altitude sickness. Avoiding strenuous activity such as skiing, hiking, etc. in the first 24 hours at high altitude reduces the symptoms of AMS. As alcohol tends to cause dehydration, avoiding alcohol consumption in the first 24-hours at a higher altitude is optimal

Descending – Descending to a lower altitude is probably the best thing to do if symptoms develop. Attempts to treat or stabilize the patient in situ at altitude is dangerous, unless highly controlled and with good medical facilities. People with moderate symptoms usually respond well if they descent just 1,000 feet (300 meters) and stay there for 24 hours. If the individual with moderate symptoms remains at this lower altitude for a couple of days their body will have become acclimatized and they can then start ascending again. People with severe symptoms should descend at least 2,000 feet (600 meters) as soon as possible. If this is not done quickly there is a risk of serious of life-threatening complications. People whose symptoms do not improve after descending 600 meters should go down further until they start feeling better. 

 

• Acclimatization – the best way to prevent altitude sickness is to ascend gradually, so that your body can become acclimatized to the changing altitude.
• Fluids – Consume between 4 to 6 liters of water per day.Take ORS. Avoid Caffine.
• Food – Eat a high calorie diet while at high altitude, esp carbohydrates.
• Exertion – Avoid Over Exertion.
• Stay Warm
• Sleeping – Avoid sleeping at high Altitudes and during the day. When your altitude is over 3,000 meters, ascend no more than 300 meters each night. On your route to Leh, we recommended you staying first night at Keylong (3,000m)  after Manali ( 2000m) and second at Sarchu ( 4290M). However Sarchu being at such an altitude, is the place where many people may suffer AMS.
• Smoking – Do not smoke or use tobacco or any other Drugs'
• Alcohol – Do not consume alcoholic drinks.
• Moderate symptoms – People with moderate symptoms should stay at their current altitude until their symptoms have gone completely.
• Medications – Acetazolamide / Dexamethasone medications can also be used to prevent altitude sickness. Some medications may make symptoms worse while at high altitude, or ascending, including tranquilizers and sleeping pills.

​According to the National Health Service (NHS), UK:

• Mountain sickness is fairly common among skiers, mountaineers and people who spend time at high altitudes.
• At a height of over 3,000 meters (10,000 feet) about three-quarters of people will experience mild symptoms.

In the UK altitude sickness does not exist. Ben Nevis, Scotland, UK's highest mountain is 1,344 meters (4,406 feet) high. No matter how fast you went up that mountain, you would not get altitude sickness. 

The average human body needs from 1 to 3 days to get acclimatized to a change in altitude. People who do not spend enough time acclimatizing to a new altitude before going further up have the highest risk of developing altitude sickness.  

There is a Very Usefull Book you can download from Here. Its your ultimate guide for travelling at high Altitudes. 

THATS WHY WE ALWAYS SUGGEST PEOPLE TO TAKE 3 DAYS WHEN THEY ARE DRIVING UP TO LEH SO THAT THEIR BODY ACCLIMATIZE TO HIGH ALTITUDES.