Wellness · Thangu
Thangu as your safe turnaround point
Not everyone should go on to Gurudongmar. Thangu, about 1,250 m below the lake, is where an unwell traveller can wait in a warm eatery while the rest of the group visits. Planning this in advance takes the pressure off on the day.
Photo: Tarunsamanta · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Altitude affects people unpredictably. Someone who felt fine in Lachen may wake with a headache or feel sick by Thangu. Climbing another 1,250 m in an hour will make that worse. The sensible choice is to stop at Thangu, at about 3,900 m, and let the others continue.
Agree this possibility with your group and driver the night before, so nobody feels they are spoiling the trip. At Thangu, the waiting person should sit indoors in a warm eatery with a companion if possible, drink warm fluids and rest. The vehicle collects them on the way down, usually two to three hours later.
If symptoms are severe, such as vomiting, confusion or breathlessness at rest, do not wait at Thangu: the whole vehicle should return to Lachen at once. Going down is the only reliable treatment.
Good for
Questions travellers ask
Before you book
Can one person stay at Thangu while others go to Gurudongmar?
Yes, this is common. The person waits in a warm eatery, ideally with a companion, and the vehicle collects them on the way down. Agree the plan with your driver the night before so it runs smoothly.
Is Thangu itself high enough for altitude sickness?
Yes. At about 3,900 m, some people feel symptoms in Thangu too. If someone is mildly unwell, resting there is reasonable. If symptoms are severe or worsening, return to Lachen at once.
What should a waiting person do at Thangu?
Stay warm indoors, drink warm fluids, eat something light and rest. Avoid exertion and alcohol. If headache worsens or vomiting starts, ask the eatery staff to contact your driver or the army post for help in descending.
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