Sep 06, 2012 01:38 PM
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LEH-LADAK TOUR
As the date of journey and duration for Leh-Ladak tour conducted by Kundu Special were matching with our requirements, I alongwith my son joined in the tour programme on 6th June, 2012.Tour price was Rs.17000.00+Air fare. Duration of tour programme was 10 days. No of member participated in the tour was most probably 42 nos.
Now I am trying to share my experiences which I gathered while travelling with Kundu Special.
i) Kundu Special appointed two managers to look after the total programme. One of them was Mr. Nirmal Guchaite who accompanied with us in the train (Purba Exp.)from Howrah and from the very fast day he was successful to establish his irresponsible , non impressive and non dependable nature to us. None could contact him or see his face throughout the train journey.
Another manager was waiting for us at Leh hotel (Name! I did not want to remember). He was not only a person of negative attitude but also dominating and aggressive in nature. Lack of cordial behavior, experience and coordination with the members were the minus point of the total tour programme.*
ii) At Delhi hotel serving of below standard meal (lunch & dinner) was unexpected . Apart from that spending whole night in the Hotel (till departure for flight )sitting on the chair to protect ourselves from BUG biting ( more tha 100 nos newborn to full grown) on the bed was a horrible experience to us. Later when I talked with the manager regarding the matter he kindly informed that searching of better accommodation in Delhi is under consideration by Kundu Special.
iii)At Leh the total tour programme i.e accommodation, food, sight progamme were controlled by Hotel authority and the roll of managers from Kundu Special was not more than a guard.
iii) Accommodation and food in the Leh Hotel were too good. But there was no arrangement for supplying filtered water in the hotel. As the drinking water was supplied from overhead tank directly and hotel manager could not guarantee the quality of water , **We were compelled to purchase mineral water from the hotel at the cost of Rs.30/- per litter which was only Rs.15/- to17/- in the nearby marke(10 min. walking distance). Even during whole day sight programme when lunch was served in the road side we got only half
glass of mineral water on demand. Manager of Kundu special completed their responsibility by
distributing chocolates in a small bag embossing name of Kundu special.
iv) On 2nd day at Leh, sight seeing covering Monastery and palace was done with full satisfaction.
v) On 3rd day at Leh, scheduled programme for Nubra valley cancelled due to land slide instead of that tour to Pangaon lake was organized on the same day. But unfortunately due to road blockage
at Chang-La pass no car except one (out of eight from our hotel) could reach the destination.
On that day we realized the careless and idiotic attitude of two managers who fully aware of the fact that mobile phone communication did not work there.*
vii) During dinner time, When every member became depressed, suddenly Hotel Manager along
with manager of Kundu Special without any discussion with member declared that Nubra valley
tour had been postponed totally. Instead of that on the 4th day half day local sight seeing tour
(non scheduled) and on the 5th day Tso-Mariri Lake tour would be conducted.
viii) Every member participated to that tour came with a expectation (spending so much money )to visit Nubra Valley and Pangaon Lake. Repeated request for consideration of Nubra valley or 2nd attempt for Pangaon Lake visit were discarded by the manager with his normal aggressive nature. Even request for visiting Tso- mariri Lake on 4th day instead of 5th day was not entertained. In that case most of the member could try to visit nubra vally or Pangaon Lake at their own cost on the last two days comfortably.
ix)As scenic beauty of Leh is excellent, half day local sight seeing tour and cultural programme in the afternoon were enjoyed by everyone.
x)View of Tso Mariri lake was beautiful but we could not encourage the decision of 450 km run in a
single day on broken hilly road with 10 minutes halt at lake spot and 30 minutes stoppage for having cold oily and spicy lunch at open field. Most of the member who became tired badly expressed their dissatisfaction.
xi) Departure from Leh without visiting Pangaon Lake and Nubra Valley was so much painful that ignoring all possible unwanted situation and discourage fro manager 9 (nine) members including me and my son made an arrangement for visiting pangaon Lake at our own cost and risk on the last day. The total journey through beautiful landscape , by watching different animals of Ladak and lastly view of Pangaon Lake were life time experience.We have heard so much about the hospitality of Kundu Special but I am very much disappointed.
Though I do not want to compare but I am compelled to remember the cordial behavior of managers and their earnest efforts to satisfy the members and to make the programme successful while travelling Kinnar, Kashmir and Kedar Badri tour in last three consecutive year which were conducted by another renowned Travelling Company from Central Kolkata .It is unfortunate due to time constrain I could not take part in their Leh-Ladak tour this year.
Mita Banerjee
Garia