Sonam's Guest House, Hanle

[zack2137]

Re: Ladakh in May'13

Sonam's Guest House, Hanle
A lot has been talked about Sonam's GH already. The rooms are fantastic, the best we had in Ladakh. Nice colourful interiors, spacious, carpet floors and heavy quilts. An add-on was a Bhukari that Sonam put up in the room to keep it warm. The Bhukari used cow dungs to warm up which exhausts faster than you would think. But the bhukari did help in battling the cold. Sonam also arranged bhindi on our request to provide a welcome break from gobhi! Sonam is probably the best host we had in Ladakh.
Having said that, the toilets at Sonam's GH are a pain. The GH has an underconstruction, common (for 4 rooms) toilet. Well, its been underconstruction for over an year now, and though Sonam says it will be ready in a couple of months now, its hard to believe.
The only alternative is a primitive. A hole in the ground type loo which frankly is quite disgusting to use. No offense.
We paid rs. 1200 for the room and dinner and breakfast for 3 people. Totally worth every penny. Only if the loo was ready ...

Photo courtesy Ankur003

contact details for "PADMA HOME STAY" in hanle, contact : Sonam Dorjay

Phone Nos : Mob: 09469224302
DSPT : 08991922029

The good news is that the DSPT number is run by the IIA observatory, they charge Rs 5 per minute to make calls from there and is located at the IIA guest house,
Sonam will be available at the DSPT number at the guest house. His mobile number works only when he is in leh.
I was told that the DSPT number can be dialled only from a BSNL number, and will not be contactable thru any other service, dont know the truth of the same.

 

[asiar1986]

Re: Ladakh in May'13

Any phone No for Sonam's Guest House, Hanle?

 

[zack2137]

Re: Ladakh in May'13

Any phone No for Sonam's Guest House, Hanle?

Hanle doesn't have cellular connectivity, not even BSNL, so I doubt Sonam will have a working number. That being said, Sonam works at the observatory and easiest way to contact him is to call the observatory office landline. I will call Rigzin in a day or two for some work, will ask him for the observatory number.
Also since there are only a couple of homestays in Hanle, Sonam's is pretty popular within the town.

 

[asiar1986]

Re: Ladakh in May'13

zack2137, thanks...if you get some information, please let me know. Are you talking about Rigzin the Taxi driver?

 

[zack2137]

Re: Ladakh in May'13

zack2137, thanks...if you get some information, please let me know. Are you talking about Rigzin the Taxi driver?

Yes, Rigzin the driver!

 

[asiar1986]

Re: Ladakh in May'13

He seems to be the best one to engage for Ladakh?

 

[zack2137]

Re: Ladakh in May'13

He seems to be the best one to engage for Ladakh?

I haven't tried any other but no complaints with Rigzin whatsoever. He knows people, things, routes and facts around. He's an entertainer with his stories, yet serious at work. Easily recommendable, anyday.
And he's a busy guy. Should book him well in advance.

 

[asiar1986]

Re: Ladakh in May'13

I haven't tried any other but no complaints with Rigzin whatsoever. He knows people, things, routes and facts around. He's an entertainer with his stories, yet serious at work. Easily recommendable, anyday.
And he's a busy guy. Should book him well in advance.

Thanks...

 

[nishchaya]

Well, the name is Padma guest House instead of Sonam Guest House. That's what Sonam told me. Padma is the name of his wife.

 

[Yogesh Sarkar]

Maybe they had a fight and he changed the name