Auli - The Paradise of Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand is blessed with an abundance of natural beauty and Auli is one of the most beautiful places in all of Uttarakhand. Auli is known for its enthralling ski resorts and natural surroundings. Encircled by snow-covered peaks of the great Himalayas, this hilly land boasts captivating scenes of oak-fringed slopes and intriguing dense coniferous forests. At an average altitude of 2800 meters, this is one of the few world class ski resorts in India. Walking through the foggy slopes one is enraptured with the impressive view of the lofty mountain ranges like Nanda Devi, Mana Paravat and Kamat.
 

Other than these snow-white miracles, the way through the slopes provides wonderful views of stunning apple orchards and fine deodar trees making for a perfect day. Auli has a glorious history that dates back to 8th century. It is said that this beautiful place is blessed by the holy Adi Sankaracharya, who is said to have visited this place. As a toddler in the tourism arena, Auli proffers an unspoiled ambiance. The harsh frosty storms, the sylvan peaks and the long stretch of snowy valleys would make idyllic surroundings for a skier. Aptly called as the haven for skiing activities, this hilly resort is turned to be the only tourist destination where skiing is the most sought after past time.

History and Legends

Auli is a lesser known hill station when compared to its counterparts – Shimla, Gulmarg and Manali. The slopes of Auli were the training ground for the Indian Paramilitary Forces and Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force. Today, Auli is known for its snow covered slopes and panoramic views of the surrounding lofty peaks of the Himalayas like Trishul, Nanda Devi, Kamet, Mana Parvat, Beethartoli, Nilkanth, Hathi Parbat, Ghori Parbat and Dunagiri. According to legend, the revered Guru Adi Shankaracharya visited Auli during 8th century AD. He built a math at Joshimath, which still is intact and is known by the name Sankaracharya Tapastali.

How to Reach Auli

Auli is well connected by motorable roads with major towns of Uttarakhand. Joshimath lies on NH58 and it is situated 13kms from Auli. Auli is also connected by Cable Car with Joshimath. Travelling to Auli is an adventure as the journey that you will take from the nearest railhead and airport has to be travelled almost entirely on mountains with rivers flowing along with you.

By Road:

Auli is only 16 km drive from Joshimath. State transport and Union buses ply regularly between Joshimath and Rishikesh (253 km). Local Transport Union Buses and State Transport buses operate between Joshimath and Rishikesh (253 km), Haridwar (277 km), Dehradun (298 km) and Delhi (500 km). From Joshimath onwards, both bus and taxi services are available for Auli. Deluxe coaches can also be arranged with prior notice for the group of 15 people or more. If you are dropping at New Delhi and want to go by Bus then take a Metro Train to ISBT - Kashmere Gate. From there one can catch Bus of DTC/UPSRTC/UTC. Only problem is that there are no fixed timetable and every person incharge will promise you many things. Don't fall in the trap of private tour operator. They all will say bus is just leaving and what not. So be prepared for confusion. You may loose your temper. Check the bus condition before boaring as road from New Delhi to Haridwar is long [7-8 hrs] and some patches are in very bad conditions, comfortable seats are must. Once you are at Haridwar stay overnite and catch a bus leaving bus stand opp rly station at around 3:30AM. This bus is the only mean to reach Joshimath in 10+ hrs if you are planning to catch Cable Car (last ride 3:30PM). Other option is to book Car from the Car Union Off opp Bus stand they normally charge 3000+ for Joshimath Dropping for Ambassador which is best for 4 people. Whether in bus or car pls sit on right hand side window for magnificent view, road to Joshimath runs parallel to Holy River Ganga and Alaknanda which falls on right side.

Cable Car:

The most popular way to drop in at Auli is by the famed cable car service which runs for 3 km. Travelling by the rope-way, it is impossible to resist the captive beauty of the snow covered peaks, the alpine forest and the bracing climate. This cable holds a record of longest in Asia with total length of 4.15 km. Its lower tower is at 1906 m from MSL and the upper tower is at 3016 m. It takes around 15 minutes to complete this ride at speed of 5 m/sec. Its the best start one can have for exciting Auli trip. Charges are Rs 400 for Return.

By Rail:

The nearest railheads to Auli are Haridwar and Rishikesh. Trains to Haridwar and Rishikesh are frequent and they are well connected with major cities of India. Taxis and Buses are available from Haridwar and Rishikesh to Joshimath and Auli. The distance can be easily covered in around 10 hours.

By Air:

For those travelling by air, the nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun, 17 km from Rishikesh, 273 km from Joshimath. Taxis are available from Jolly Grant Airport to Auli and other major destinations of Uttarakhand from where you can get a bus to Joshimath and Auli. The distance from Jolly Grant Airport to Auli can be covered in around 11 hours of time.

Auli Distance Chart

Delhi                      to Auli   – 505kms

Meerut                to Auli   – 434kms

Rishikesh             to Auli – 264kms

Haridwar              to Auli – 289ms

Pauri                      to Auli – 192kms

Dehradun            to Auli – 316kms

Mussoorie          to Auli – 291kms

Devprayag          to Auli – 194kms

Tehri Garhwal to Auli – 216kms

Kotdwar               to Auli – 294kms

Gopeshwar        to Auli – 72kms

Srinagar                to Auli – 161kms

Uttarkashi           to Auli – 292kms

Rudraprayag      to Auli – 127kms

Karnaprayag       to Auli – 95kms

Badrinath            to Auli – 60kms

Climate

Summer
March- late June, Cool & pleasant
Temperatures - 13°C-29°C.

Monsoons
June-September, Moderate rainfall
Annual Rainfall - 180 cm

Winter
October-March, Extremely chilly
Temperatures - 9°C-below 0°C

Local Languages:

Garwhali, Hindi & English

Best Time to Visit:

Auli has a cool climate all through the seasons.

Summers (March to June) are very pleasant with moderate climate, with average around 15°C. Summers is ideal for all sight seeing, skiing and also for visiting nearby attractions.

Monsoons (July to October) are accompanied with scanty rains and also temperature drops down to 12°C.

Winters (November to February) are chilly days with average minimum touching near 4°C. Minimum can touch sub zero levels (-8°C). Snow falling seen very often during winters. These months are perfect for travelers liking chilly climates.

The best season to visit Auli is all through the year. Tourist attraction in Auli is Snow Skiing and is best during November to March.

• May to November offers cool and pleasant climate and the right period to spend relaxing moments in the outdoors.
• December to February is snow bound and chilly. Keep winter clothes to cover up the body if opt for a visit during this period. This period is ideal for snow skiing.
• March and April are very pleasant and perfect for all sight seeing and outings.

Clothing:

Dressing warm is an absolute must when in Auli. Your body is best kept warm using many layers. Pack a pair of woolen gloves that can be worn inside the ski mittens. It is essential to start the day with dry socks inside warm, dry boots. Make sure your head is protected and covered when out skiing. Protect yourselves and the kids by always wearing sunglasses. You'll need the extra protection and visibility enhancement of goggles, which you can rent from GMVN.

At 9,500-10,500 ft the air is thin and lets a greater quantum of UV rays enter the atmosphere. Do apply liberal quantities of sun block and high-SPF lip balm. At high altitudes, drink plenty of water or fruit juice. Do remember to carry a bottle of water along.

Moving Around:

Exploring Auli is best done on foot. Buses and State Transport buses operate between Joshimath and Rishikesh, Haridwar, Dehradun and Delhi. From Joshimath onwards, buses and taxi services are available for Auli. Deluxe coaches and private vehicles can also be got on hire. The most popular way to move about in Auli is by the cable car service which runs for 3 km. This also lets you get panoramic views of the snow covered peaks and pine forests

Tourist Offices:

GMVN Skiing & Tourist Resort
Auli
Tel: 01389-223208

Tourist Bureau

Gopeshwar

Tel.: 01372-252468.

Tourist Bureau

Joshimath

Tel.: 22781. 222252

What to See

Skiing: This is definitely the major tourist attraction that draws thousands of tourists to Auli. The Auli Skiing Resort was set up here by the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam to promote it as a favourite skiing destination and the slopes are a paradise for those seeking the outdoors. The slope runs for about 5-10 kms and snow beaters keep the slopes fit for skiing at all times. A good number of trees on the slopes seem to help the skiers by reducing the wind velocity. Auli is linked with Joshimath with a 3.9-km-long cable car linking, besides the 16-km-long motorable road. One can also find a 500-m-long chair lift linking the lower and upper slopes and carrying adventurers to and fro. GMVN offers 7-day non-certificate and 14-day certificate courses for beginners from January to March every year. While ski equipments are available on hire, it is best to carry your own gear. Special ski packages including all meals, lodging, equipment, hire and lessons are provided for casual tourists. Efficient communication facilities are also available in this small town.

Cable Car Ride (Ropeway): It is the highest and longest cable car of Asia covering a distance of 3.96kms with maximum elevation at 3,016mts above sea level. Cable car ride will cost you Rs. 400. There are total 10 poles situated at a distance of every 400mts. The Gondola cable care connects Joshimath with Auli. It is the best way to travel from Joshimath to Auli as panoramic Himalayas are distinctly visible during this fascinating journey. It takes 15minutes to reach Auli from Joshimath.

Trekking: Auli trek is a wonderful way to explore the exquisiteness of Garhwal Himalayas. The 3km stretched slope ranges from 2519 m to 3049 m and offers an exceptional panoramic view of great Himalayan peaks like the Nanda Devi, Kamet, Mana Parvat and Dunagiri.

Auli to Joshimath trek is one of the most popular treks of Auli and one gets to view the stunning nature’s environs, the rugged landscapes and amazing beauty of surrounding peaks. The village life that one witnesses en route is humble, instilling the journey with a sense of endurance. The trek energizes its trekkers with fresh air, a rough land, fascinating sunrise view from Nanda Devi peak.

Auli is a looked-for place by the trekkers for some of the other short trekking near to Auli such as Auli - Gorson, Tali, Kuari Pass, Khulara and Tapovan.

Chairlift: The chairlift charges around Rs. 100 for a different yet thrilling experience. The chair in gthe chairlift is suspended from an overhead cable several feet above the ground with only locking bar holding you from falling off. It is a great experience but quite scary.

Artificial lake: Situated near Clifftop Club Hotel, it is the world’s highest manmade lake. The government has developed this in view of creating artificial snow on the new ski slopes in the event of low snow fall. The water from this lake is used to feed the snow guns stationed along the ski slopes and thus provide a good skiing surface to extend the ski season.

Hanuman Temple: According to myths and legends it is believed that Lord Hanuman rested at this place for a while, when he was travelling in search of ‘sanjeevani’ herb for Laxman, brother of Lord Rama.

Joshimath: Located only 12 kilometers from Auli, Joshimath is full of temples and memorials. This is home to one of the four main Shankaracharya Maths, because of Adi Shankaracharya who meditated in a cave here. Just before you enter the Math, you'd come across the Kalpavriksha Tree, where he is said to have attained Samadhi. Dotted with temples, big and small, the Narasimhadeva Temple houses an idol of Lord Narasimhadeva sitting in a lotus position. Next to him are idols of Rama, Sita, Garuda and Hanuman. The temple is believed to be almost 1200 years old. A popular Vaishnava Temple, Vasudeva Temple houses a black stone image of Lord Vasudeva. Next to him are idols of Sri, Bhu, Nila and Kama and the entrance of the temple has an idol of the dancing Ganesha.

Gurso Bugyal: Located 3 kms from Auli, Gurso Bugyal is a huge meadow spread amidst a mixed forest of oaks and conifers. Joshimath is connected from here via the ropeway. This place is especially popular for weekend excursions and is ideal to catch spectacular views of the region.

Chattrakund: Located a kilometer from Gurso Bugyal, Chattrakund is located in the middle of a jungle and houses a tiny sweet water lake.

Saildhar Tapovan: This tiny village located 15 kms away on the Joshimath road is home to numerous hot springs and hot water fountains.

Kwanri Bugyal: 12 kms from Gurso, Kwanri Bugyal is a must visit on every trekker's itinerary. Situated almost 3350 mts above sea level a number of summer camps are.

Chenab Lake: Accessible via the Dang Village in Joshimath, this pristine lake is almost isolated. The road is tough and quite a trek and definitely not for the faint hearted.

Vanishinarayan Kalpeshwar: 12 kms from Joshimath, the beautiful cave of Kalpeshwar is the attraction.

Bhavishya Badri: This is where one of the five badri shrines is located in the region. Located in the midst of dense deodar forests, it is believed that in future, when the shrine of Badrinath becomes inaccessible, Bhavishya Badri would be held in similar reverence.

Auli Excursions

Badrinath: It is the most sacred temple not only of Uttaranchal but of entire India, as it stands at the highest place amongst the 4 Dham of Uttarakhand and of India. Badrinath is situated in the valley of Neelkanth peak at an elevation of 3.256mts above sea level. It is situated on the banks of Alaknanda River. Rawal’s are the main pundit of Badrinath temple. The temple remains closed from November to April as the region is prone to heavy snowfall.

Valley of Flowers: It is situated 17kms from Govindghat, the commencement point of the trek. The trekking route to Valley of Flowers diverts from Ghangharia, the other route goes to the sacred Hemkund Sahib. The Valley of flowers is rich in varied flora and fauna and it covers a total distance of 87.86square kilometres. The region remains entirely covered with snow during winters and the flowers can be best seen from June to October. The best months of seeing variety of flowers are August and September.

Hemkund Sahib: it is situated 19kms from Govindghat, the commencement point of the trek. The trekking route to Hemkund Sahib diverts from Ghangharia, the other route goes to the picturesque Valley of Flowers. Every year millions of devotees visit Hemkund Sahib, especially Sikhs. Hemkund Sahib remains inaccessible from November to April as the region remains closed due to heavy snowfall. The tenth Guru of Sikh community, Guru Gobind Singh meditated at this heavenly place.

Where to Eat:

There aren't too many places to head out to, so your best dining option would be in the resorts you stay in. GMVN Complex and Cliff Top Resort both have good in-house restaurants that serve Indian and continental cuisine. The restaurant at the Cliff Top Resort has an excellent choice of non-veg cuisine at reasonable rates. You can always try out the local eateries for a quick bite and a chance to try out local Garhwali delicacies. Pindari is a place that serves local cuisine, a must try are there delicious vegetarian thalis. The Garhwali cuisine consists of a large number of dals, green leafy vegetables and rice. The traditional meat dish available today is the kachmauli, which is stuffed goat seasoned with mustard oil, chilly, and turmeric. At Joshimath, there is an abundance of smaller eating joints. The Bhotiya concoction of green tea with butter can still be savored by special request at a few chai shops in Joshimath. For sweet lovers, head out to the local bakeries and confectionaries for a bite of the sweet kheer, Chocolate and Bal Mithai. Or if you can find, try some cone-shaped Singhori sweet.

Shopping:

Auli is almost entirely an adventure hot-spot, so we would seriously ask you to refrain from hunting down signature shopping items. There aren't many shops to head out to and the town almost entirely lacks artisans and craftsmen. But if you must, head out to Joshimath and check out the local markets selling woolen shawls, Tibetan prayer wheels and Kullu caps. Alternatively, you can try and pick up some wooden items and paintings from Dehradun.

Festive Celebrations:

The world-class ski resort of Auli is known as the centre of the International Winter Games held annually in February and March. With the wide hill tracks covered entirely in snow, thousands of ski enthusiasts flock to this place for sessions of ski touring. Ski competitions like cross-country runs are especially popular.

Where to Stay:

Hotel Name	Category	Location	Contact Details
Auli Resort The Royal Village	2 Star	Auli Resort, G.M.V.N, Tourist Complex, Auli, 246443, India
Devi Darshan Lodge		near Helipad, Auli 246443, India	Phone: 097 19 316777 Email: bhotiya@gmail.com Web:
Cliff Top Club	3 Star	Auli Skiing Village | Distt. Chamoli, Auli 246443, India
GMVN Rest House		Auli, District Chamoli Uttarakhand Auli - 246443 Uttarakhand
Himalayan Abode		Joshinath
Nature Inn		Joshinath