Snow lovers and passionate skiers have a special place alert for you to explore and enjoy. Auli, the Mini Switzerland of Uttarakhand is a picturesque hill station that is no less than a ‘Snow Dreamland’. Popularly known as the Skii Paradise, Auli is one of the crucial gems of Uttarakhand. Read the article about Auli’s snowy adventure.
Overview of Auli
India’s Ski resort, Auli, is a beautiful hill station in Uttarakhand, spread across snow-clad peaks and alpine meadows in the Chamoli district of the Garhwal region. Elevated at 2,909 m (9,544 ft) above sea level, Auli is also referred to as Auli Bugyal, which means ‘meadow’ and is named after its geographical area.
Historical Importance of Auli
- The Hindu philosopher and theologian Shri Adi Shankaracharya travelled from Auli to Joshimath and established the Matha or Jyoti Math, a monastery to spread Hinduism’s values. This has given Auli another name: the Gateway to the Himalayas.
- It was a trade and communication hub for Indo-Tibetan tribes like the Bhotias, Tibetans, and Mongolians. These tribes travel with their yaks and horses across snowy pinnacles and bring products for exchange.
- Earlier, Auli was developed as a paramilitary base. Joshimath is near Auli. Both locations were significantly involved in the Sino-Indian War of 1962. Nearby, local villagers supported the Indian Army in scrapping the Chinese troops from the Indian border.
- In 1993, the government of Uttarakhand initiated the Auli-Joshimath ropeway to boost tourism.
Table of Contents
Auli Ski Resort and What You Can Do There?
Auli Ski Resort is the best location for snow adventurers who want to slide down the slopes of snowy peaks. It was earlier the part of Indian Army Tibet Border patrolling, Auli has become one of the three well-known ski resorts in India (the other two are Gulmarg and Kullu Valley). It is referred to as the Ski Capital of India.
Exciting Things You Can Do in Auli:
- Enjoy skiing and snowboarding in Auli; bring your gear or rent it. Glide on the snowy meadows and slopes of the Auli, making your experience snow-licious. Also, there are experienced instructors to guide you well in these sports.
- Explore the local markets and cuisines of Auli.
- Experience camping and bonfires among the snow-clad mountains and vegetation covered under snow.
- Take a ride in the Joshimath-Auli ropeway, enjoying the vistas and the cool environment of the Auli route.
- Trek to some amazing locations such as Gurso Bugyal, Kuari Pass and Nanda Devi.
- Play with snow, take photographs and enjoy the scenic views of Auli Bugyal.
Weather of Auli
- Summer(March-June): The weather is warm, pleasant and comfortable with clear skies, the best time for hiking, sightseeing and trekking. The temperature ranges from 22°C to 15°C.
- Monsoon(July-November): It’s a rainy season when frequent showers of rain bestow upon the land of Auli. It is a difficult season to travel to Auli, due to landslides and slippery roads.
How to Reach Auli?
Auli By Road
The Auli route is motorable and well-connected with Uttarakhand’s major locations, such as Dehradun, Rudraprayag, Pithoragarh, Rishikesh, Joshimath, etc., and other major cities outside Uttarakhand, like Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Haryana, etc.
Route itinerary from Delhi:
Delhi ⇒Rishikesh ⇒Srinagar ⇒Rudraprayag ⇒Karnaprayag ⇒Joshimath ⇒Auli
There are straight buses from Delhi(Kashmere Gate) to Rishikesh and Delhi(Kashmere Gate) to Srinagar are available. Check the schedule from UTC Online, Redbus.com
For the rest of the route, you can take UTC Uttarakhand local buses for Auli.
Dehradun Route Itinerary:
Buses are there from Dehradun to Joshimath.
For Joshimath to Auli, either you can take a taxi or a cable car.
Auli By Airways
The Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is nearest to Auli Ski Resort. Hire a rental vehicle or taxi to Auli or take a bus to Joshimath.
Auli By Train
The nearest railhead is Rishikesh railway station. Either take a bus to Joshimath and then a ropeway to Auli. Otherwise, hire a cab or rental vehicle to Auli.
By Joshimath-Auli Ropeway
The Joshimath-Auli Ropeway, also called Gondola, was established to enhance the route to Auli Ski Resort and boost tourism. This ropeway is Asia’s highest and longest cable car. To enjoy the scenic views from the height of 3010 m to the ascents of 1110 m, surrounded by the hillocks of the Garhwal region, you can take this medium as an enjoyable ride to Auli. It can carry 25 passengers with one attendant and a total weight of 1950 kg.
- Joshimath-Auli Ropeway Distance: 4.15 km
- Duration: Approx. 25 minutes
- Price for Cable Car (adult): Rs 1000/-
- Price for Cable Car (child): Rs 500/-
- Price for Chair lift: Rs. 300/-
- Timings: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Booking site: No online booking is available,
- Contact: 09412439693 or directly book tickets from Joshimath’s counter of Ropeway.
| Destinations (to Auli) | Travel Distance | Duration |
| Delhi | 494.4 km via Delhi-Haridwar Road & NH7 | Approx. 12-13 hrs |
| Dehradun | 293.6 km via NH7 | More than 8 hrs |
| Srinagar | 150.8 km via NH7 | Approx. 5 hrs |
| Rishikesh | 254.9 km via NH7 | More than 7 hrs |
| Joshimath | 9.5 km via Auli Road | 24 minute |
Accommodations in Auli
| Accommodations | Features | Price |
| Snowtown Homestay, KauriPass, Auli | Clean rooms, all amenities, terrace | Rs. 2000-3000 |
| Blue Poppy Resort, Auli | Free breakfast, comfortable rooms, and all amenities | Rs.5000-6000 |
| GMVN, Auli | 2-star, room options, 24-hour services, all amenities | Rs. 1000-4000 |
| Aryam Resort, Auli | Dining options, and luxury rooms, are ideal for family vacations | Rs.5000-7000 |
| Himalayan Eco Lodges, Auli | Mountain View, hiking, comfortable stay, luxury lodge | Rs. 6000-8000 |
| Tathastu Maitri Ski Resort, Auli | Personal lawn, sitting area, clean rooms, all amenities | Rs.5000 |
Popular Locations to Visit Near Auli
Auli Artificial Lake
The Auli has the highest man-made lake called Auli Artificial Lake which has become a tourist spot that is 1.5 km from the Auli ropeway endpoint. The lake gives a serene view which was made with the purpose of a continuous supply of artificial snow in the region, elevated at 3056 m.
Kwani Bugyal
Kawani Bugyal another enchanting meadow near Auli is at 13 km can be reached by trekking. The place provides jaw-dropping views of the Himalayan mountain ranges like Nanda Devi and Doonagiri.
Nanda Devi National Park
The Nanda Devi National Park is 22.4 km from Auli on the Nanda Devi peak. It is a 42-minute trek where you can enjoy scenic views of snow-covered ranges, and different kinds of floras and faunas, and can go camping.
Gorson Bugyal Trek
From Auli, trek 3km to the beautiful alpine meadows of Gorson Bugyal. Here, you can view the snowy apexes of Kamet, Nanda Devi, Neelkanth, Gori and Hathi Parbat, Doonagiri, and Bithartoli.
Narasimha Temple
Narasimha temple in Joshimath is part of the Sapt Badri Yatra and is approximately 15 km from Auli Bugyal. Narasimha is an incarnation of Vishnu who is half lion and half human and holds significance among Hindus.
Trishul Peak
Elevated at 7120 m, Trishul Peak is formed from Trident peaks standing adjacent to each other. Covering the western Kumaon region, these peaks are a must-watch site during your visit to Auli and part of the Nanda Devi trek. The distance from Auli to Trishul Peak is over 100 km.
Chattrakund
A small water body called Kund is a sweet water lake at a distance of 4km from Auli. It is an ideal spot for nature lovers and couples to enjoy the incredible vistas beside the placid lake.
Saildhar Tapovan
A natural hot spring hub 15 km from Auli is a small hamlet that gives surprisingly stunning views of nature. The visitors can explore Lord Dhanwantri temple, the God of Ayurveda and the local handicrafts in Tapovan.
Vridh Badri Temple
Situated at a walking distance of 0.1 km from Auli, Vrith Badri Temple is among the Sapt Badri Temple of Lord Vishnu. The temple is the spiritual centre of many devotees and is elevated at 1380 km.
Badrinath Temple
Auli to Badrinath Dham is just 49.1 km, where you can seek blessings from Lord Vishnu that is one of the 108 Divya Desams. One of the Char Dhams is the Hindu religious pilgrimage site believed one must visit in their lifetime.
Nandprayag
This is one of the towns of Uttarakhand and a tourist attraction. It is 67.3 km from Auli and is popularly known for lakes, natural surroundings and Hindu pilgrims.
Vanshnarayan Kalpeshwar
The Shiva temple of Vanshnarayan Kalpeshwar is the fifth of Panch Kedar. The Kalpeshwar Mahadev is 20 km approximately from Auli and the trek begins from Joshimath or Helang village.
Pandukeshwar
The place where King Pandu of Mahabharata resided is the sacred village of Chamoli. It is 27 km from Auli.
Kalpvriksha
It is the oldest holy tree in Joshimath which is 18 km from Auli. It is the mulberry tree located near Jyotrleshwar Mahadev, believed to be the tap sthan of Shri Adi Shankaracharya.
Niti Valley
Niti Valley is an alpine meadow a mountain ridge where the Indo-Tibetan border is situated. It is famous for pilgrims, natural beauty and alpine meadows making it an ideal tourist location. It is 89.2 km from Auli.
Pangarchulla trek
It is near Joshimath of Chamoli district, Uttarakhand. The trek to Pangarchulla begins from Auli and goes beyond Nanda Devi.
Kuari Pass Trek
The Kuari Pass Trek is crucial for those who want to explore the Himalayas’ incredible massifs. It is 9.5 km from Auli. Kamet, Dunagiri, Nanda Devi, Trishul, Nanda Ghunti, Barmatia, Mandir, Mana, Lampak, Chaukhamba, Chitrakatha and Taki peaks are visible from this pass.
Watch This Video to See How Auli Looks?
Cafes and Food Hubs in Auli
Auli-D Food Plaza
Price for two: Rs. 200-600
Specialities: Indian, Chinese and Continental food, Desserts
Location: NH 58, Joshimath, Uttarakhand, 246443
Cliff Top Club
Price for two: Rs. 400-1000
Specialities: Stay place along with a restaurant, the restaurant offers a variety of meal options, dining and fast food.
Location: Auli Skiing Vill., Auli Laga Salude, Uttarakhand, 246443
Oryza Restaurant by CASA Himalaya
Price for two: Rs. 300-800
Specialities: Popular for breakfast and dining options such as North Indian, South Indian and continental.
Location: ITBP Rd, Auli Laga Salude, Joshimath, Uttarakhand 246443, India
Uniq Restaurant
Price for two: Rs. 500-1000
Specialities: Best for parties, delicacies like tandoori foods, Chinese, Indian, and Nati-style food. The fast food like tacos, burgers, pizzas and pasta.
Location: Auli Rd, Joshimath Army Area, Joshimath – 246443 India
J.M.S. Restaurant
Price for two: Rs. 500-800
Specialities: Indian and Chinese food
Location: Narsingh Mandir Mrg, P.W.D, Joshimath, Auli (246443) India
Land of a Thousand Hill Cafe
Price for two: Rs. 400-800
Specialities: Specialized in hot and cold beverages and meal options such as breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Location: ITBP Rd, Mountain Rover, Thousand Hill Cafe, Auli, Joshimath, Uttarakhand (246443)
Pizza Hap
Price for two: Rs. 200-600
Specialities: Varieties of veg and non-veg pizzas and other fast food.
Location: 1st floor- Pizza Hap building, nearby SBI bank, Joshimath(246443), Uttarakhand
Sky Resort GMVN Auli
Price for two: Rs. 400-1200
Specialities: Best dining options with authentic Garhwali food, Indian and Chinese cuisines.
Locations: Auli Road, Joshimath, Auli Laga Salude, Uttarakhand, 246443
Book Your Next Auli Tour Package With Travel Acharya
We Travel Acharya provides best deals and customized offers on Auli Tour Package which might fit your budget and convenience. Check our Auli Tour Package and book your next trip with us.
Pack Your Bags
Carry these essentials while your trip to Auli:
- Warm woollen clothes
- Fleece jacket
- Water and food essentials
- Waterproof gears
- Snow Boots
- Sunscreen
- Good moisturizer
- Cash for purchases
- Gadgets and electronic essentials
- Ski and Snowboarding equipment else you can rent for sometime
- First Aid kit
- Headlamps for night
Remember the Important Things While Visiting Auli
- Keep valid ID proofs like licenses, PAN cards, and aadhar cards.
- ATMs might not be available frequently in Auli due to the remote region, so keep cash in hand.
- Follow the hazard guidelines if there.
- Ski only in permissible land areas.
FAQs
Why is Auli Ski Resort famous in India?
Auli is a place for snow lovers who like to adventure in the snow. It is a famous tourist attraction and known as Mini Switzerland.
When is the best time to visit Auli?
The best time to visit Auli for snow lovers is winter and to travel comfortably, summer.
Where can you book Auli Ropeway?
No online medium is available for booking Auli Ropeway. Either take tickets from the Joshimath counter or contact the travel agency – Travel Acharya.
Is there accommodation available in Auli?
Yes, stay Options are there in Auli including GMVN, Auli.
Are there any charges for skiing in Auli?
No charges for skiing are there for renting ski equipment you have to pay a fee.
Are there ATM facilities in Auli?
No, ATM facilities are available in Auli, mostly you have to carry cash for purchases.
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