At a glance Auli, located in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, is a new entrant in the tourist map of India. Located in the cradle of snow-capped mountains, Auli is one of the very few places in India where skiing is a major pastime. The bitter cold winds, the vast snow-covered landscape, the sylvan mountains, all add up to make Auli a skier's paradise.
About the city Auli is considered the best skiing slope in Asia. Both sides of the slope are covered with oak and coniferous trees which break the speed of the wind and this makes it ideal for skiing. Right in front of Auli, is one of the highest peak, Nanda Devi. Along with it can be seen the Hathigauri, Neelkanth, Comet and Eravath mountains. Auli is a grazing land spread over 6 kms. In the local language they call this "Byugal". In summer, in the old days, the local villagers used to graze their cattle here. During monsoons thousands of different variety of flowers bloom here.
How to reach Air If you want fly down, the nearest airport is Dehradun, about 298 km away. Rail Rishikesh, about 235 km away, is the nearest railhead. And yes of course you could also trek the five kilometer between Joshimath and Auli. Cable Car Auli is linked with Joshimath with a 3.9-km-long cable car linking, besides the 16-km-long motor able road. You will also find a 500-m-long chair lift linking the lower and upper slopes.Auli
Distances
Best Seasons If one is an adventure freak, the best time to visit Auli is during the winter season. The period from late November to late March is generally considered ideal for skiers. As the winters set in, the mountains seem to extend to the firmament with arms of snow. From December to March, the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam conducts 7-day and 15-day courses for both amateurs and advanced learners. The nearest airport is Dehradun, about 298 km away. Rishikesh, about 235 km away, is the nearest railhead. Regular road services are available from Delhi, Dehradun, Rishikesh and Hardwar to Joshimath, 16 km away. In the months of February and March, Auli often hosts the National Winter Games. In a planned move, the Government and local authorities have involved the local Garhwali people to explore the slopes that rightfully belong to them.
Places in and around Joshimath Joshimath which is 12 kms from Auli is in the Chamoli District and has many temples and memorials. It is a gateway to Badrinath and the Valley of Flowers. Adiguru Shankaracharya on his visit to Uttarakhand had founded Joshimath which is 47 kms from Badrinath. Another attraction here is a sight-seeing trip between Joshimath and Auli by a ropeway. This ropeway is 4 km long one and is called the Rajju and is at a height of 1917 mts to 3027 mts above sea level. This is the longest and the second highest ropeway in Asia. Two passenger cabins are used in this. Each cabin can accommodate from 20 to 25 people. This whole trip passes through ten towers. On the eighth tower of the ropeway one can stop because this is where one gets off for skiing and looking in and around Auli. It takes about half an hour to complete this trip. This service operates from morning to evening. Gurso Bugyal Gurso Bugyal is 3 kms from Auli, and is a huge meadow spread amidst a mixed forest of oaks and conifers. Gurso Bugyal is at 3056 mts above sea-level. One can reach Joshimath via the ropeway. It is barely 1.5 kms from the last tower of the ropeway. As there is no accommodation available here one can only admire the scenery during the day and return to Auli by night. Chattrakund located 1 km from Gurso Bugyal, is in the middle of the jungle is a small lake of sweet water called Chattrakund. This place can be visited when visiting Gurso Bugyal. Saildhar Tapovan Saildhar Tapovan is 15 kms on the Joshimath road is a small village where there are many hot-water springs. 3 kms ahead in Saildhar are hot water fountains where the water is almost at a boiling point. Kwanri Bugyal is 12 kms from Gurso Bugyal Kwanri is a very interesting place for trekkers. Its at 3350 mts above sea-level. Many tourists camp here in summer. Nanda Devi hotel in Joshimath organises such camps where porters, guides, cooks and camping equipment are available. June and September months are the best time visit. Chenab Lake Chenab Lake is the last village from Joshimath is Dang which has to be passed to reach this beautiful lake. The road is rough, because of which this lake is not very popular with the tourists. Vanshinarayan Kalpeshwar is 12 kms from Joshimath, 10 kms from a village called Helang, this is a beautiful valley where there is a cave called Kalpeshwar. 10 kms further down the road is a spot called Vanshinarayan which is unmatched in its beauty. Bhavishya Badri Bhavishya Badri is 3 kms by foot from Tapovan this spot is situated in the midst of a dense deodar forest.