Auli Travel Guide, India

A peaceful and lush mountain holiday spot situated just 15 kms from the famous pilgrimage spot, called Joshimath, the tiny but popular Skier’s Paradise (as it is better known), Auli lies in Chamoli district of the newly named state of Uttarakhand. The state was earlier part of Uttar Pradesh and subsequently named Uttaranchal, but after a recent change in government, it has been re-named Uttarakhand, as it is referred to today.

Auli Travel Guide-Scenic Beauty of Auli

With its vast range of snow-covered peaks, Auli has rightly been tagged as a skier’s paradise, but has lots to offer to new visitors who may not be keen on trying the different winter sport options.

Since there is immense natural beauty surrounding Auli, thanks to its location – about 3000 meters above sea level - tourists are spoilt for choice when it comes to holidaying in the lap of nature, typically enchanted by the grandeur of adjoining majestic hill ranges, like Haathi Parbat (‘parbat’ means mountain peak in Hindi) Nanda Devi, Mana Parbat, Dron Parvat and Trishul. Densely forested areas filled with oaks and conifers allow nature treks, camping and adventure tourism opportunities for visitors to Auli besides offering a change in color from the pristine white of snow-capped mountain peaks.

Auli Travel Guide -Spiritual Tourism

Apart from the natural hill scenery and options for winter sports, visitors to the Garhwal Himalayas can also extend the range of their holiday plans by reconnecting with the Divine as Badrinath, the world-famous religious shrine, lies close to Auli.

Auli Travel Guide -Winter Sports, National Championships

The state tourism body, the GMVN, recognizing the potential for Auli’s main tourist draw that is its skiing slopes, has been steadily enhancing facilities for winter sports, comfortable budget accommodation and new activities. In a bid to attract more global tourists, the GMVN, which had set up its first skiing spot in Auli, has now acquired more professionally certified skiing instructors, many of whom have been trained by the Indian Army personnel posted on the Indo-Tibetan border in the past two decades. The Skiing Festival in Auli is held annually between January and March and participants can access over 20 kms of pristine slopes for slalom events besides opportunities for winning cross-country and downhill skiing competitions during the National Championships.

For defense personnel, the Indian army has its own skiing center in Auli, which is open to both serving and ex-servicemen and women. Both the public and private (Army) skiing centers in Auli offer great wind resistance for skiers as their slopes are surrounded by dense green forests of conifers and oaks, which cut wind velocity factors that hinder fast skiing.

Auli Travel Guide -Leisure Activities

A great way to catch a breath-taking view of Auli without going for extreme winter sports like paragliding, the expense of a helicopter ride or having to walk, is to go on a ropeway sight-seeing trip. There is a 4 km long ropeway, named Rajju connecting Joshimath and Auli that takes tourists as high as 3030 m; this is also the longest and the 2nd highest ski lift in all of Asia and has 2 cabins accommodating approx 25 persons each. The ropeway service is open from morning till evening every day, it is approx half-an-hour long and passes 10 towers, including the drop-off point for skiers at Auli skiing resort.

Best Time to Visit Auli

Winter (December to the end of March) is the best time to visit Auli as this is when all slopes are snow bound, though summer time visits may be preferred by those who like cool temperatures of 13°C and thereabouts compared to the chill of sub-zero winters in Auli; light woolens are required in summer and heavy woolens in winter