Smart Living

Auli, the paradise of ski lovers

Updated : January 18, 2019 08:44 PM IST

The best part of Auli is that it's less crowded compared to other hill stations such as Shimla and Manali.

Auli is considered as one of the popular skiing destinations in India.

Tucked in the Himalayas, Uttarakhand is one of the most marked tourist destinations during winters in India.

Located in the Chamoli district and nestled in the snow-capped peaks of Garhwal Himalayas, Auli hill station is a must visit destination if skiing is your passion. It lies on the way to the Hindu pilgrimage destination of Badrinath.

Auli is situated at an altitude of around 3,000 meters and provides mesmerising views of the Himalayan mountain peaks including Nanda Devi, Palki and Nar Parvat mountains. The best part of Auli is that it's less crowded compared to other hill stations such as Shimla and Manali.

How To Reach

Air: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport at Dehradun, about 270 km from Auli.

Train: Nearest railway stations are Rishikesh (250 km) and Dehradun (290 km).

Road: The cheapest and most convenient way to reach Auli is via bus/shared taxi. You can take a bus or taxi from Rishikesh/Haridwar or from Dehradun.

Cable car: You can also reach Auli in a cable car from Joshimath. The gandola ride is one of the longest in the whole of Asia and definitely worth the experience.

Stay

December to March is the best time to visit Auli. Travellers can find cheap accommodation as Auli is less commercialised compared to other hill stations. You have two options, either stay at Joshimath and travel to Auli for a day trip or stay at Auli. However, to experience the natural beauty, stay in Auli itself. For travellers, Auli offers very limited accommodation, so try to book in advance.

Why Auli?

Highest Man-Made Lake: Located next to the Clifftop Club, the Auli artificial lake was built to provide artificial snow on the new ski slopes in the event of low snowfall during some seasons.

Skiing: Auli is considered as one of the popular skiing destinations in India. The skiing season starts in January and will go on untill March. There are two types of skiing that travellers can do in Auli – Tandem and Professional. For Tandem, you have to enroll in a training programme, which is for seven days.

Nanda Devi National Park: Covering an area of 2,236.74 sq km, the park lies in the vicinity of Nanda Devi, the second highest mountain in India. Established in 1982, the park was accredited as World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988 and houses some of the most spectacular species of high altitude flora and fauna in the region. The park remains open to visitors for six months in a year: May to October.

Things To Carry

Warm clothes, medicines, camera, socks, thermal wear and things that you require.