Auli is famous as the ski resort of India. Auli is at an altitude of about 2800 meters above sea level in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand state. Auli is also known as Auli Bugyal. In Garhwali language, "Bugyal" meaning "grassland". Flowers found anywhere in the world can be seen in the valley of Auli. Due to being so green, it is called "Bugyal" / grassland.
Auli experiences winters from October to March and starts receiving snow from December onwards. If you are interested in snow sports and are looking for snow sports destination in India then you must visit Auli.
Auli is a perfect tourist place for trekkers, bikers, adventure sports lovers and those who want to visit Auli for religious belief. Uttarakhand is called Dev Bhoomi and people have deep faith in the temples and mountains here. Surrounded by oak forests, Auli gives an unforgettable experience to every tourist who comes here.
Auli Ski Resort
Every tourist coming to Auli must ski at least once, and why not! Auli is not only the best ski place in India but also in Asia. Skiing is the most preferred activity for tourists visiting in the months from December 20 to March.
Here 3 to 4 feet high snow makes this location perfect for ski. It is not that only expert skiers can ski here. A beginner can also take a ski course during vacation and practice ski at Auli slopes. Tourists can register in the ski course here. Ski Training Institutes provide 7 day and 10 day duration courses.
For those who do not know how to ski, there is no harm in trying ski as well. Apart from this, there are many other activities like snow sliding, tube sliding and playing in the snow and enjoying the snow, it is for everyone. Special snow boots are required to walk in so much snow. Tourists often get these special snow boots on rent.
Auli - Tourist Places and Attractions
Auli - Ropeway Chair Car
The most famous and main attraction of Auli is Auli Ropeway. This ropeway is about 4 km long and starts from Joshimath. This ropeway is very popular among tourists and almost every tourist coming to Auli definitely wants to travel through this ropeway. That's why it takes some effort to get the ticket for this ropeway. You can guess that the ticket window for the ropeway opens at 8 in the morning and tourists start queuing up there from 6 in the morning.
To avoid this hassle, you can also book Auli Ropeway ticket online. For this, tickets can be bought on the website of Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam Limited (GMVNL) https://heliservices.uk.gov.in/auliropeway.aspx.
The ticket for this 4 kilometer long ropeway journey is valid for going and coming back. The pick up time is written on the ticket itself and at that time the tourists have to be at the ropeway pick up spot. The pick up time is after 1 hour 15 minutes. This time can be longer in summer. In the meantime, tourists can take part in snow activities in Auli and admire the natural beauty of the place.
The ticket price of Gandola / Udan Khatola or Chair Car used in Ropeway Journey is 1000 per person. 25 people can travel in this gondola at a time. This journey is an unforgettable journey. Sitting in the chair car, tourists get a very beautiful view of the valley from such a height.
Ski Chair Lift in Auli
If you reach Auli by Auli Ropeway then you reach directly to the ski slope itself, but if you are going by your own vehicle till Auli or by a taxi, then a chair lift can be taken to reach to the ski slope. 4 people can go in it at a time. Its ticket is also for coming and going only.
Auli - Artificial Lake
This lake of Auli is an artificial lake. It is the highest man made lake in the world. This lake is used to maintain the level of snow for skis. Snow guns placed along the ski slopes are filled with water from this lake and that snow is poured onto the ski slopes. Due to this, the snow level is maintained for skiers and the ski season can also be prolonged a bit.
In winter, this lake is covered with snow. In summer, the view of Auli Lake surrounded by greenery is worth seeing.
Gerson Bugyal Trek
Gerson Bugyal can be reached by taking a 3 kilometer trek from Auli. This track passes through alpine meadows. It is a well maintained track and you can also see apple orchards on this track. This track passes through the deodar forest.
It is good to leave early in the morning to visit this track and you can come back by evening. In winter, there is snow on this track and in such a situation it becomes very difficult. This track is very popular after March when the snow starts melting and greenery starts growing all around.
Chaitra Kund Auli
Chaitra Kund is situated at a distance of 1 kilometer from Gurson Bugyal. Chaitra Kund is a popular destination among trekkers. This is a sweet water lake which lies in the middle of the forest ahead of the Gurson Bugyal track. Chaitra Kund is a quiet place and not many tourists come here. If you love trekking and want to spend some quiet time away from the busy tourist spots of Auli, then definitely make Chaitra Kund a part of your plan.
Kwari Bugyal Auli
If you want to go on a long trek, then you can reach Kwari Bugyal by trekking 12 kilometers ahead of Gurson Bugyal. This track is very popular during the summer season and reaching here to see the snow-capped Himalayan mountains is an experience.
Chenab Lake Trek
Chenab Lake is a man made lake and can be reached by trekking. This track is a bit difficult as it is a rocky path. Bike or car cannot go on this track. Due to the difficult track, not many tourists come here.
Nanda Devi National Park
Nanda Devi National Park is a UNESCO Heritage Site. The flora and fauna found here are preserved in this park. In this park you can see many species of almost extinct flowers.
Shaildhar Tapovan
Shaildhar Tapovan, about 15 km from Auli, is known for its natural hot water spring. This water heats up very fast. Shaildhar Tapovan is a small village where tourists can spend some time in the beautiful and peaceful environment of nature.
Auli Temples
Hanuman Temple Auli
It is said that the Hanuman temple of Auli is the place where Hanuman ji, who had gone out to bring Sanjeevani, sat and rested for a while. Apart from praying in the Hanuman temple here, you can also see the peak of Nanda Devi from this temple.
Vriddh Badri Temple
Vriddha Badri Temple is one of the main temples near Auli dedicated to the Vriddha form of Lord Vishnu. It is said that Narad Muni did penance here and Lord Vishnu came to him in the form of an old man.
This temple is at a distance of about 20 kilometers from Auli bus stand.
Narsimha Temple
The Narasimha Temple is dedicated to the Narasimha avatar of the Lord. It is said about this temple that in future this temple will be submerged due to a natural phenomenon and will block the way to Badrinath. This temple is in Joshimath from where a ropeway is accessible to Auli.
Bhavishya Badri Temple
Bhavishya Badri Temple is a temple of special importance. This temple is related to the Narasimha temple of Joshimath. It is said that in future, after the sinking of the Narasimha temple of Joshimath, the right hand of the idol of Lord Narasimha will be attached to the idol in this temple and Lord Narasimha will reside in this temple.
How to reach Auli
By Flight
Dehradun airport is the nearest airport to Auli. The distance from Dehradun to Auli is approximately 305 km. Flights or connecting flights are available from all the airports of the country for Dehradun airport of Uttarakhand. Once you reach Dehradun airport, you can take a bus or taxi to reach Auli by road.
Due to snowfall in the winter season, buses and taxis can go only up to Joshimath. From Joshimath, Auli can be reached by ropeway or by taking a local taxi. In the summer season when the roads are clear, at that time you can reach by taxi or by your car.
By Train
Auli is a small hill station / ski resort which is not connected to the train network. Tourists can reach Dehradun or Rishikesh by train and from there they can go by road.
Auli - By Road
Auli is well connected by road network. To reach here, Tourists can come to Joshimath by bus from Haridwar, Rishikesh and Dehradun. Local taxi can be taken to reach further.
In summer, many tourists also travel by motor bike.
If you are traveling by your car, after reaching Joshimath it depends on the weather whether you can take car or bike further or not. Driving on the road from Joshimath to Auli is often not permitted due to snowfall in winters. In such a situation, tourists leave their car at Joshimath itself and reach by ropeway or by local taxi.
Shopping in Auli
Auli is a hill station where you will not find many shopping options. If you want to do shopping then you can go to Joshimath market for that. You can buy woolen clothes, shawls and snow boots from here. Apart from this, you can also buy some craft items from here.
Food in Auli
There are many restaurants serving Garhwali food in Auli where you can enjoy both veg and non-veg food. Bal sweets of Garhwal are quite famous. Kachmouli in non-veg is a famous dish here.
Stay in Auli
It takes 2 to 3 days to visit Auli and its surrounding and see all the tourist spots. Apart from this, the weather and calm atmosphere here is special in itself. It is better to book in advance. Auli has mostly ski resorts. A stay at Joshimath is also a good option for exploring Auli and its surroundings. Hotels will be found in every budget to stay here. Auli is becoming a popular tourist spot and can get crowded in summer. Advance booking should be done during the summer season as the hotels in the city are often booked due to the tourist season. For hotel booking, you can book hotels online.
Best Time to visit Auli
October to March is the best season to visit Auli. The temperature here remains cool throughout the year.
The weather here is very pleasant in summers and it gets cold in monsoons. Land slides often happen in the monsoons, that's why not many tourists come here in the rains.
It is very cold here in winter. From December 20 onwards, there is a large number of tourists coming for ski activity in Auli.
If you want to come to Auli for trekking, then the season from March to June is the best because at that time you can see the valleys full of flowers here.
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