Auli is nestled amidst the heavenly snow-covered Himalayan range of Garhwal of state Uttarakhand. It is a must see place and one of the most important ski destinations in India. It lies in Chamoli district amidst the Garhwal Himalayan mountains in the state of Uttarakhand, India. The snow-clad mountains of Auli offer great slopes that make skiing so fun and adventurous to beginners as well as experts. The area is full of evergreen conifers and oak forest.
The oak and deodar trees alongside the beautiful ski slopes provide the best atmosphere to skiing lovers. Apart from being home to many naturally beautiful sights and attractions, Auli is home to many adventures and fun activities.
Auli Overview:
| State: | Uttarakhand |
| District: | Chamoli |
| Famous For: | Skiing, Scenic, Camping |
| Languages: | Garhwali, Hindi |
| Ideal time to visit: | Nov – Mar |
| Summer Temperature: | 15°C to 30°C |
| Winter Temperature: | -4°C to 24°C |
| Altitude: | 3049 m |
| STD Code: | 013172 |
Activities:
The hills station provides tourists with massive opportunities to explore adventurous and fun activities in the lap of mother nature.
The best activity for which Auli is so popular is skiing but there are various recreational activities too that will keep you amazed throughout your tour. Trekking expeditions here give visitors a gift of experiences and memories for their entire life.
Nearby places to visit are Valley of Flowers, Nanda Devi Sanctuary and Gurso Bugyal. These destinations are already great sources of interest among tourists.
Located in midst of a part in the cradle of snow-capped Himalayan range and at 2800 meters above sea levels, Auli is home to mountain ranges of Nanda Devi, Mana Parvat and Kamat Kamet. It is also an important pilgrimage destination for the Hindus. Many religious destinations are also located near Auli.
It has a blessed past that dates back to the 8th century. People believe that Shankaracharya had visited this palce several times. Auli is on the way to Badrinath. So during winters, it witnesses heavy snowfall. So the temple of Badrinath is closed for 5 to 6 months.
Auli Skiing Charges:
| For Adults Ski Charges: | 400 Rupees per Person |
| For Children Ski Charges: | 300 Rupees per Person |
| Gloves: | 200 Rupees per item per day |
| Goggles: | 100 Rupees per item per day |
| Snowboard: | 700 Rupees per item per day |
| Ski Lessons: | 200 Rupees per item per day |
Attractions:
Auli is known for its great ski slopes in India. Ski-lovers come here mostly during the ski competitions in winters. But it has so many other beautiful things to offer, which are:
Artificial Lake:
This beautiful artificial lake was created to produce synthetic artificial snow for the skiing activities in the summers. This lake is the world’s highest man-made lake.
Auli along with Dehradun hosted the first South Asian Winter Games in 2011. The Ice hockey and ice skating events were held in Dehradun and the snowboarding and skiing events were conducted here.
Joshimath:
Joshimath is famous among tourists for its mountain climbing and trekking expeditions. It is connected to Auli with a ropeway. This ropeway is known as the longest ropeway of Asia that offers a beautiful view of mountains and snow. Joshimath was established as one of the fundamental institutions by Adi Guru Shankaracharya. It is the place of great religious importance for the tourists.
Trishul Peak:
Trishul peak is one of the few destinations in India where skiing is professionally practiced. It offers a great panoramic view from the top. At the foot of this hill is the famous Roopkund Lake.
Skeletons of horses and humans were found in this lake, which is why it is known as ‘Mystery Lake’. The Nanda Devi National Park is close to the peak, which is great place to visit for nature lovers.
Vanshinarayan Kalpeshwar:
Near Joshimath, Vanshinarayan Kalpeshwar is a beautiful valley and home to a cave known as Kalpeshwar. 10 kilometers further from the Kalpeshwar cave is a place, Vanshinarayan, which is well-known for its natural beauty.
Route to Auli From Delhi:
Delhi → Haridwar → Rishikesh → Devprayag → Srinagar → Rudraprayag → Karnaprayag → Chamoli → Joshimath → Auli
Climate And Best Time To Visit Auli:
Generally, the best time to visit this place is any season of the year except monsoons. But attraction in this place is Snow Skiing, which is at its best during November to March.
- Months from December to February are snow covered and chilly. Auli receives a good amount of snowfall during these months. This period is best for snow skiing.
- March and April are pleasant and perfect for outing and sight seeing. The sky remains clear, which makes this time perfect for a family getaway.
- Months from May to November are cool and pleasant and the right period to spend peaceful and relaxing moments with family and friends.
| Month | Minimum (°C) | Maximum (°C) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 6 °C | 16 °C |
| February | 9 °C | 21 °C |
| March | 11 °C | 23 °C |
| April | 17 °C | 28 °C |
| May | 19 °C | 29 °C |
| June | 21 °C | 29 °C |
| July | 22 °C | 27 °C |
| August | 22 °C | 27 °C |
| September | 21 °C | 27 °C |
| October | 17 °C | 25 °C |
| November | 11 °C | 22 °C |
| December | 8 °C | 20 °C |
Snowfall in Auli:
Auli receives significant amount of snowfall during winters. It witnesses first snowfall of the season in mid December. This makes months of December and January as perfect time to visit Auli if you are planning for skiing.
A Famous Legend:
There is a small temple of Lord Hanuman’s in Auli. The temple is known for having a connection to Ramayana. According to Hindu mythology when Lakshman, younger brother of Lord Rama got injured while fighting Meghnath (son of Ravana) in Lanka (now Sri Lanka).
The medic, who was treating Lakshman suggested that the only thing that can save Lakshman is a herb named ‘Sanjivani Booti’ found on the Sanjivani mountain in the Himalayas. Lord Rama requested lord Hanuman to get the herb. Hanuman flew from Lanka all the way to the Himalayas. During this journey, he took some rest somewhere in this place.
How To Reach Auli:
By Air
The nearest airport to Auli is Jolly Grant, Dehradun, about 298 kilometers away. From the airport, there are many taxi and buses to Joshimath and Auli.
By Train
Haridwar, about 265 kilometers away, is the nearest railway station. Then one has to take a taxi or a bus. Near railway station, there is a taxi stand where you can book or find a shared taxi.
By Road
The city is well-connected by roads to other major cities of the country via NH 72. For example, regular deluxe and normal buses to the city are easily available from ISBT Kashmiri Gate, Delhi to Dehradun, Haridwar and Rishikesh. Auli is 281 km from Dehradun.
The Distance of Auli from Major Cities:
| Delhi: | 495 Kilometers |
| Dehradun: | 281 Kilometers |
| Mussoorie: | 62 Kilometers |
| Haridwar: | 260 Kilometers |
| Rishikesh: | 269 Kilometers |
| Nainital: | 240 Kilometers |
| Shimla: | 57 Kilometers |
| Chandigarh: | 477 Kilometers |