If you yearn to feel the cold winter breeze kiss your cheeks leaving you feeling almost giddy with excitement as you float down a steep snow covered mountain the Auli – the ski capital of India is the place for you. Cradled in the lap of the Garhwal hills in Uttaranchal Auli is the numero uno for option for all lovers of winter sports. Doesn’t matter if you are an expert or just an amateur, if it’s the incomparable thrill of skiing that you want to experience, the world class facilities offered at the ski resort in Auli will leave you feeling warm and contended inside, even if the weather is freezing outside. A 16 km drive from Joshimath, and you will reach the Auli Ski resort. The resort is maintained by the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GNVN).

If the summer months at Auli are pleasant and romantic the winter months beckons adventure lovers from all corners of the globe with its snow covered peaks and excellent skiing facilities. Even reaching the place can be an unforgettable experience especially if you choose to take the ropeway from Joshimath to Auli. The skiing season is from December to March, and the resort sees the maximum influx of tourists during these four seasons, most of them coming here to invigorate their bodies and minds with the thrill of winter sports. During this time the slopes of Auli are covered with a thick 3m deep carpet of snow. Apart from skiing visitors can also enjoy other diversions like sledding and snowboarding.

The gentler kind is always welcome during the summer months when the cold is less severe. It is a wonderful destination for people who love scenic beauty and adventure. The view of nandadevi particularly in the morning is breath taking. The other giant peaks are Kamet and Dunagiri. The summer months bring with it a whole new range of activities. There are trails for bikers and hikers and trekkers can go on numerous walks that have been especially chalked out for them. A visit to the Gorson Reserve Forest, which is apart of the Nanda National Park, is a must for all lovers of wildlife. Here one can catch the glimpse of several exotic forest dwellers like the Musk Deer, Jackal, Hyena, wild rabbits, bears and of course the regal snow leopards.

Summers at Auli are perfect for those who want to escape the rat race of the bustling life of the cities. The weather is nice and pleasant and cool air from the Deodar and Oaks are healthful and strongly recommended Naturopaths, Homeopaths and Physicians.

The Winter games Federation of India organizes skiing festivals at Auli to attract attention and give a boost to tourism. This now also includes the national championships. As mentioned earlier Skiing is not the only sport that one can indulge in Auli. Kids can be seen whistling down the slopes in miniature sleds and snowboards are also an option.

Learn to Ski at Auli

While the unexplored terrain, steep slopes, and breathtaking beauty of the surrounding Himalayan mountains are irresistible for experienced skiers, first timers who want to learn the sport, can get themselves enrolled in the 7 day and 14 day skiing courses organized by the GMVN in the months of January to march. All participants are provided with boarding lodging and basic ski equipment and lift facility.

Ski Facilities Offered At Auli

Connecting Joshimath with Gorson above Auli is the longest cable car or Ski lift system in Asia, which is almost 500m long. The Gorson hill top which is only a short distance from Gorson, boasts of superb mountain vistas and falls on 24 Km trek to Kauri Pass. Auli’s only chair lift travels from Gorson to the base lodge – a small building, which doubles up as a rest room ad, marks the starting point for all the ski routes.

The lower slopes are connected to the upper ones by a 800m chair lift, enabling skiers to reach the top most slopes in a jiffy. Then they either have the option of skiing down or they can just enjoy a relaxing walk down the snow paths. Two high tech snow beaters have been especially imported from Germany to keep the snow smooth and ski friendly. This becomes all the more important during the winter months when the ski festivals and competitions are held, which attracts apart from Indian participants several foreign participants as well.

It is justifiable to visit the winter resort just to experience the thrill of going up in the cable car, and soaking in the unforgettable sight of snow covered Himalayan peaks on either side. There are several eateries and government run restaurants on the way to Auli. It needn’t be mentioned that all visitors must carry with them heavy woolens as it gets really cold during the winters. Apart sweaters and jackets one must also carry thick caps, socks, leather gloves, and mufflers. Snow boots or gumboots are also to be brought along, thought they can also be bought locally. Always carry torchlight and a first aid kit.

Equipment at Auli

GMVN has an enviable range of equipments related to skiing and other sporting activities, which includes the latest designs of the Alpine Skis, Nordic skies, ski goggles, gloves and protective gear.

Tourists are welcome to carry their own equipments, though they can also be hired. Both Auli and Joshimath are well equipped to deal with any accidents or health related issues. Doctors are available 24x7 at Auli and there are several superbly staffed hospitals and nursing homes in Joshimath. Despite this tourists are advised to carry with them a well-stocked first aid kit, which should include pain relief balms, foot powder, crepe bandages and basic medicines like cough syrups and painkillers. For communication there are microwave telephones, wireless sets and walkie-talkies in Auli.

Auli – Peak Seasons

Winters are the best time to head for Auli. If you are a ski enthusiast, there isn’t better place in India to experience the thrill of rushing down steep mountain slopes than Auli. Skiers from all over the world come to Auli during winters for obvious reasons. So if you are planning a trip to Auli you can get yourself enrolled in the ski courses, organised by the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam. These courses cater to both advanced and amateur skiers.

Things to Remember

1. Remember to pack as many warm clothes as possible. The cold is really severe so high quality winter wear is a must.
2. Carry a well-stocked first aid kit. Its advisable to always carry one during holidays irrespective of the destination.
3. Always keep a torch light with you especially during the evening time since the area is prone to a lot of power cuts.
4. Remember to carry a pair of solid gumboots or snowshoes and a pair of dark glasses for protecting your eyes.


How to Reach

By Rail
A direct rail service connects Haridwar (270 Km away) to Auli via Joshimath. One can also get busses or hire taxies to reach Joshimath.

By Road
From the cities of Delhi, Rishikesh, Haridwar and Dehradun local transport busses ply regularly to Joshimath. From there one can use the cable car to reach Auli.

By Air
The nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun which is 273 Km away from Joshimath. One can then get a taxi to reach Joshimath.

__________ offers tour bookings and arranges adventure tour packages for Auli in Uttaranchal. For further information or for booking a tour do not hesitate to contact us.

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