Auli is not a hill station in the conventional sense. There is no market road, no ancient church, no promenade of colonial times. Instead, there are some grassy slopes around 3,000 meters in elevation which go white in winter, with some hotels, a government-run resort, and a lift to take you up the hill.

What it has is one of the finest mountain vistas in all of India from an area that can be driven to. The highest peak in India which lies wholly within its borders, the Nanda Devi, towers just ahead of you. The vista, and the skiing, is everything there is to the area.

There is also a matter that every guide needs to be able to answer first, and that is what has occurred in Joshimath in 2023 and how it affects a visit now. This guide offers the Auli places to visit along with this question answered, the approximate prices in rupees, the treks which fill out your day off the ski runs, and the cold hard truth about the snow which cannot be guaranteed.

Auli at a Glance

Detail	What to Know
Where	Chamoli district, Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand
Altitude	Roughly 2,800 to 3,050 metres across the slopes
Base town	Joshimath, about 13 km by road or a ropeway ride away
Nearest railhead	Rishikesh or Haridwar, around 250 km and 9 to 10 hours
Nearest airport	Jolly Grant, Dehradun, roughly 270 km
Ski season	Roughly late December to March, peaking in January
Meadow season	April to June and September to November
Check before booking	Current ropeway status and road conditions
Ideal trip length	2 to 3 nights, or a week if you are learning to ski
The honest truth	Snow in Auli varies year to year and is never guaranteed

The Joshimath Question, Answered Properly

Joshimath, the town below Auli, suffered from the severe subsidence of land in January 2023. Cracks formed in various buildings and roads, people were evacuated, and the Joshimath to Auli ropeway had to stop functioning due to damage to some of its towers, according to the survey.

Let me tell what is true here, without any exaggeration. The subsidence occurred in the lower region of Joshimath town but not on the Auli slopes. The tourism in Auli still continues, hotels and the road function normally, and the information about the ropeway operation is mixed since some sources say that it works again now, and there is even a plan for the ropeway reconstruction.

This is what I would like to advise. You cannot believe whether the ropeway works or not, and you cannot think that it does not work. Check the state of the ropeway one week before your travel with the hotel, Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam or Uttarakhand Tourism, as it influences the trip greatly. In winter, the Joshimath to Auli road may be blocked due to snow, and when it happens together with the ropeway break, it may become hard to reach Auli.

None of this means that

Auli Places to Visit: The Shortlist

Place	Distance	Time Needed	Best For
Auli ski slopes	On site	Half to full day	Skiing, snow play, the chair lift
Auli Ropeway	From Joshimath	25 minutes each way	The approach and the views
Auli artificial lake	About 1 km	1 hour	A short walk and reflections of the peaks
Gurso Bugyal	About 3 km trek	Half day	Oak forest and an open meadow
Chattrakund	Beyond Gurso	Full day	A small lake and near total quiet
Chair lift to the top slope	On site	1 hour	The easiest way to the upper ridge
Joshimath town	13 km	Half day	Narsingh Temple and the Jyotirmath
Kalpavriksha	Joshimath	30 minutes	An ancient tree tied to Adi Shankaracharya
Vishnuprayag	About 12 km	1 hour	A river confluence below Joshimath
Tapovan hot springs	About 15 km	Half day	Natural hot water beside the Dhauliganga
Badrinath and Mana	About 45 km	Full day	Char Dham temple and a border village
Kuari Pass trek	From Joshimath side	4 to 6 days	One of India’s classic winter treks

The Ski Slopes

Auli is the most popular skiing spot in India. The slopes are owned by the state tourism corporation, and there have been national and international level competitions here. It has slopes that are not difficult for beginners yet long enough to be interesting.

• There are basically two slopes; one is a smaller slope for beginners and the other one is a larger slope, which can be reached with the help of the chair lift.
• The chair lift costs around Rs 300 per person and is worth taking as it drops you at the top of the ridge where the views are at their best, irrespective of your skiing skills.
• The equipment rental service is provided right at the slopes, and the cost of renting out skis, boots, and poles ranges between a few hundred rupees and a thousand rupees per day.
• Beginner classes are available, and multi-day classes ranging from seven days to fourteen days are also organized.
• On the beginner slopes, there is a button lift or tow lift, so you don’t have to take the walk up again.

Even if you come along with non-skiers, it is alright as you can play with the snow and just enjoy

The Auli Ropeway

The gondola from Joshimath to Auli travels a distance of about four kilometres via ten towers with an altitude of approximately 3,010 metres, making it one of the longest and tallest cable car rides in Asia. It takes about twenty to twenty-five minutes to reach your destination, and the gondolas carry many people standing rather than sitting in it, and the scenic views of the oak forest and then the snow line make it worthwhile to take the gondola ride.

The price was usually about Rs 1,000 for a round trip. It can be sold out in the season, so do book your tickets either in the morning or through the online platform. As discussed above, do check whether the ropeway is operating or not before planning your visit.

The Artificial Lake

Just a short walk from the ski slope itself is an artificial lake created at a high altitude as a way of storing water for the artificial snow creation machines which make up for any lack of natural snow on the ski slopes.

It is a short 20-minute walk from most hotels in Auli, and on calm mornings, its reflection shows the tops of the mountains. In winters, it freezes up. But the importance of this artificial lake is actually symbolic as it shows you how Auli really is – a place which needs artificial snow due to the unreliability of natural snowfall.

Gurso Bugyal and Chattrakund

Above Auli the treeline opens into bugyals, the high alpine meadows of Garhwal, and these are the best non-ski hours available here.

Gurso Bugyal

Around three kilometers down from the summit of the chair lift, amidst oak trees and conifers, to a large field with an unobstructed view of the mountain range. It’s green and blooming in summer and a snow covered area in winter. This hike isn’t too hard and takes about two hours round trip.

Chattrakund

Just a few more kilometres down the road from Gurso, there is a small lake in a valley surrounded by forests. Fewer numbers of tourists make it here. It will take you an entire day to reach from Auli, and the journey should be undertaken between April and November due to difficulties in navigation through the snow.

What Am I Looking At? Naming the Peaks

Half the pleasure of Auli is the skyline, and almost nobody tells you what you are actually seeing. This is roughly what stands in front of you on a clear morning.

Peak	Roughly	Why It Matters
Nanda Devi	7,816 m	The highest mountain lying entirely within India, and a sacred peak
Kamet	7,756 m	Among the highest in the Garhwal Himalaya, near the Tibet border
Dunagiri	7,066 m	A steep, striking peak north-west of Nanda Devi
Trishul	7,120 m	A three-summited massif named for Shiva’s trident
Nilkanth	6,596 m	The pyramid above Badrinath, often the most photogenic
Mana and Hathi-Ghoda	Around 6,000 to 7,000 m	The ridge line closest to Auli, named for an elephant and horse shape

Clear views are a morning phenomenon here. Cloud usually builds through the day, so if the peaks are out at seven, go and look at them rather than finishing breakfast.

Joshimath: More Than a Base Town

Most people use Joshimath as a place to rest. It is important in its own right.

• Jyotirmath: one of the four major mathas founded by Adi Shankara in the eighth century, hence the name of the city.
• Kalpavriksha: a huge mulberry tree believed to be more than a thousand years old, under which Shankaracharya was supposed to have meditated.
• Narsingh Temple: the winter abode of Badrinath. During winters, when Badrinath closes for the time being, the deity is shifted to this temple, making it the worship center for almost six months of the year.
• Vishnuprayag: one of the five holy meeting points of the river Alaknanda, located about twelve kilometers away, where the river Dhauliganga meets.

Day Trips From Auli

• Badrinath: around 45 km, one of the four Char Dham temples, generally open from late April/May till November. The drive is stunning and popular during the season.
• Mana village: beyond Badrinath, near the border, with Vyasa Cave, Bhim Pul and place from which Saraswati River comes out from the mountain. Reputedly the last village of India for ages, and now officially declared as the first one.
• Govindghat & Valley of Flowers: the starting point for this destination is some 20 km from Joshimath, and the valley is accessible between June till October. Not a day’s drive, but rather the obvious choice in summer.
• Tapovan: hot springs on Dhauliganga river around 15 km away.

Kuari Pass: The Real Adventure

If you’re healthy and you have between four and six days to stay, the Kuari Pass trek should be your main objective for being here. It takes up a part of the trail used by Lord Curzon and is one of the best winter treks in India, through meadows and forest with all the time seeing Nanda Devi and her surroundings.

It is usually done in winter for the snow or in autumn because of the clear air. Always hire a reputable operator, considering that the trail passes through unknown territory and the climate can change fast.

The Snow Is Not Guaranteed

This is the part where some of the readers will not have their holiday ruined.

Auli receives natural snowfall that can be quite variable every year. The snowfall generally starts around November and December and peaks in January and February. There is usually snow melting during March. However, there have been years when snowfall was minimal at the start of winter and visitors booked in late December found brown slopes.

• Snow-making equipment is present, but its functioning relies on temperatures and equipment usage.
• If skiing is the main goal of your visit, opt for mid-January and February, not December, and be flexible about your booking.
• Look at snowfall statistics, not seasonal statistics, as the latter does not provide any valuable information before you travel. Operators of local hotels will give you an honest answer, as no one can benefit from a displeased client.
• If sky views rather than the snow are your main aim, visit in autumn from September to November.

Costs and Tickets

These are approximate figures for planning. Rates are revised periodically, so confirm locally before you travel.

Item	Approximate Cost (Rs)	Notes
Auli Ropeway return	1,000 per person	Confirm current operating status first
Chair lift	300 per person	Worth it even for non-skiers
Ski equipment hire per day	500 to 1,200	Skis, boots and poles
Beginner ski session with instructor	1,000 to 2,500	Usually a few hours
Multi-day ski course	15,000 upwards	Seven to fourteen day programmes
Snow tubing or toboggan	200 to 500	Good for children
Gurso Bugyal guide	800 to 1,500 per group	Recommended in snow
Taxi, Joshimath to Auli	1,200 to 2,000	One way, more in heavy snow
Taxi, Rishikesh to Joshimath	6,000 to 9,000	Nine to ten hours
Kuari Pass trek package	9,000 to 15,000	Four to six days with an operator
GMVN and hotel stays	1,500 to 8,000 a night	Peaks sharply over New Year

Best Time to Visit Auli

Months	Conditions	Verdict
Mid January to February	Peak snow, coldest weather	Best for skiing, book ahead
December	First snowfall, festive crowds	Popular, but snow is not certain
March	Snow melting, still cold and clear	Good mix of snow and views
April to June	Meadows green, comfortable walking	Best for treks and families
July and August	Monsoon, landslide risk on the approach road	Avoid, the road is the problem
September to November	Clearest skies of the year	Best for peak views and photography

Getting There Is the Hard Part

Auli is no weekend getaway from Delhi, however a package may make you believe.

• A distance of around 250 kilometers and nine to ten hours from Rishikesh and Haridwar via the Char Dham road passing through Devprayag, Rudraprayag and Karnaprayag.
• There are restrictions for night driving on these hill roads, but one must avoid this anyway.
• There is heavy traffic congestion on this route during the Char Dham Yatra period which extends from May to June and September to October.
• This route is prone to landslides and frequent road blocks during the monsoon season, making this the strongest argument against visiting during July and August.
• There are seasonal helicopter flights to Joshimath depending upon the weather conditions and save a day each time they are available.

Practical Tips Most Auli Guides Skip

• Auli lies at around 3,000 metres altitude and this altitude is reached quickly by road. Dizziness and breathlessness at mild levels are common during your first night there. Pace yourself and keep hydrated. Avoid drinking alcohol during night number one.
• Verify whether the ropeway is operating and the state of the roads when booking one week prior to your trip and not one month.
• Stay in Auli if you want to see the view in the morning, and Joshimath if you want more affordable accommodation and eating out options. Auli has very limited eating options outside the hotels.
• Wear proper footwear for snowy conditions. Regular trainers on slippery surfaces are responsible for most minor injuries here.
• The high altitude sun is strong despite the cold temperature. Sunglasses and sun protection are essential in this condition.
• Mobile network and cash become sparse after Joshimath. Try to withdraw money and inform your family members that you might have bad mobile reception.
• New Year week is the busiest and most expensive period of the year. Snow coverage is much better than mid-January with prices several times higher.

Trivia You Can Use to Sound Like a Regular

• Nanda Devi is the highest mountain that lies entirely within India and whose sanctuary has remained off-limits for many years to the public for conservation purposes.
• The man-made lake up in Auli was created to supply snow-making machinery, which alone explains how unreliable the natural snow in these regions is.
• The city of Joshimath derives its name from the Jyotirmath that is one of the four monasteries created by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century AD.
• During the closure of Badrinath, the deity of Badrinath is transferred to Narsingh Temple in Joshimath where worship continues for almost half the year.
• The gondola service that runs between Joshimath and Auli has an over-four-kilometre track with ten towers and has for long been considered one of the highest and longest cable cars in Asia.
• The Kuari Pass trek involves walking through the trail that has some connection with Lord Curzon and is still one of those Himalayan treks taken in winter.

Final Take: Check Two Things, Then Go

Places in Auli to see are limited and that’s precisely the charm of it all. The slopes, the chair lift, the artificial lake, the trek to Gurso Bugyal, and finally the backdrop with Nanda Devi right in between. Throw in Joshimath for its temples and the old tree down below and Badrinath and Mana for an extended visit during the right season.

Make sure before booking anything that the ropeway is open and the Joshimath to Auli road is passable, because only that would determine how convenient your vacation is. Choose the month accordingly. Early January to February if you were after the snow, September to November if you were after the scenery. Two or three days will do, unless you want to learn to ski or make the trek to Kuari Pass, and both of those are better reasons to be here than a weekend photo in the snow.

Frequently Asked Questio

Note: Ropeway operations, road conditions, snowfall and seasonal timings in this region change frequently and at short notice. Everything here is indicative. Confirm current status with your accommodation, Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam or Uttarakhand Tourism before travelling.

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