Auli

Auli, a small town in the Garhwal Himalayas, is a skiing destination that’s under the radar yet holds much promise. Auli lies above Joshimath (13km away), a nondescript town but one that’s the gateway to the pilgrimage centre of Badrinath, and some of the finest treks in the region. It is also from Joshimath though which you enter Auli.
Auli offers grandstand views of the mighty Himalayas (including Nanda Devi). However, if there is a downside, it is that the season is short, though this skiing holiday is unlikely to burn a hole in your pocket.

History

Auli has only recently come into focus, more so after the state of Uttarakhand came into being, in November 2000. Since then, there have been efforts to market the area as one of the country’s top skiing stops.

Geography

Nestled in the Garhwal section of the Himalayan range, Auli is not very high up in terms of altitude (just over 10,000ft) but is surrounded by peaks.

Weather

The climate hereabouts is capricious. Temperatures in winter dip a fair bit below freezing, while rarely rising above 20C in summer.

How to reach

The nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun, and the nearest railhead is at Haridwar. Buses (including deluxe) and taxis connect Auli from Joshimath. Buses to Joshimath run from Rishikesh (10hrs) and Haridwar (11½hrs).
You can also get to Auli by the cable car (gondola); the 4km ride up from Joshimath (8264ft, 2519m) via the ropeway takes between 15 and 20 minutes.

Getting Around