The Skiing Destination: Auli

We usually relate the best places for Skiing and thrilling adventure sports destinations around the World to be in Switzerland or Canada, right?? Be ready to be surprised. One of the best ski destinations in the World lies in India in the glittering slopes of the Garhwal Himalayas in Auli, Uttarakhand. If you want to indulge in some thrilling adventure this winter, and if Skiing is on your mind, Auli is the place you should be in with Slopes as high as 2500 m to 3000 m. Auli was at one point the training grounds for the Paramilitary forces and now is a booming skiing destination for both beginners and professional skiers alike. The enormous heights and dropping slopes falling up to 500 m and the undulating landscapes of the snow covering the Himalayas serves as a perfect playing ground for many adventure activities.

Auli hill station

Auli hill station, Uttarakhand, India.

The Auli Ropeway

The Ropeway in Auli boasts of being Asia’s longest and one of World’s highest cable car Gondola covering a distance of 4kms. equipped with both Chair & Ski Lift, it is connected to Joshimath and takes almost 25 mins to reach. Do not miss out on this incredible ride, it provides some of the most breathtaking and mesmerizing panoramic views of the shimmering snow-clad slopes of the mountain peaks like Nanda Devi, Kamet, and Dronagiri.

Best time to visit Auli for Skiing

In the months of January to April, the slopes of Auli gets snowfall up to 3m deep which forms a thick silver carpet of snow, and the best time to venture into for some thrilling skiing and adventure activities.

Top Activities to do in Auli

Auli is a Ski resort and the most sought after one in India compared to a few others. Skiing is definitely the most attractive sport here. Trekking is another activity one can opt for here, there are plenty of trekking routes both short and longer ones over a week from Auli that will take you through lush green meadows and valleys. Auli – Gorson Bugyal – 7 km, Gorson Bugyal- Tali -6 km, Khulara – Tapovan -9 km are a few treks that can be completed in a day.

Skiing in Auli, Uttarakhand | Adventure sports in India

View of main skiing centre of Auli. Courtesy Anuj Kumar Garg.

Auli Ropeway Cable Car in Auli, Uttarakhand

Auli Ropeway Cable Car at Auli, Uttarakhand. Courtesy Anuj Kumar Garg.

Where to Stay in Auli

Popular around the world, Auli sees a good footfall of both local and international tourists. Due to the location of Auli which is quite remote, only a few options of accommodations are available. It is more convenient to stay in Joshimath which is abundant with many options of stay to choose from.

Restaurants and Local Food in Auli:

As mentioned due to its remote location even eating options are limited. The Ski resort though has in-house restaurants where one can eat. Joshimath has a few good options from food, some of them serve authentic Garhwali cuisine also. A few local dishes you might like to try are like Singhori (a cone-shaped sweet wrapped in Malu Leaf), Kachmauli (stuffed goat with oil and spice), Bal Mithai (a popular local sweet).

How to reach Auli:

Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, which at 279 km is the nearest Airport, while the closest International Airport is in Delhi at 500 km. Rishikesh, Haridwar & Dehradun are the nearest Railway Stations at a distance of roughly 250 km – 300 km from Auli. From these places, one can hire a car or take a local or state transport buses to Joshimath. One must try to reach Joshimath by 4 pm, to be able to take the Ropeway ride to Auli which closes after dusk.