Auli Uttarakhand- Your Ultimate Adventure Destination to Visit

January 11, 2024

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Auli, Snow Season in Uttarakhand

Situated in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, Auli is a popular skiing destination in India and famous for its snowy fairy-tale landscapes and perfect ski slopes.

Best time to Visit Auli, Uttarakhand

Although you can visit Auli all year long, there’s a narrow window that is the most suitable for Auli ski adventure and is Auli’s best time. This narrow window is between December to February is the best time to ski in Auli. Mostly January and February. What makes this duration perfect is the heavy snowfall, the thick layer of snow covering the slopes, and the temperature. The Auli weather is cold in general and it remains pleasant even in the summer. The temperature during the Auli snow season ranges from 7 degrees to as low as -4 degrees, so, when planning a visit to Uttarakhand for Auli during the snow season, it is essential to be well-prepared with warm clothing. This will ensure that you can fully enjoy the snow without having to worry about the cold.

How to reach Auli, Uttarakhand

Auli lies on the way to Badrinath. There is no direct way of reaching Auli by flight or train. The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Dehradun which is 286kms away while the nearest railway station is Rishikesh, which is 264kms away. Taxis (both shared and private) and buses to Auli are available from the airport and the railway station. Direct buses to surrounding places like Joshimath or Chamoli are accessible from Delhi and other surrounding cities. Auli’s distance from Delhi is approximately 500 km.

The most accessible way is to reach Auli by car or a taxi/bus.

Things to do in Auli during the Snow Season

Auli is most renowned for Skiing but that’s not the only thing to do when in Auli. Here’s a list of things you can do and Auli view places to visit:-

1. Explore the Lakes of Auli.

Chattarkund and Chenab Lake are two beautiful water bodies in Auli. The reflection of the mountains in the water here is very pleasing to the eye and a stroll around can be very satisfactory. (In winter, these lakes will potentially be frozen) You can also check out the artificial lake in Auli which was made for skiers.

Auli Lake in Snow Season in Uttarakhand — Auli Lake in Winter, PC- Ashish Kumar

2. Trek or hike.

Auli has fine slopes, high altitudes, well-defined trails and is surrounded by mighty peaks. These four factors in combination make Auli a great place to trek. Joshimath to Kwani Bugyal; Auli to Gorson Bugyal and Khalura are a few of the Auli trekking places. You can book Auli trekking packages from the Himalaya Shelter website, happy to be at your service!

Gorson Bugyal Auli Snow Season in Uttarakhand — Gurson Bugyal Trek from Auli, PC- Shikhar Sethi

3. Explore the rich flora and fauna.

A few hours from Auli is the Nanda Devi National Park, a UNESCO-awarded world heritage site. Nanda Devi biosphere reserve is home to very rich biodiversity and even some endangered species like the new leopard and Himalayan Musk deer.

Auli Snow Season in Uttarakhand — View of Mount. Nanda Devi in Winter, PC- Holidify

4. Shop for souvenirs.

No travel is complete without some shopping. Especially for souvenirs. While shopping in Auli has limited options, you can find souvenirs and ski-related products. If you are in the mood to shop more or in need of some warm clothes, head to the Joshimath market.

Joshimath Auli Snow Season in Uttarakhand — Auli, Joshimath in Winter, PC- TRISOJ

5. Indulge in local cuisine and culture:

Auli has some interesting local delicacies. The most famous is Kachmauli, a stuffed goat tossed in mustard, chilli, and turmeric. There is both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food options available here. Some famous vegetarian Auli food are Aloo ke gutke and Bal Mithai. Auli village has a lot of culture and stories to reveal, find it out for yourself.

6. Enjoy the snowfall:

There are not too many places in India that are blessed with snowfall like Auli is. January and February are the best time to visit Auli for snowfall. Come and enjoy this blessing.

Cost of Skiing in Auli, Uttarakhand

Auli skiing charges vary depending on the time, the duration of the course, the kind of Auli ski packages you pick, whether the food and accommodation are included in the package And if the course you are is a certificate or non-certificate course. In comparison to other skiing destinations in India and the world, skiing in Auli is a lot more reasonable and affordable. For example, a one-day ski would cost starting from Rs.1500, while a longer duration pass like that of three days would start from Rs.4500 and with the inclusions Rs.8000 minimum. There are a variety of skiing courses available in Auli, ranging from a day ski to even a 28-day course. You can check out the prices and packages on the web.

Auli Ropeway

The Auli ropeway connects Joshimath to Auli. You will be surprised to know that the Auli ropeway is the second-highest in India. How to reach Auli ropeway? Well, you can board both from Auli or Joshimath. Joshimath to Auli ropeway distance is approximately 4 kms which is a 25 minute ride in the Auli top. Auli ropeway ticket prices range from starting rupees thousand for a round-trip. The Auli ropeway ticket booking can be done online in advance on the official website of GMVN or in person offline. Although the Auli ropeway timings might vary slightly, in winter, the last cable car on the rope leaves at 4:20 PM while in the summers at around 5:30 PM.

Auli Chair Lift

The Auli chair lift takes you from the GMNV Resort to the place where you will ski and enjoy the Auli views – Auli ski resort. The ride distance in the chair lift is approximately 800 m which takes around 5 minutes. The Auli chair lift timings are from morning to early evening. The Auli chair lift price ranges from Rs.300-500 per person. Auli chair lift booking online is done on the official website of GMVN.

Is the ropeway and the Chair lift same or different?

it’s easy to get confused and question the difference between the Auli ropeway and the Auli chair lift. So let me just quickly make it clear. The most obvious difference between these two is the function while the ropeway is used for transportation between Joshimath and Auli. The Auli chair lift is it tourist attraction that takes tourists to the Auli ski resort from the GMVN, Resort. Skiing is done at very high altitudes and it is not easy to reach these altitudes by foot. Perhaps a chair lift system has been developed and put into place, not only in Auli but every ski destination.

We hope this blog has filled you in on everything you need to know before visiting Auli in Uttarakhand during the snow season. So, take that trek/ski/stroll. Auli has a lot to explore and offer, what are you interested in?