A travel Guide to Auli

Auli Tourism

Auli is a beautiful Himalayan town in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is located at an average height of 2800 meters and renowned for the stunning natural vistas and fascinating ski resorts. Auli tours are one of the best tours in the Himalayas. The snow-bound peaks, green hilly terrain, coniferous forests, Oak fringed slopes, long deodar trees, and apple orchards make beautiful sceneries in every part of Auli, India.

Auli is widely famous for its ski resort. The sylvan peaks, harsh frosty storms, and the long stretch of snowy valleys are ideal surroundings for a skier. Other than that, the lofty mountain ranges like Nanda Devi, Kamat Kamet, and Mana Parvat also account for beautiful Auli tourist attractions.

Previously, Auli was a training ground for the Indo-Tibetan Police Force. Owing to that, the town saw many development activities. Within a short span of time, it became one of the finest hill resorts and a place of thrill for adventure lovers. Auli provides slightly rough and tough but unforgettable tours to its visitors. Here is a simple Auli travel guide for you to plan your vacation in the lap of the Himalayas.

Places to visit in Auli

1. Nanda Devi National Park: A UNESCO Site

Nanda Devi National Park is one of the popular places of Auli tourism. It is the second-highest mountain in the country and stretches over an area of 630.33 sq km. This national park is home to a number of rare and endangered flora and fauna species. The snow leopard, Himalayan black bear, and Himalayan musk deer are popular animals that live here. You can also visit the Nanda Devi Sanctuary, which is a glacial basin located within the national park. Nanda Devi National Park and the Valley of flowers (a nearby tourist place to Nanda Devi National Park) form the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, enlisted as UNESCO World Heritage Site.

2. Auli Artificial Lake

Apart from the natural Auli attractions, the place has a man-made tourist site, Auli Artificial Lake. There is an artificial lake that is surrounded by high snow-bound mountains from every side. The lake provides a serene view and a calm atmosphere. The mountain near the lake also has a small ski trek for beginners to learn and improve their skiing skills. The authorities who manage this lake produce fake snow in the summer and monsoon season to attract visitors. You can reach the top of the mountain with the help of cable cars to get a splendid view of the mountains.

3. Joshimath: A nearby Town

Joshimath is a sacred town adjacent to Auli and it is one of the best places to visit in Auli. It is a good place for those who want to explore religion and spirituality. There are various temples in this town, like Narsimha and Gauri Shankar. You can see the nobility of the sacred Kalpvriksha (Mulberry tree), which is more than 1200 years old. Joshimath is a great place for adventure lovers. The mountains of this town have steep slopes where you can do some thrilling activities like climbing trips and trekking. You can also find small and cosy hotels and homestays in this town.

4. Gurso Bugyal

Gurso Bugyal is situated at a height of 3,000 meters above sea level. This Bugyal has one of the most difficult treks but also provides one of the most breathtaking views of the mountain ranges of Nanda Devi, Dron, and Trishul from its top. It gives you the panoramic view of serene mountains, rapidly flowing rivers, and the green carpet of soft grass to walk on it. The Bugyal is among the finest Auli tourist places and it gives a memorable experience to its visitors.

5. Chattrakund

Chattrakund is a small lake situated at a distance of 4 km from Auli. It is an important part of Auli tourism. It is located at an elevation of 3,300 meters above sea level and it is surrounded by beautiful trees of oak, pine, and deodar. The lake has crystal clear water, a sight that you will never forget. Chattrakund Lake is also a great place to see the sunrise and sunset. At the time of sunrise, the place can be a little chilly. But you can enjoy the orange and yellow sky at the time of sunset when there is still little heat of the sun remaining in the air.

Things to do in Auli

There are plenty of exciting and thrilling things to do in Auli and some of these things are season-based.

Trying Auli Ropeway

Auli Ropeway connects the hill stations of Auli and Joshimath. Covering a distance of 4 km at the height of 3,010 meters, Auli Ropeway is the second highest and longest ropeway in India, while the first one is the Gulmarg Ropeway in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Ropeway gives a stunning view of verdant valleys and snow meadows to its travellers. The ropeway is operated with a chair lift and a ski lift that are resting their weight on 10 steel towers using a bi-cable contraption. The ropeway was built to give a scintillating experience to tourists.

Skiing in Auli Ski Resort

Needless to say, the Auli Ski Resort is the best part of Auli tourism. It is a coveted place for skiing in India. This ski resort provides great accommodation to ski enthusiasts who visit this place for skiing and sightseeing during the peak tourism months of winter.

The resort has the unmatched beauty of the mountains and coniferous trees. Apart from skiing over these mountains, people also come here to see skiing tournaments that the state government organises every January. Some of the best hotels in Auli are also located around this resort.

Adventurous sports in Kwani Bugyal

Kwani Bugyal is one of the great Auli attractions for people who love adventure sports. This Bugyal is situated at an altitude of 3,350 meters above sea level, and it is a popular tourist destination among tourists during the summer season.

In the summer season, hundreds of tourists come here for trekking. The trek is 13 km long and starts from Auli. Along the trek, you also find panoramic scenery, fresh air, and lots of adventure. The trek is quite exhausting, so it would be great if you have an Auli travel guide along with you.

Enjoy hot spring in Saildhar Tapowan

Saildhar Tapowan is another unique place in Auli. It is a hamlet situated on Joshimath road and lies 3 km from the main town. This place has a hot spring. On your visit to this place, you’ll find a unique and interesting ecosystem created by the hot spring over the cold mountains.

Of all the Auli tourist places, Saildhar is the place which every visitor, especially foreigners, are very fond of. The villagers offer their hospitality and show different bits of their culture and traditions to tourists, including dance performances, local cuisines, and interesting stories. You can also buy handicrafts that villagers sell in the area.

Best time to visit Auli

Rightly speaking, the entire year is the best time to visit Auli. The place has its own charm in each season.

Winter

Winter is the best season to visit Auli. From November to March, the place receives snowfall many times. The maximum temperature in day time goes up to 10 degrees Celsius, but the temperature falls below 0 degrees Celsius at night. From December to February, the Ski resort of Auli attracts tons of tourists.

Summer

The temperature of Auli during summer moves in the bracket of 2 degrees to 20 degrees Celsius. In the months of April to June, you can enjoy trekking, hiking, and other outdoor activities. The waterfalls formed by the melting snow make the best Auli attractions in this season.

Monsoon

Monsoon is another good season to visit Auli. From July to September, the region receives a moderate amount of rainfall. The clouds hovering over the mountains make some of the most splendid views. The temperature in this season ranges between 10 degrees to 20 degrees Celsius.

How to reach Auli

This info on how to reach Auli will help you to make your travel arrangement.

By Flight

There is no airport in Auli, but you can find many flights to Dehradun, which has an airport that is closest to Auli. The airport is connected with Delhi, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Bangalore. After a flight to Dehradun, you can travel by road to reach your destination.

By Train

The nearest railway station to Auli is in Rishikesh, which is 264 km away from Auli. The Rishikesh railway station is well-linked with many major cities of India. From Rishikesh, you can find buses and taxis easily to reach Auli.

By Road

The Road network in Uttarakhand to reach Auli is good. Buses and taxis are easily available from many cities and towns that are present near Auli, like Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Pauri, and Rudraprayag. You can find state roadways buses to Auli from Mussoorie Bus Stand, which is in Dehradun.

Plan You Travel

3 Star Hotels & Resorts in Auli

The Tattva - A Boutique Resort

₹ 5800 per night

Panchvati Inn

₹ 3900 per night

Hotel Dronagiri

₹ 1750 per night

Mount View Annexy

₹ 10000 per night

Hotel Sai Dham Joshimath

₹ 2720 per night