This is the mecca for Skiing in India! Auli in Uttarakhand. Auli is also blessed with a breathtaking panoramic view of the awesomely beautiful peaks of the greatest mountain range in the world, the Himalayas!
The best time to visit Auli is between January and 1st week of March. Auli is just above Joshimath, 16 kms from here – should take a 4×4 vehicle only to get to the top. There is Asia’s longest cable car, 4 kms long, but has been closed/ under repair for straight 2 years now! Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam Limited (GMVNL) has the best hotel here and rooms can be booked online for Rs. 3000 + tax, inclusive of breakfast. This hotel is very big, well maintained, each room has 2 heaters, all facing Himalayas and at at this price and altitude – its a big bargain!
Auli also boosts of a Chair Lift and a Ski-Lift. This ski-Lift will take you another 3 km up to get a great view and more skiing pleasure. Here you will find Cliff Top Hotel, this is one mesmerizing place to stay but then they might ask for Rs. 10000+tax per night per room! Ya, you heard it right. Earlier they had a tie up with Club Mahindra Resorts but now they are on their own.
As I was saying Auli is the place to go to if you want to enjoy some good Skiing and training. You can get hold of many young freelancers who would be ready to rent you Skiing gear – Shoes, blades, sticks and himself for a one on one trainer for just Rs. 300 a day! Steal right? Yes it is. Go for it.
Learning Skiing is very tiring (you may not have thought about it), you will fall, fall and fall. Wear tight clothing, one good jacket should be ok. With bright sun and snow reflecting all the heat you will sweat like a dog. But as soon as the clouds come up you will start shivering so get ready for having some of the best times of your life! 🙂
Walking over the snow is simply godly. I could do that all day! You will see a lot of trained people doing skiing like a cake walk, take inspiration, getting there for a newcomer takes much less time that any other sport so put your heart into it.
Staying here 3-4 days is a good idea but if you plan to take a professional course for skiing, you will have to be here for 7 days atleast.
Temperature in Auli this time would range at an average low of 4â—¦C but if the sun is out during the day you will feel much warmer. Climate is very unpredictable hence you got to be ready with inner thermals, gloves and proper shoes. Oh ya, you can get snow shoes there only for Rs. 100 per day, so don’t bother buying it and carrying, it’s good to take the ones there.
Getting there:
We went from Bangalore to Delhi via Indigo Airlines, Delhi to Haridwar on a train, Haridwar to Joshimath in a hired Innova, Joshimath to Auli in a Maruti Gypsy. Delhi to Haridwar you can book in Train no. 12205 – New Delhi Dehradun Express, leaving Delhi at 23:55, reaching Haridwar at 4am. Returning from Haridwar to Delhi, you can book the same train – no. 12206, leaves from Haridwar at 00:40 hrs. Ensure your booking dates are correct as in few minutes the booking date changes.
This is a video of Auli to Joshimath Road. 16 km, all snow covered, bliss 🙂
This is a video of Auli to Joshimath Road. 16 km, all snow covered, bliss 🙂