Auli skier's paradise
Auli, a new entrant in the tourist map of India is located in the northern part of the state of Uttarakhand. It is also a part of the Garhwal mountain range. It is one of the unexplored hill stations in India. The slopes are as high as 9000 feet above sea level and offer a panoramic view of famous Himalayan peaks like Nanda Devi, Kamet, Mana Parvat and Dunagiri.
History:
Its history dates back to the eighth century AD, when Adi Sankaracharya is said to have visited this place. The Guru built a temple in Joshimath, 16 km away from Auli on the Badrinath route and it still exists. The Bhotiya tribes, locally called Thatauli have passed by this overland path for more than a hundred years. Their longhaired yaks helped them to carry the goods to Tibet. Auli was once a training ground for the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force. In 1958, a peak near Auli, named Trishul (23,490 feet above sea level) became famous because of an expedition. The mountaineers took four days to climb this peak and 90 minutes to ski back down to the base camp.
The vast snow-capped peaks and the thickly wooded forests together make Auli a skier’s paradise. Skiing is a major pastime here. Auli is enriched with clean stretches of 10 - 20 km of snow-covered slopes which make it a perfect place for skiers. Besides, there is a descent of 500 m from the ridge over a stretch of three km. In February and March, each year the National Winter Games are hosted here. Skiers and adventure seekers normally start their activities at around eight in the morning. By four in the evening, they would have covered most of the slopes. After four in the evening, when the weather is chilly, cold and dark, expedition members get settled in bukhari-warmed huts or resorts.
Auli has Asia’s longest ropeway which links the lowest slopes with the upper regions. It is supported by ten towering steel structures. Adventure seekers can have a view of the entire valley by traveling 800 meters in a luxurious chair lift, which links the lowest slopes with the upper region. The storm warning device and remote controlled hydraulic brakes in the chair lift provide safe journey for tourists. The best time for skiers to visit Auli would be from late November till late March. From December to March, 7-day and 15-day skiing courses are conducted by Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam for both amateurs and advanced learners.
The nearest airport is at Dehradun which is 298 km away from Auli. The nearest railhead is in Rishikesh about 235 km away. Auli is well connected with other parts of India through roads. Trekkers can also walk the distance between Joshimath and Auli.
History:
Its history dates back to the eighth century AD, when Adi Sankaracharya is said to have visited this place. The Guru built a temple in Joshimath, 16 km away from Auli on the Badrinath route and it still exists. The Bhotiya tribes, locally called Thatauli have passed by this overland path for more than a hundred years. Their longhaired yaks helped them to carry the goods to Tibet. Auli was once a training ground for the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force. In 1958, a peak near Auli, named Trishul (23,490 feet above sea level) became famous because of an expedition. The mountaineers took four days to climb this peak and 90 minutes to ski back down to the base camp.
The vast snow-capped peaks and the thickly wooded forests together make Auli a skier’s paradise. Skiing is a major pastime here. Auli is enriched with clean stretches of 10 - 20 km of snow-covered slopes which make it a perfect place for skiers. Besides, there is a descent of 500 m from the ridge over a stretch of three km. In February and March, each year the National Winter Games are hosted here. Skiers and adventure seekers normally start their activities at around eight in the morning. By four in the evening, they would have covered most of the slopes. After four in the evening, when the weather is chilly, cold and dark, expedition members get settled in bukhari-warmed huts or resorts.
Auli has Asia’s longest ropeway which links the lowest slopes with the upper regions. It is supported by ten towering steel structures. Adventure seekers can have a view of the entire valley by traveling 800 meters in a luxurious chair lift, which links the lowest slopes with the upper region. The storm warning device and remote controlled hydraulic brakes in the chair lift provide safe journey for tourists. The best time for skiers to visit Auli would be from late November till late March. From December to March, 7-day and 15-day skiing courses are conducted by Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam for both amateurs and advanced learners.
The nearest airport is at Dehradun which is 298 km away from Auli. The nearest railhead is in Rishikesh about 235 km away. Auli is well connected with other parts of India through roads. Trekkers can also walk the distance between Joshimath and Auli.
