Incredible India
7 Things to Do in Auli, Uttarakhand's Himalayan Ski Slope
A high alpine meadow above Joshimath developed into India's best-known ski resort, Auli pairs winter slopes with year-round views of Nanda Devi and one of Asia's highest cable car rides.
By BigTravel.in Editorial Team · · 3 min read
Auli, a high alpine slope above Joshimath in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, was developed from the 1980s onward by the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam into India's best-known ski destination, sitting at an altitude of around 2,500 to 3,000 metres. Outside the winter ski season, roughly December to March, the same slopes turn into open meadows with uninterrupted views of the Himalayan peaks ringing the valley. Here are seven things to do, each with a direct map link.
1. Auli Ropeway
Connecting Joshimath to Auli, this cable car is among the longest and highest in Asia, climbing roughly four kilometres and over 500 metres in altitude in about 15 minutes, with views over the Alaknanda valley opening up as it rises. It doubles as a practical way to reach Auli without the road drive and as a sightseeing ride in its own right.
2. Auli's ski slopes
The GMVN-run ski resort offers slopes suited to beginners as well as steeper stretches for more experienced skiers, with equipment hire and short courses available on-site through the winter season. Snow cover is most reliable from January into early March.
3. Gorson Bugyal
A wide alpine meadow a short trek above Auli's main slopes, Gorson Bugyal opens out onto a broader panorama of the surrounding peaks than is visible from the resort itself, and stays walkable for most of the year outside the heaviest snow.
4. Auli's artificial lake
Built originally to supply snow-making equipment for the ski slopes when natural snowfall runs short, this reservoir also draws visitors outside winter for its setting against the tree line and surrounding hills.
5. Nanda Devi viewpoint
From the ridgeline above Auli's slopes, clear days give views of Nanda Devi, India's second-highest peak, along with Kamet and other summits along the Garhwal Himalaya, a panorama that is one of the main draws for visitors travelling outside ski season.
6. Joshimath
The gateway town for Auli, connected by both the ropeway and a road, Joshimath is also a stop on the route to Badrinath and the Valley of Flowers, and holds its own religious significance as the winter seat of the Badrinath deity at the Jyotirmath monastery.
7. Badrinath Temple
One of India's Char Dham pilgrimage sites, Badrinath sits roughly 40 kilometres beyond Joshimath by road and is a common add-on for travellers combining a Himalayan pilgrimage leg with a stay in Auli, though it is only accessible during the temple's open season, typically late April to November.
Traveller tips
- The nearest airport is Jolly Grant in Dehradun, roughly a full day's drive away; Rishikesh is the more common overland starting point.
- December to March suits skiing and snow views; April to June and September to November suit trekking and clearer mountain visibility without heavy snow.
- Badrinath Temple closes for winter, typically from November to late April, so check current dates before planning a combined trip.
- Carry warm layers year-round, since Auli's altitude keeps evenings cold even outside winter.
Where this is
Auli, Uttarakhand
