Auli-Joshimath

Auli: Heaven for Adventurous Tourists

Famous as 'Bugyal' in the regional language which means meadow, the lovely tourist destination of Auli is located in the lap of the Himalayas, in Uttarakhand. Situated at a distance of 16 km from Josinath, on the way to Badrinath, Auli forms a section of the Garhwal mountain range. Supreme natural vista of the mountain peaks and the surrounding trees form a heaven of sorts.

Auli has an interesting and ancient history as well. It is believed that the great Guru Adi Shankaracharya roamed on these grasslands in the 8th century.

One of the best ski destinations across the world, Auli is gifted with stunning vistas of the lofty peaks of the greatest mountain range in the world. The slopes at Auli offer more than sufficient thrill to both professional skier and novice.

In fact, the striking 9000-odd feet slopes above the sea level, bordered with oak and deodar trees, affect the speed of the wind enabling the skiers to enjoy their joyride without an issue.

This amazing tourist place also has the Asia's longest - 4 km - cable car (Gondola). It also has a Chair Lift and a Ski-Lift. Besides Skiing, Dhauli also has a wonderful trek route – all of which much enhance the value of this place from the tourism viewpoint.

Best Time to Visit

Mid Jan to first mid March is the best time to visit Auli for skiing purposes.

How to Reach

This place is well connected by rail, road and air. The nearest Airport is Dehradun, 298 kms away, while the nearest railway station is Rishikesh, 235 kms away.

Joshimath: Lord Vishnu’s Abode Winter Abode

Located at a distance of 16 km from Auli, in the Chamoli district of Garhwal Division in Uttarakhand, Joshimath is a lovely hill station. Set at a height of 6,000 ft, Joshimath lies in the mountain slopes above the Alaknanda and Dhauliganga Rivers.

Joshimath is an enchanting tourist place with striking views of the snow-clad mountains, greenery and pleasant weather – all of which inspire the visitors to tour this place in large numbers, from across the world.

Surrounded by tall and majestic snow-covered Himalayas, Joshimath is a key destination on the route to the famed holy destination of Badrinath -- which is nearly 42 Km from this place. Joshimath, also known as Jyotirmath, was established by the great seer Shankaracharya, and it is one of the four such maths in its category.

Joshimath has numerous ancient temples – the most famous being of Lord Narasimha, which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The town is also the winter abode of Lord Badri, who is transferred from Badrinath to the Vasudeva Temple at Joshimath during Deepawali.

Trekking Around Joshimath
Joshimath is the starting point for the trekking expedition to the well-known Hemkund and the Valley of Flowers.