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Uttarakhand

Auli

Uttarakhand's top ski slopes with Nanda Devi views

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Best time to visit Auli

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: December to February
  • Shoulder: March to May and October to November, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: June to September

Planning a specific month? JanuaryFebruaryDecember

Auli season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

Peak season: Uttarakhand's best skiing, snow slopes backed by views of Nanda Devi

Summer March to May Shoulder

Green meadows and cable car views without snow. Pleasant, but skiing, the main draw, is gone

Monsoon June to September Do not go

The Joshimath approach road is landslide-prone and views fog out completely. Skip it

Autumn October to November Shoulder

Clear and quiet before the snow arrives. Good for the cable car, no skiing yet though

What Auli is actually like

Ski instructors and Delhi weekenders; here for slopes and cable car, not nightlife

Things to do in Auli

The local places worth your time in and around Auli, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Auli Ropeway

    Activity · in town

    The 4 km gondola down to Joshimath, the quickest way in or out; runs about 9 to 5, shuts in wind, buy tickets early in season

  • Gorson Bugyal

    Trek · 5 km out

    Open meadow 3 km above the slopes, two hours return on a clear trail; Nanda Devi fills the skyline from the top ridge

  • Auli Artificial Lake

    Lake · 1 km out

    Man made tank that feeds the snow guns, with a path right round it; a 20 minute walk from the slopes, best in first light

  • Chattrakund

    Lake · 9 km out

    Small lake in oak and rhododendron past Gorson, about 4 km on from the meadow; carry water and food, nothing sold up there

  • Narsingh Temple

    Temple · 14 km out

    Badrinath's winter seat down in Joshimath, the deity's arm said to be thinning; morning aarti around 7, easy to combine

Getting to Auli

Fly Dehradun 280km or train Rishikesh, then 9-10h via Joshimath

Practical ways in: road

Trip facts

How long to stay
3 days
Budget
Mid-range
How busy
Steady at its peak
Solo travel
Doable solo with some planning
Altitude
2800 m
State
Uttarakhand
Coordinates
30.5271, 79.5665

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Auli?

December to February is peak season in Auli. March to May and October to November is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid June to September. Peak season: Uttarakhand's best skiing, snow slopes backed by views of Nanda Devi.

How many days do you need in Auli?

3 days is the usual stay. Ski instructors and Delhi weekenders; here for slopes and cable car, not nightlife.

How do you get to Auli?

Fly Dehradun 280km or train Rishikesh, then 9-10h via Joshimath. Practical ways in: road.

Is Auli expensive, and does it get crowded?

Mid-range by Indian travel standards, and it runs steady at the busiest time of year. Doable solo with some planning.

Is there a festival in Auli?

Jan: Auli Winter Games. Time a trip around it and you see the place at its loudest, but book beds early.

What are the best things to do in Auli?

Auli Ropeway, Gorson Bugyal, Auli Artificial Lake, Chattrakund and Narsingh Temple. The 4 km gondola down to Joshimath, the quickest way in or out; runs about 9 to 5, shuts in wind, buy tickets early in season.

Nearby, and where to go next

More places to visit in Uttarakhand

All 40 destinations in Uttarakhand