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About Auli
The steep slopes of Auli seem to
beckon all the adventure seekers. There are the snow capped Nanda Devi,
Kamet and Mana Parbat of the Himalayas, the whistle of the winds and the
scintillating skiing. The nature at its beautiful best brings out for
the tourists to remember forever. Auli is one of the very few places in
India where skiing is a major pastime. For all the ones who dare and
long for a tinge of adventure, Auli is the place to be.
Location
The adventure destination of Auli lies
towards the north of the state of Uttaranchal and forms a part of the
Garhwal mountain range. Auli is 16 km away from Joshimath. The steep
slopes of Auli are as high as 9000 feet above sea level. The deodar and
oak forests cover the slopes and reduce the velocity of the chilly winds
to the minimum.
Adventure Sports
While in Auli you get to be on clean
stretches of 10-20 km of snow-covered mountain slopes. Besides, there is
a descent of 500 m from the ridge over a stretch of 3 km. The forests on
the slopes also seem to help the skiers by reducing the wind velocity.
From early morning, you can see the first of the skiers and other
adventure seekers. Until evening, when it gets chilly, cold and dark,
the skiers make most of the slopes. For the best part of the winter
season, Auli is blessed by an unusually large number of sunny days, but
there are times when it snows heavily. It is linked with Joshimath with
a 3.9-km-long cable car linking, besides the 16-km-long motor able road.
One can also find a 500-m-long chair lift linking the lower and upper
slopes. Ski equipment, snow beaters are available on hire. Special ski
packages, including all meals, lodging, equipment, hire and lessons are
provided for casual tourists. In order to avail such packages, one has
to contact the General Manager, Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) at
0135-656817 (telephone) or 6544078 (fax). A useful institutional office
for casual tourists is the GMVN office at Landswone Marg, Dehradun. At
Auli, GMVN provides meals at regular intervals for both trainees and
holidaymakers. Efficient communication facilities are also available in
this small town. The army and civil hospitals in the Auli provide for
medical attention. Rescue operations are also carried out competently
using helicopters.
Best Time To
Visit
For the adventurers Auli is at its best
in winters. The snow on the steep slopes makes the spectacular ground
for skiing. Skiers from far and away throng Auli from late November to
late March. In case you plan your visit to Auli between December and
March then you may check out the ski courses conducted for both amateurs and advanced
learners. Summer is a good time to escape the heat of the plains
How to reach
The nearest airport is Dehradun, about
298 km away. Rishikesh, about 235 km away, is the nearest railhead.
Regular road services are available from Delhi, Dehradun, Rishikesh and
Hardwar to Joshimath, 16 km away. From Joshimath one can hire jeeps to
Auli. One can also trek the five kilometer between Joshimath and Auli.
For further information, contact the GMVN office at Rajpur Road,
Dehradun or the UP tourism offices located all over the country.
Fairs and Festivals
Auli plays host to the National Winter
Games in the months of February and March.
Where to Stay
Clifftop Club, Auli
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