|
|
|
|
Auli, located in the Chamoli District of Uttarakhand, is a
sylvan ski destination frequented by skiing enthusiasts from all over the
world. Considered among the world’s top skiing destinations, Auli is nestled in
the Garhwal Himalayan ranges, at an average altitude of 2800 meters above sea
level.
History of Auli
Auli is a lesser known hill station when compared to its counterparts - Shimla,
Gulmarg and Manali. It gained prominence in the tourist map of India only after
the formation of Uttarakhand in the year 2000. The slopes of Auli were the
training ground for the Indian Paramilitary Forces and Indo-Tibetan Border
Police Force. Today, Auli is known for its snow covered slopes and panoramic
views of the surrounding lofty peaks of the Himalayas like Trishul, Nanda Devi,
Kamet, Mana Parvat, Beethartoli, Nilkanth, Hathi Parbat, Ghori Parbat and
Dunagiri.
The word Auli stands for ‘Bugyal’ which means meadow in the
regional language. Hindi and English are the languages spoken here. Auli, in
its initial days, was a prominent trade centre. The trails of Auli were
frequently traversed by the semi-nomadic Bhotiya tribes who maintained barter
trading with Tibet for centuries. According to legend, the revered Guru Adi
Shankaracharya visited Auli during 8th century AD. He built a math at
Joshimath, which still is intact and is known by the name Sankaracharya
Tapastali.
Things to do in Auli
Though Auli is a lesser known hill station, it has gained significance as a ski
resort and a winter resort. Auli was the venue of Skiing Festivals since 1986.
Today it also hosts National Championships, under the aegis of Winter Games
Federation of India, in the months of February and March. Skiing events of the
1st South Asian Winter Games were held in January 2011, in Auli.
For adventure lovers, especially skiers, late November to March is the ideal
time to visit Auli. The Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam Limited (GMVNL), a
government agency in charge of maintenance of this ski resort, provides courses
for beginners and professionals at Auli, which are held for 7 to 14 days from
December to March.
Details of the course can be obtained at www.gmvnl.com or by contacting the
General Manager of GMVNL at 0135-656817. Ski equipments are provided by GMVNL.
However, participants need to bring their own clothing. Heavy woollens, gloves,
wind cheaters, snow jackets, snow boots, etc. are required.
Long stretches of 10-20 km of snow is the highlight of Auli’s ski slopes. Ski
lifts cost around INR50 and operate from the months of November to March. Those
not into skiing can opt for the cable car which costs around INR200 (free for
children below 5) and operates from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (November to April).
Besides being a snow sports destination, Auli is also nearby to famous
pilgrimage spots. Narsimh Mandir and Sankaracharya Tapastali of Joshimath,
Nandaprayag, Rudraprayag and Pandukeshwar Badrinath Mandir are the pilgrimage
destinations in and around Auli.
Gurso Bugyal, Chattrakund, Kwani Bugyal, Hot Spring Point and Chenab Lake are
the other popular attractions of Auli. Excursions to Hemkund and Valley of
Flowers are also popular among the wayfarers visiting Auli.
If planning to go during the winter months, in a hilly
region like Auli, it is best to stay updated on weather conditions during the
period of travel.
Travelling to Auli
Auli is well connected to all the major destinations in Uttarakhand. Auli is
accessible by roads from places like Joshimath, Rishikesh, Pauri, Nandaprayag,
Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag, Ukhimath, Chamoli, Srinagar, etc. Jolly Grant,
which is situated nearby Dehradun, has the nearest airport at 280 km to Auli.
Rishikesh
railway station is situated at 264 km, serves as the nearest railway station to
Auli. Taxis and buses are available from Rishikesh to reach Auli,
Travelling within Auli
Tourists can
opt for buses or cable cars for to travel around Auli. Cabs can be hired from other cities and to
travel in Auli.
Accommodation in AuliTourists in
Auli can avail accommodation options, ranging from budget hotels to 5
star hotels. Some hotels in Auli offer
spectacular view of peaks of the Himalayas.
Read More >>
|
| |
|
- Was this review useful?
- YES
- 0 votes, be the first to vote.
0
- Was this review useful?
- YES
- 1 vote.
1
- Was this review useful?
- YES
- 2 votes.
2
- Was this review useful?
- YES
- 4 votes.
3
- Was this review useful?
- YES
- 1 vote.
4
|
Auli, situated in Uttarakhand is one of the most beautiful hill stations in the Himalayan Ranges. It is located in Chamoli District of Uttarakhand and has an elevation ranging from 2,519 m to 3,050 m above sea level.
Joshimath located few kilometres from Auli, is a well known pilgrim centre. It is a beautiful hill station and is regarded as a holy place of Hindus. It is home to many sacred temples, out of which Narasimha Temple is the most prominent.
Apart from Joshimath, Artificial Lake and Valley of Flowers are also the popular tourist spots. The former being one of the world's largest man-made lakes and the latter being a National Heritage site consisting of different species of flora and fauna.
Furthermore, Nandprayag located nearby Auli is a pilgrimage destination, which is famous for its location at the confluence of rivers Alaknanda and Mandakini. The town also acts as the Nagar Panchayat of Chamoli District of Garhwal region. In the past, Nandprayag was the capital of Yadu kingdom where Raja Nanda performed yagna on a stone. This stone was later used as the base for the Nanda Temple.
Auli as a skiing resort is maintained by Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam.
|
|
