Auli is a beautiful tourist place to visit and is famous for skiing. This scenic place is perched at an elevation of 2,800 mt above sea level and is known for its oak edged slopes and verdant coniferous forests. It is also known as 'Bugyal' which means ‘meadow' in the regional language.
Photo Courtesy: Ishan Manjrekar
There are many places to see in Auli.While walking through the dewy slopes, tourists can enjoy stunning views of the Nanda Devi, Mana Parvat, and Kamat mountain ranges. Travellers can enjoy the views of apple orchards and lush deodar trees from the boulevards of the slopes.
Click Here for the Best Hotel Deals.
Auli Artificial Lake
One of the places to visit in Auli is the Auli Artificial Lake, which is perched at a high elevation above sea level. The lake was developed by the government to provide artificial snow on the ski slopes, during the months of scanty snowfall. The lake water feeds the snow guns that are placed along the ski slopes. It helps in extending the ski season by providing an apt ski surface.
Nandaprayag
Photo Courtesy: Fowler&fowler
Nandaprayag, another tourist attraction in Auli, is located in the Chamoli District of Uttarakhand. It is situated at the confluence of the rivers, Alaknanda and Nandakini. Many devotees take a dip at the confluence to wash off their sins. According to mythology, Nandaprayag was the capital of Yadu dynasty. It is one of the five 'Prayags' which serves as a gateway to Badrinath and Kedarnath. Nandaprayag is known for the scenic views of the snow-capped mountains.
Trishul Peak
Photo Courtesy: Sanjoy Ghosh
Trishul Peak, situated at an elevation of 23,490 ft above sea level, is another major tourist attraction of Auli. This peak derived its name from the trident of Lord Shiva. This site also has skiing slopes, which serve as a training ground for the patrolling officers belonging to the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force. A mysterious water body, Roopkund Lake is located on the foothills of the peak.
Gurso Bugyal
Photo Courtesy: Anuj Kumar Garg
A must visit place in Auli is the Gurso Bugyal, which is situated at an elevation of 3,056 mt above sea level. It is covered with conifers and oak forests and can be reached by a ropeway from Joshimath. Chattarkund, a small lake, can also be visited as it is only a kilometre away from Gurso Bugyal. The lake is known for its crystal clear and sweet water.
Bhavishya Badri
Photo Courtesy: Michael Scalet
Bhavishya Badri, a tourist attraction in Auli, can be reached by foot from Tapovan. The place is situated in the centre of a dense forest. Perched at an elevation of 2,744 mt above sea level, this site is one of the five Badri shrines. An image of Narasimha, an incarnation of the Hindu God Vishnu, is enshrined in a temple located here. Tourists can reach this place by a trekking route beyond Tapovan.
Saildhar Tapovan
Saildhar Tapovan is a small hamlet located at a distance of 15 km from Auli. This place has a natural hot water spring and a temple. Another hot spring is located at a distance of 3 km from this place in Saildhar.
How to Reach Auli
By Air: The Jolly Grant Airport of Dehradun is the nearest air base located at a distance of 279 km from Auli. Foreign tourists can take flights from the nearest international airbase, Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. There are regular flights from this airport to the Jolly Grant Airport.
By Train: Haridwar Railway Station is the closest railhead located at a distance of 287 km from Auli. This railway station is well connected to all the major destinations of India.
By Road: Auli is connected to Joshimath by taxis. Buses run by the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transportation Corporation, are available from nearby cities like Joshimath, Rishikesh, Haridwar, and Dehradun to Auli.