If there's one place in all of Uttarakhand that you just can't afford to miss, it's this one, Auli. And that's saying a lot. Auli has been on my bucket list every winter but somehow it never happened and this year it just worked out.
Surrounded by Nanda Devi, Chaukhamba , and Panchachuli , Auli is a very small Hamlet in Chamoli Dist. of Uttarakhand . It's a snowy Paradise, as I always say.
How to reach:
By Air:
Flights to Jolly grant airport Dehradun.
By Rail:
Nearest railway station is Dehradun and Kathgodam.
By Road:
The journey witnesses all the five prayags, and numerous turquoise blue streams flowing through the mountains.
I opted for my bookings from Delhi via trips and thrills company. The company was taking a tour of 30 travelers.Buses traversing the mountains, background music, rivers, surrounded by beautiful souls all around, each having their own story, the journey was a mad one .
Honestly speaking the best part of the trip was travelling with all unknown people and coming back with your souls connected and a stronger friendship bond.
Joshimath:
Walking is how you can really experience the joys of Joshimath. we reached Joshimath at around 5 p.m.. We checked in at the hotel and had quite some time in our hand to explore the town.
Narsimha Mandir
Established by Sri Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century,this temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu ( Narsimha Avtar) in the form of half man and half lion.
Lower Market
Shop for blankets, woolen caps, beautiful shawls and gift items. You can also take back artifacts that will act as souvenirs of this beautiful hill station.
Where to Stay
There are very few places to stay in Auli. So best option is to stay at Joshimath for one night and Auli for another.
Hotel mount view :- I must say they offer a great stay and the cook the most tastiest food in entire Joshimath and they have the best terrace views.
I spent 2 hours for shooting morning scenes on terrace. The quintessence of the Pahari way of life, watching the sun rising in the morning, looking at the street, listening to music, having fun with friends, or just enjoying the fresh air Joshimath will never disappoint you.
more pics
Auli
After our morning breakfast we decided to visit Auli. There are two ways to reach Auli- one by road and another by ropeway. Do try ropeway once , The views are mesmerizing.
Ropeway
And I had the most dreamiest views from my ropeway window. The 4 kilometer ropeway is the second largest in Asia.We held our breath in the cable car, and had a wonderful ride with the clouds.
It passes numerous huts, forests , sky touching oak and pine trees .
PS:- Try to reach the Ropeway ticket counter as early as possible ( to avoid the long queues) .
Auli pics:
Skiing in Auli
This popular ski destination in the Gharwal Himalayas also has packages for ski . The GMVN conducts 7 day non certificate courses that are priced at Rs 10610/-.
Gorson Bugyal Trek
If you really want to kick back, you could just go to Gorson Bugyal trek. Now this was something I was most excited for. It's a 3-4 hr trek .But not all walks are grueling.
PS: Try hiring a local guide there.The routes of trek are very much confusing.
Strolling through oak and coniferous trees and Hiking around the slope of Gorson Bugyal reveals the best views of Himalayas. The major attraction of this place is the tranquil oak trees forming a lovely canopy. You will feel further from the city. It's so unexpected suddenly come across postcard views.
Explore the untouched mountain terrain and feel air on your skin, as the beautiful 180 degree view of Himalayan peaks astonish you.
Where to stay
There are only two places which offer stay in Auli - The Royal village ( private stay ) and GMVN( government run).
For bookings with TripsAndThrills : +91-704-288-4551
Any suggestions or queries are always welcome on tripoto or Instagram @_saloni. Till then keep travelling and keep exploring And never stop clicking and capturing memories.