Auli

Garhwal Himalayan ski resort with high-altitude slopes and views toward Nanda Devi and Kamet

Auli is a high-altitude ski resort in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand, sitting at around 2,500 metres and offering some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in India. The slopes are managed by the state-owned Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN), which keeps prices low enough to make it one of the most affordable ski destinations in the world — a welcome contrast to the glossy resorts of Europe or North America.

The skiing season runs from January to March, when the slopes are reliably blanketed in snow. Beyond the runs themselves, the views are extraordinary: on a clear day you can see the peaks of Nanda Devi, Kamet, and Mana Parvat stretching across the horizon. The resort is connected by the Joshimath–Auli Gondola to the town of Joshimath below — one of Asia's longest ropeways, covering 4 kilometres in about 25 minutes. Joshimath is also the base for the trek to the Valley of Flowers and the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit.

In summer, Gorson Bugyal — a high alpine meadow just 1.5 km from the ski slopes — blooms with Himalayan wildflowers, and the Kuari Pass trek draws trekkers seeking classic Garhwal ridge views without the logistics of a full expedition.

Getting here requires effort — Auli is connected by road to Haridwar, a full day's bus journey away, with the last stretch a steep climb through mountain villages. That distance keeps the crowds thin, and in summer the meadows around Auli attract trekkers rather than skiers.

Guide

Things to Do

Auli is principally a ski resort in winter and a trekking base in summer. The gondola from Joshimath is the defining experience — one of Asia's longest cable cars, rising through oak and rhododendron forest to arrive at meadows with a wall of Himalayan peaks stretching across the horizon. Everything else is organised around those two activities and that one view.

Guide

When to Go

Auli has two distinct seasons and a middle period that's best avoided.

Winter (December to March) is ski season. The slopes are operational when snowfall has been adequate, which is most reliably the case in January and February. Temperatures at 2,500 metres are cold — well below zero at night — and the gondola is the only practical way up when conditions are snowy. Accommodation books out during peak skiing weekends in January and February.

Spring and summer (April to June) bring warming temperatures and the meadow wildflower season. Gorson Bugyal and the approaches to Kuari Pass are at their best in May and June, before the monsoon arrives. The views are typically clearest at this time of year.

Monsoon (July to August) is when most visitors should avoid the area. Heavy rainfall makes trails slippery and visibility poor. The roads can be disrupted by landslides on the approach through Chamoli District.

Autumn (September to November) is excellent — clear skies, good visibility for mountain views, comfortable temperatures, and huckleberry season in the forests. This is the second trekking season and arguably more reliable than spring.