Auli hosted the inaugural South Asian Winter Games in 2011, and the slopes are run by the state agency GMVN, which with Uttarakhand Tourism stages winter sports competitions to promote skiing in India.
Source: Auli, India
Hill station in Garhwal
Auli & Joshimath
Ski slopes and meadows facing Nanda Devi, above Joshimath
Auli is a ski slope and meadow at about 2,800 m, 13 km by road above Joshimath, with Nanda Devi across the valley. Come January to early March for skiing and snow, or April–June and October for meadow walks to Gorson Bugyal. Joshimath, the town below, is the gateway to Badrinath and the Valley of Flowers.
Photo: Vaibhav 369 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · CommonsAuli means meadow in Garhwali, and for most of the year that is what it is: a broad grassy slope above Joshimath ringed by oak and deodar, facing Nanda Devi, Dronagiri, Kamet and Trishul. From January to early March the slope fills with snow and becomes India's best-known ski area, with a chairlift, a ski lift, an artificial lake built for snow-making and the GMVN ski resort. Auli hosted the first South Asian Winter Games in 2011.
Joshimath, also called Jyotirmath, sits below at about 1,875 m on the road to Badrinath. It holds one of the four cardinal monasteries founded by Adi Shankara and the Narsingh temple, where an image of Badrinath is worshipped while the high shrine is snowbound. The town has had a hard few years: in January 2023 hundreds of homes developed cracks as the slope beneath subsided, and parts of the town were evacuated. Visitors are welcome, but please follow local advisories.
Beyond Joshimath the Niti valley road climbs past Reni village, where in March 1974 Gaura Devi and the women of Reni hugged the trees and gave the Chipko movement its best-known moment. For travellers, Auli and Joshimath work as a ski holiday in winter, a quiet two-night meadow stop in spring and autumn, and the natural overnight between Rishikesh and Ghangaria or Badrinath.
Say it like a local · GarhwaliBugyal
high alpine meadow used for summer grazing; Auli itself is also called Auli Bugyal
What to do in Auli & Joshimath
Skiing on the Auli slope
From January to early March the main slope carries enough snow for beginners and intermediates. GMVN runs 7-day and 14-day ski courses with gear, lessons and stay, and private instructors give day lessons. Snow depends on the winter, so check current status before you travel.
Gorson Bugyal walk
A 3 km forest and meadow walk from the top of the Auli chairlift to Gorson Bugyal, a wide grassland with views of Nanda Devi and Nanda Ghunti. In spring and autumn it is a gentle half-day; in winter, a snowshoe or ski-touring trail.
Nanda Devi across the valley
Nanda Devi, at 7,816 m the highest mountain wholly within India, faces Auli across the Dhauliganga valley. Clear mornings from October to March give the best views; stand near the artificial lake or at the top of the chairlift.
Narsingh temple and Jyotirmath
In Joshimath, the Narsingh temple holds an image of Vishnu as Narsingh and, in winter, an image of Badrinath brought down from the closed shrine. Nearby stands Jyotirmath, the northern monastery founded by Adi Shankara.
The Niti valley and Reni
The road north from Joshimath follows the Dhauliganga past Tapovan and Reni towards Malari. It is the Chipko country of 1974. Higher sections near the border may need permits; check current status before you travel.
Field notes
What most guides miss about Auli & Joshimath
Jyotirmath is the northern monastery, or uttaramnaya matha, one of the four cardinal institutions founded by Adi Shankara; the others are at Shringeri, Puri and Dwarka. By tradition the northern matha is in charge of the Atharvaveda.
Source: Joshimath
On 25 March 1974, with the men of Reni away in Chamoli, Gaura Devi led 27 women of the village into the forest above the Alaknanda and hugged the trees to stop contractors felling them. After a four-day stand-off the loggers left.
Source: Chipko movement
Experiences
Three days worth having in Auli & Joshimath
Photo: Vaibhav 369 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Auli & Joshimath · 1, 7 or 14 days
Learn to ski on the Auli slopes
Auli's main slope, with a chairlift and ski lift, is where most Indians learn to ski. Take a day lesson with a certifie…
Day lesson ₹1,500–2,500; 7-day GMVN course ₹15,000–25,000
Photo: Vaibhav78545 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Auli & Joshimath · 4–5 hours return
Meadow walk to Gorson Bugyal
From the top of the Auli slope, a forest trail of about 3 km leads through oak and conifer to Gorson Bugyal, a wide alp…
Free; guide ₹1,000–1,500
Photo: Dinesh Valke from Thane, India · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Commons
Auli & Joshimath · 2 hours
Narsingh temple and Jyotirmath in Joshimath
Visit Joshimath's two sacred centres: the Narsingh temple, which keeps an image of Badrinath through the winter, and Jy…
Free
Real prices
What things cost in Auli & Joshimath
ItemIndicative 2026
UTC or GMOU bus, Rishikesh to Joshimath₹550–850
Taxi, Joshimath to Auli (13 km, one way)₹800–1,500
GMVN 7-day ski course with stay, food and gear₹15,000–25,000 (indicative)
Ski and boot hire with poles, per day₹800–1,500
Private ski instructor, per day₹1,500–2,500
Hotel room in Joshimath₹1,500–4,000 a night
Local prices change with season and fuel costs. Check current status before you travel.
Getting there
How to reach Auli & Joshimath
Air
Dehradun's Jolly Grant airport is about 285 km from Joshimath, 10–11 hours by road. Helicopter charters to the region exist but are irregular; most travellers drive.
Bus
UTC and GMOU buses leave Rishikesh early morning for Joshimath, about 265 km and 9–10 hours via Devprayag, Srinagar, Rudraprayag and Chamoli. From Joshimath, taxis go up the 13 km road to Auli.
Road
By car from Rishikesh, break the journey at Srinagar or Rudraprayag if you start late. The Joshimath–Auli ropeway was suspended after the 2023 land subsidence and a replacement has been planned; check current status before you travel.
Where to stay
Sleeping in Auli & Joshimath
Saver: Joshimath has guesthouses and small hotels at ₹1,500–3,000 a night, convenient for buses to Badrinath and Govindghat. In Auli, GMVN runs the ski resort and other tourist accommodation with rooms and huts close to the slope, which fill early in ski season. Comfort: a handful of private resorts and cottages sit higher on the Auli slope with Nanda Devi views; choose one with reliable heating. There is no signature-level hotel here; we pair Auli with Rishikesh or Mussoorie for that.
Trips that stop here
See Auli & Joshimath on a trip
Photo: McKay Savage from London, UK · CC BY 2.0 · Commons
Comfort
Garhwal · 8 nights · sleeps to 3,583 m
Kedarnath, Tungnath and Badrinath by car
Private car with driver
From, per person₹54,000May · Oct
Photo: McKay Savage from London, UK · CC BY 2.0 · Commons
Saver
Garhwal · 7 nights · sleeps to 3,350 m
Valley of Flowers and Hemkund by bus
UTC and GMOU buses, shared jeeps and walking
From, per person₹18,500Jul – Aug
Photo: McKay Savage from London, UK · CC BY 2.0 · Commons
Signature
Garhwal · 8 nights · sleeps to 3,583 m
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Kedarnath by helicopter, Badrinath and Ananda
Private car with driver and helicopter shuttle
From, per person₹1,60,000May · Oct
Questions
Auli & Joshimath, answered
Is there snow in Auli in December?
Sometimes. The first snow often comes in mid-to-late December, but heavy, skiable snow is more reliable in January and February. If snow is the purpose of your trip, aim for the second half of January and check current status before you travel.
Is the Joshimath–Auli ropeway working?
The 4 km ropeway, once one of the longest in Asia, was suspended after the 2023 land subsidence damaged its towers, and plans for a replacement were announced. Its status has changed several times; check current status before you travel. The road to Auli is open year round, snow permitting.
How do I reach Auli from Delhi?
Take a train or bus to Haridwar or Rishikesh, then a UTC or GMOU bus or car to Joshimath, about 265 km and 9–10 hours from Rishikesh. From Joshimath, a taxi climbs 13 km to Auli in 30–40 minutes. Break the drive in Srinagar or Rudraprayag if you start late.
How many days do I need in Auli?
Two nights for the meadows, Gorson Bugyal and Joshimath's temples. For skiing, a day lesson needs one extra day; a GMVN course is 7 or 14 days. Many travellers combine Auli with Badrinath or the Valley of Flowers in one trip.
Is Auli good for a family trip?
Yes. Meadow walks, snow play in winter, beginner skiing for older children and mountain views suit families. Bring proper warm clothing; winter nights fall well below freezing, and heated rooms are worth paying for.
Does Auli have ATMs and mobile network?
Auli has limited facilities; draw cash in Joshimath, which has several ATMs. Jio and Airtel generally work in Joshimath and on much of the Auli slope, but signal fades on forest trails like Gorson Bugyal.
What can I do in Auli in summer?
Walk to Gorson Bugyal and Tali, visit Joshimath's temples, take a day trip to Badrinath and Mana, or use Auli as an acclimatisation stop before the Valley of Flowers. Summer days are 15–22 °C, with cool nights and green meadows.
Is Auli affected by altitude sickness?
At about 2,800 m, mild symptoms such as headache and poor sleep are possible on the first night if you arrive from the plains in one day. Drink water, rest on arrival and avoid alcohol. Serious altitude sickness is uncommon at this height, but talk to your doctor if you have heart or lung conditions.
How much does a winter trip to Auli cost?
From Rishikesh, a 4–5 night saver trip by bus with Joshimath guesthouses and a couple of ski lessons costs about ₹12,000–18,000 per person. A comfort trip with a private car and a slope-side hotel runs ₹35,000–50,000 per person for two sharing.