About Auli
Auli is a high-altitude Himalayan meadow above Joshimath in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. At roughly 2,500 metres it is one of India’s best-known skiing destinations in winter and a Bugyal (alpine meadow) full of wildflowers in early summer. It sits 13 km from Joshimath on the Badrinath axis and is reached either by a winding road or by the Joshimath–Auli ropeway, one of Asia’s longest cable-car rides. Auli pairs naturally with the Valley of Flowers trek — both are reached via Govindghat / Joshimath, and many pilgrims add an Auli night to the descent.
About Auli
Auli is a small, scenic Himalayan town that doubles as a working ski resort in winter and a green meadow in summer. From the slopes you look out at Nanda Devi, Mana Parbat, Dronagiri, and the broader Garhwal Himalaya. The town has a handful of resorts and a Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) lodge, plus an artificial lake used to make snow when natural snowfall is light. Because it sits on the Badrinath route, Auli is also the natural rest-day stop for travellers continuing on towards the dhams or returning from a Valley of Flowers trek.
Bugyals and the Skiing Season
In winter (typically late November to March) Auli hosts skiing, sledging and chairlift rides on its 3 km slope. From April through June, as the snow recedes, the same slopes turn into a Bugyal — a high-altitude alpine meadow studded with seasonal wildflowers. This makes Auli a year-round destination for different audiences: snow lovers in winter, trekkers and meadow walkers in summer. The Bugyal months are also the same window when the Govindghat–Ghangaria–Valley of Flowers trek is open, which is why the Valley of Flowers + Auli combo packages are popular.
Joshimath–Auli Ropeway
The 4 km Joshimath–Auli ropeway is the easiest way up the hill — a cable-car system that climbs from the gateway town of Joshimath to Auli with several towers, offering wide views of the Alaknanda valley. The ropeway runs subject to weather and operating hours; book on the day. The road option from Joshimath is winding and slower; most visitors prefer the ropeway up and the road down (or vice versa) to see both views.
How to Reach Auli
- By ropeway: 4 km cable-car from Joshimath — the most popular option
- By road: 13 km winding hill drive from Joshimath
- From Rishikesh / Haridwar: ~270 km by road via Devprayag → Rudraprayag → Joshimath
- Nearest airport: Jolly Grant, Dehradun (~280 km)
- Nearest railhead: Haridwar / Rishikesh
Nearby Attractions
- Joshimath (13 km — Adi Shankaracharya’s sacred Math)
- Govindghat (~22 km — trailhead for the Valley of Flowers trek)
- Badrinath Temple (~58 km on the Badrinath highway)
- Mana Village (~62 km — the last Indian village before the Tibet border)
- Valley of Flowers (via Govindghat → Ghangaria trek)
Related Reading
- Valley of Flowers + Auli 4N/5D package - the trek + ropeway combo this destination is built around
- Joshimath travel guide - the gateway town for the Auli ropeway and the Badrinath route
- Valley of Flowers travel guide - the alpine flora that defines the trek
Char Dham Helicopter Connection
Auli pairs naturally with the Valley of Flowers trek — both are reached through Joshimath, and many pilgrims add a single Auli night on the descent. See our Valley of Flowers + Auli 4N/5D package for the combined trek + ropeway itinerary, or our Char Dham 9N/10D by road package for the four-Dham yatra that passes through this same stretch (Joshimath sits on the Badrinath axis). For pilgrims short on time, fly the dhams by helicopter and add Auli as a 1-night extension on the way back.
View Helicopter Packages →