MeraPahad Community Of Uttarakhand Lovers

ABOUT AULI
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औली उत्तराखण्ड का एक भाग है। यह 5-7 किमी. में फैला छोटा-सा स्की रिसोर्ट है। इस रिसोर्ट को 9,500-10,500 फीट की ऊंचाई पर बनाया गया है। यहां बर्फ से ढकी चोटियां बहुत ही सुन्दर दिखाई देती हैं। इनकी ऊंचाई लगभग 23,000 फीट है। यहां पर देवदार के वृक्ष बहुतायत में पाए जाते हैं। इनकी महक यहां की ठंडी और ताजी हवाओं में महसूस की जा सकती है।



Auli, (alt. 2915 mts-3049 mts ) is an important ski destination in the Himalayan mountains of Uttarakhand, India. Auli is known as 'Bugyal' in the regional language which means meadow. In fact some French and Australian experts said that Auli is comparable to the best ski resorts in the world. Auli is less known ski destination than Shimla, Gulmarg or Manali. It was only in the recent time, after the creation of new state Uttarakhand(formerly Uttaranchal) carved out from Uttar Pradesh, Auli was marketed as Tourist Destination. The state is called "Dev Bhoomi" which means "Land of Gods" as there are important pilgrimage destination in this state mainly the 'CHAR DHAM' (Gangotri-Yamunotri-Kedarnath-Badrinath). Auli lies on the way to Badrinath. Auli is blessed with a breathtaking panoramic view of the lofty peaks of the greatest mountain range in the world, the Himalayas. The slopes here provide enough thrill to professional skier and novoice as well. The Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam Limited (GMVNL) a govt agency which takes care of this resort have imported snow beater to maintain slopes. Auli also boasts the Asia's longest - 4 km - cable car (Gondola). It also has a Chair Lift and a Ski-Lift. Apart from Skiing there is an interesting trek route also. There is a training facility of Indo-Tibetan Border Police. A small temple having connection to great epic Ramayana is also present. Best time to visit is last week of Jan to first week of March for skiing. Though weather is highly unpredictable.

source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auli

IN AULI --------

Once you reach Joshimath take your bags and head off to the Cable Car lower station. Book your tickets and wait for a memorable ride of your life aboard the Joshimath-Auli Gorson Ropeway. This ride will take you from Joshimath at 1,100 Mts (3608.90 ft) to Gorson at 3,016 Mts (9894.98 ft) covering the distance of 3.96 km in 15 minutes climbing at a rate of 5 Mts/second. The charges for return ticket is INR 400.00(2008 rates). Once the ride start you will see view changing every meter of climb. Specially the left side view is great as the panorama of Himalayas start to unfold. The snow covered peaks will surpass your best imagination. There are total 10 towers but for staying facilities you will have to alight at tower no 8. This tower is 3 floors high and if your luck is good lift will take you down else you will have to use the stairs. There are only 2 options for staying in Auli, GMVNL facilities or Clifftop Club that is part of a private enterprise called Club Group of Hotels. If you are staying at Clifftop Club then it is at Tower no. 8 and can be reached by taking 180 steps down. If you opt for GMVNL then you will require another surprise ride, The Chair Lift which takes you from the 8th tower to the GMVNL hotel. The Chair lift charges around INR 100.00(2008 Rates) return. The fun is more in chair lift than the cable car as you are on a chair which is suspended from an overhead cable several feet above the ground with only locking bar holding you from falling off. There is rush of blood as the chair leaves the platform and all you are treated is view mighty peaks all around you as you are dropping down with chilled wind splashing your face. Indeed a great experience and bit scary too. Once on the lower platform couple of steps will take you to hotel.

WHERE TO STAY

As the complete area is under GMVNL there are not many options left for stay. GMVNL has a 2 types of stay option, small Hotel and huts. Both have all basic amenities. But the wooden hut is better for unique experience. It could have been more fun if they make some alpine log hut. All rooms and huts have a Bed, blankets, bathroom-cum-toilet, cable television and a bhukhara (heater using wood). No running hot water so need to ask the attendant for hot water. Charges are on reasonable and no bargaining. If looking for more, go for Hotel Clifftop Club which is next to Cable Car tower no. 8. It is expensive, offers huge rooms that have all possible amenities and modern bathrooms and is professionally managed. Of late some locals rent their place as dormitories having only bed and blanket and a common bathroom. Food can also be arranged. This is the cheapest way to stay in Auli without missing much.

Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auli

Ropeway at Joshimath, Uttarakhand



OTHER IMPORTANT PLACES
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औली में रूकने के लिए क्ल्फि टॉप रिसोर्ट सबसे अच्छा स्थान है। यहां से नंदा देवी, त्रिशूल, कमेत, माना पर्वत, दूनागिरी, बैठातोली और नीलकंठ का बहुत ही सुन्दर दृश्य दिखाई देता है। इसमें 46 कमरें हैं। यह स्की क्षेत्र की ढलान पर टावर न. 8 के नीचे स्थित है। यहां पर खाने-पीने की अच्छी सुविधा है। यह चारों तरफ से बर्फ से घिरा हुआ है। जोशीनाथ से जी.एम.वी.एन. तक केबल कार की अच्छी सुविधा है। अगर कार से यात्रा करनी हो तो कार को बहुत ही सावधानीपूर्वक चलाना चाहिए। इसके अलावा केबल कार भी अच्छा विकल्प है। स्की के शौकीन लोगों के लिए औली स्वर्ग है। जो पर्यटक स्की नहीं करना चाहते और जल्दी थक जाते हैं वह औली की सुन्दरता का आनंद ले सकते हैं। समय व्यतीत करने के लिए उन्हें अपने साथ कुछ रोचक किताबें लानी चाहिए।

यहां एक रिसोर्ट भी है जो स्किंग के अलावा रॉक क्लाइम्बिंग, फॉरस्ट कैम्पिंग और घोडे की सवारी आदि के लिए व्यवस्था करता है। इन सबके लिए ज्यादा पैसे चुकाने पडते है। इसके अलावा इसमें एक रेस्तरां और कैफे भी है। जो पर्यटक ज्यादा पैसे खर्च नहीं करना चाहते औली में उनके लिए जी.एम.वी.एन. स्किंग और टूरिस्ट रिसोर्ट सबसे बेहतर विकल्प है। यह 9,500 फीट की ऊंचाई पर स्थित है। यहां ठहरने का सबसे बडा़ फायदा यह है कि यहां से बर्फ की सुन्दर चोटियों का सुन्दर नजारा देखा जा सकता है। यह मुख्य सड़क मार्ग के बिल्कुल पास है। इस रिसोर्ट में लकडी की बनी 16 झोपडियां, सोने के लिए 3 सराय जिसमें 42 बेड हैं, स्की कराने की व्यवस्था, वातानुकूलित और गर्म पानी की सुविधा है। यहां भारतीय तिब्बत सीमा पुलिस का स्की स्कूल है। पर्यटकों को इसमें प्रवेश की अनुमति नहीं है। इसके अलावा यहां पर जंगलों में भी घूमा जा सकता है। इन जंगलों में खूबसूरत बलतु और कॉनीफर के वृक्ष पाए जाते हैं।

औली में जब बर्फ पडती है तो बहुत पर्यटक आते हैं। पर्यटकों की बढी संख्या के फलस्वरूप सभी होटल भर जाते हैं। इस स्थिति में पर्यटक जोशीमठ में रूक सकते हैं। जोशीमठ में कई अच्छे होटल है।

Winter Sports At Auli
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In the summer, Auli is inviting but in the winter it is irresistible with its snowy mountain slopes and skiing facilities. Auli can be reached by road or ropeway from Joshimath. It provides an excellent panoramic view of the giant mountain peaks like Nanda Devi, Kamet and Dunagiri. From January to March, the Auli slopes are usually covered with a thick carpet of snow, about 3m deep. The stretch of 3-kms with a drop in elevation of 500m is considered to be a very good skiing ground by international standard. The background of lofty snow clad mountains heightens the sprit of the skiers.

To attract attention, skiing festivals are also conducted at Auli. These now include the national championships in the months of February and March, organised by the Winter Games Federation Of India. While skiing is the chief attraction at Auli, there are other attraction like cable car rides and rope lifts, or spend the day outdoors building snowmen, or having snowball fights.

Facilities For Skiers

The 500m ski-lift system, the longest cable car in Asia, or the trolley, as it is known locally, connects Joshimath with Gorson, above Auli. A short distance beyond Gorson lies the hill of Gorson Top, which provides excellent mountain vistas and is on the 24-km trek to kauri Pass. From Gorson, Auli's only chair lift travels to the base lodge, which is a small building that marks the starting point of all the ski runs.

An 800m long chair lift connects the lower slopes with upper slopes in Auli, making it easy for skiers to zip up in moments. Once reaching the ski start point they can ski down rapidly, while other can walk down the snow-paths at leisure. There are two snow-beaters imported from Germany, for beating the snow for skiing.

The slopes have been dressed and improved making them an ideal for hosting skiing festivals and competitions of national and international standards. Just the cable car ride is enough to justify a trip to this winter resort, with the snow-covered valleys below giving beautiful views of the Himalayas on all sides.

On the way to Auli there are various food-outlets private as well as government run restaurants available.Tourists are advised to bring woollen clothing's, cap, socks, dark glasses, gloves, mufflers, pullovers, wind-proof jacket, gum/snow boots and a torch light in their travel kit. These accessories are a must for the tourist, keeping in mind the weather conditions of Auli, where the temperature drops to as low as - 8C in winters, although it is moderately cold in the summers.

GMVN has the entire skiing equipments required for skiing activities, including the most modern alpine skis, Nordic skis, gloves and goggles. The tourists who are interested in skiing may bring the equipment of their choice with them. Skiing gear is also available on hire. Medical facilities are available Joshimath, which has well equipped hospitals and at Auli, where doctors are available 24 hours a day. However, participants are asked to bring their own first aid kit, which include a balm, footpowder and OTC medicines to take care of headaches, cols and sprains. In Auli, microwave telephones, wireless sets and walkie-talkies are available as communication.

Skiing Courses At Auli
While experienced skiers are likely to enjoy the slopes of Auli for the excitement it offers of unexplored terrain and the spectacular beauty of the surrounding Himalayas, for those who want to learn how to ski there are numerous skiing facilities available at Auli.GMVN conducts a 7-day as well as a 14-day skiing courses in the months of January-March. The course participants are also provided that basic ski equipment and lift facility, boarding and lodging.

available to the skiers are also available at competitive rates. One thing that adventure lovers should keep in mind is that Auli's season is short starting from January to March, so its better to pre plan your ski trip to this snow skiing heaven.

Source : http://www.indianadventureportal.com