While most visitors picture Auli as a winter playground, the high‑altitude meadow transforms in the summer months into a lush pasture dotted with alpine flowers. Trekking routes that disappear under snow in January reappear as gentle climbs linking the town to the nearby Garhwal Himalayan range. Early‑morning treks to the Gorson Bugyal plateau reward walkers with panoramic views of Nanda Devi without the crowds of the ski season. Pack a light rain jacket and a pair of sturdy boots; the climate shifts quickly, and the monsoon can turn a sunny ridge into a mist‑laden corridor in an hour.
Auli’s eateries are dominated by Garhwali home cooking rather than the generic mountain‑café fare found in many resort towns. Try the khadi (spiced lentil soup) served in earthen bowls, or the locally smoked trout, which is caught in the nearby rivers and smoked over pine wood. The town’s small temple dedicated to Goddess Nanda Devi still hosts a seasonal fair where villagers exchange handmade woollen mittens; joining the celebration offers a glimpse into the community’s reliance on the same pastoral cycles that sustain the ski lifts.
The conventional route to Auli runs via Rishikesh and Dehradun, often clogged with pilgrim traffic. A quieter alternative is to fly into Pantnagar Airport, then hire a local driver familiar with the steep, winding roads of the Chamoli district. The journey includes a short, scenic cable‑car ride that offers a bird’s‑eye view of the valley – an experience many overlook in favour of road transport. Timing the cable‑car for sunrise not only avoids the midday queues but also frames the distant peaks in golden light, ideal for early‑morning photography.
[edit] Given name[edit] Auli Kiskola (born 1995), Finnish biathlete Auli Hakulinen (born 1941), Finnish professor Auli Mantila (born 1964), Finnish film director Jia Jia (Auli Puruburubuane), Taiwanese aboriginal singer and songwriter (born 1983) Surname[edit] Jordi Condom Aulí, Spanish footballer Joan Auli (1796–1869), Spanish organist
[edit] Auļi, Latvian folk/world music band An early form of the constructed language Interlingue