If you’re more of adding life to days than days to life kinda person, you’ve landed on the perfect page! This story is not just a reminder that life can take uncertain turns but also about courage and passion to set your own path!

Satyam Fouzdar is a Software Engineer who loves coding but is even more fond of traveling. So much so that he left his previous job and chose a new one that suited his peripatetic lifestyle. 

This trip is special for 2 reasons. One being quite obvious, the destination, especially a snowy one is always a delight. The second is that this was his first trip when he began professionally vlogging his travel and also that this was his first time seeing snow! 

So without further ado let’s dive into this thrilling 3-day road trip to Auli with Satyam!

Day 1

Starting the day early, at the break of dawn he and his other friend set out on the road from Meerut, with Auli on their mind. The temperature dropped to freezing 5℃, driving in the cold, with extreme fog and minimum visibility, they managed to reach Rishikesh in 3-4 hours. The next stop was Devprayag which again took them about 2-3 hours to reach, because of the bumpy road. They took a tea break and took the opportunity to capture many beautiful photos and videos. Devprayag is quite famous for the confluence of the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers. 

Getting on the road again, they finally got to the highway, and it was a smooth ride from there. However, stopping for a brief halt at Srinagar, which falls en route from Devprayag to Rudraprayag, they took the moments to capture the beauty of the Alaknanda river which flows just beneath the bridge. Upon reaching Rudraprayag at 5 in the evening, they stopped for a warm hearty lunch. 

It is usually advised not to travel in the mountains after sunset. Nonetheless, this was not an option for Satyam. He and his friend had to reach Auli in any condition. So they took off from Rudraprayag for Chamoli. Upon reaching Chamoli, they stopped and had dinner and then again left for Auli. 

While driving quite a distance they saw a ribbon attached to a car, which indicated that the road was closed further. However, upon honking, the person inside the car removed the ribbon and allowed them to go. Not much farther along the way, a handful of rocks came onto their bike and almost hit them, but thankfully no one got hurt and they managed to get away, only later came to know that there was drilling work going on. 

But what’s life without some adventure! Right? 

Plus they have cool stories to tell for life 🙂

Finally reaching Auli after driving on a very slender road, they stayed at the hotel for the night, But the tedious 17 hours turned to be futile because there was absolutely no snow. They went to bed with disappointment.

Day 2

Only to wake up and see a Christmas miracle the next day! It started snowing. So they planned a trek to Gorson Bugyal. Which is highly recommended by our traveler. He says there is not much to do in Auli except the trek and ropeway. There is also an option of skiing. Starting from late November and continuing till March, the winter’s cover the mountains of Auli with blankets of snow, which makes it the perfect ground for beginners and seasoned skiers alike. 

However, Satyam did not opt for skiing and chose the trek. He describes the route of the trek being covered in dense forest, giving him all the Game Of Thrones vibe! 

Followed by another deadly story, Satyam and his friend passed through a temple where recently 3 people died. They were trying to protect themselves from heavy snowfall by taking shelter. Anyhow, the snow-covered all the air holes of the temple, making the oxygen insufficient at an already high altitude, which led to their demise. Therefore, it is highly recommended to hire a guide for the trek. 

There is also another trek following the Gorson Bugyal, Kuari Pass Trek, which is open during the summers. It offers a panoramic view of some of the highest peaks, namely, Dunagiri, Nanda Devi, Hathi-Ghori Parbat, Chaukhamba, Neelkanth, and others. 

Having taken some photos and videos, they turned back to the starting point and reached their hotel.

Day 3

Spending the day quite eventfully, this was their last day at Auli. With the rising sun, the snow cleared the roads, opening the path for their return journey. It took them about 11 hours to reach home the same day. 

It is advised to leave early in the morning if you are going on a road trip. And take a halt at Karnaprayag for the night and resume early in the next morning. There have been quite a few incidents of road blockage due to truck accidents, which makes it impossible to travel further. And the hotels are impossible to find at the end moment. So it is highly recommended that you book all your accommodations before traveling. And always hire a guide for a trek. Always carry enough cash on you since you’re traveling on higher altitudes. Weather-appropriate clothing is a must, wear thick jackets, high boots, and a windbreaker. 

So this was the adventurous road trip of Satyam. For more videos and photos, visit his page at @beparwaahmusafir

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