A popular winter destination and a ski resort in India, Auli is known for its snowy slopes. From snow-capped mountains to wooden cottages, it is not less than a perfect European country village. Situated at an astonishing height of 2,505 meters, it is brimmed with everything that an ideal tourist would dream of!  From the panoramic view of the crescent Himalayas to Meadows surrounded by coniferous and oak forests, adventure activities, and much more, Auli will not disappoint you.

A 24-year-old trekker and a passionate traveller, Shubham Dhingra planned a trip along with his 3 other friends to get away from the usual momentum of life and try something new and adventurous! 

But fate had -plans otherwise, let’s see what came along his way, and was nature merciful to him?

Day 1: Ghaziabad to Rishikesh
7th January, 10 pm

The original plan was to trek to Kuari pass, which is also known as the Lord Curzon trail and so they booked a bus to Rishikesh. Situated in Garhwal Himalayas, this trek gives a chance to view the impressive skyline of the mighty mountains from close quarters. It is one of the few treks that are open during winter for trekkers. 

Day 2: Rishikesh to Joshimath
8th January, 3 am 

Shubham and his friends reached Rishikesh the next day and booked a trekking package with the Uttrakhand Trip Trek company. They picked them up from Rishikesh by 9 in the morning and dropped them at Joshimath at 6 pm. Having already spent the daylight travelling, they retreated for the night to Birla Guesthouse. Not to mention it was bitterly cold and the temperature dropped to 2℃.

Day 3: Joshimath to Dhak village
9th January, 10 pm

After the cold night, came the day. Post breakfast, they resumed their journey and left for Dhak village. This was the starting point of the trek. Witnessing large amounts of snow was breathtaking at first. After 4 hours of trek, they finally made it to Chitrakatha, the first base camp by 5 pm. They set up their camps, had warm supper, and called it a day. 

But it doesn’t take much time for things to go sideways. 2 in the morning, their camp leader announced that they couldn’t go ahead with the trek, because it was snowing and now any further passage will be dangerous. With the temperature dropping exceedingly; they had to sleep in intervals and dust off snow from time to time from the top of the tent to avoid getting buried in the snow. It was a long night indeed. 

Day 4: Return journey to Joshimath 
10th January, 10 pm

Post breakfast, they started trekking downhill, back to Joshimath, disheartened by the change in plans. It took them about 7 hours to reach the ground and by that time it was already dark. Birla Guesthouse was yet again their stay for the night. 

Day 5: Exploring Joshimath
11th January, 10 pm  

To make the most of the situation, they decided to explore the local area at Joshimath. Strolling around the town, Narsimha Temple intrigued and caught their eye. It is a very ancient temple; dedicated to Lord Vishnu’s 4th incarnation, Narsimha. Later in the evening, they had a bonfire by the guesthouse and enjoyed the night under the starry night!

Day 6: Joshimath To Auli
12th January, 9 pm 

Shubham and his friends planned to explore Auli, next on their list, and hired a can to take them to the skiing destination of India. During their stay at Auli, they explored Chenab lake. It is one of the world’s highest man-made lakes at an astounding elevation of  3,056 m above sea level. Decked up in pine, oak, rhododendron, and conifer trees, it is quite near to the ropeway. Offering picturesque views, it is a must-visit destination for travellers. Upon reaching the lake, Shubham found the lake was completely frozen and described what he saw as breathtaking. 

Day 7: Gorson Bugyal trek 
13th January, 10 pm

Leaving early, they started the trek to Gorson Bugyal. It is 3 km uphill from Auli and is a short one; which can easily be completed within a day. Being the Himalayan Alpine meadow, it has a large expanse of grassland that covers several hundred acres of land. Land of green pastures surrounded by coniferous forest and oak trees will certainly amuse you. 

After completing the amazing trek, they headed back to Joshimath and stayed at Birla Guesthouse for the night. 

Day 8-9: Joshimath to Rishikesh

The next day, the trekking company dropped them at Rishikesh and they stayed there for the night. The next morning, after starting fresh; the day was dedicated to fun, adventure, and thrill. They opted for local sightseeing and sports that give an adrenaline rush. Triveni Ghat, Lakshaman Jhula, and Ram Jhula are some of the beautiful tourist spots in Rishikesh. Later came the highlight of the day, River Rafting and cliff jumping. Shubham recalls feeling ecstatic the entire day! This was the end of their journey, and just like that, it was time to head home. 

This was an amazing travel story of Shubham Dhingra. For more photos and videos, check out his Instagram page @bearded_trippy_baba. 

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