A comparatively new sport in India, skiing has gained immense popularity all over the world. The vast open spaces above the snowline have flung open to the skiing enthusiasts, a plethora of ski locales in Jammu and Kashmir, the hills of Kumaon, Himachal Pradesh and the eastern states. The awesome height and spread of the snow clad mountains, with the added advantage of powdered snow are tempting enough to magnetize the adventurous spirits of the avid skier, providing all the thrill and excitement attached to the game. Realizing the immense prospect for tourism, India has developed some of the most modern and also the cheapest ski resorts in the whole world.
Auli is the Mecca of skiing in India. It is the site where enthusiasts throng in large numbers as this is one of the places with the best infrastructure next only to Gulmarg. Auli is the venue of the Indian winter games in the country.
Heli-Skiing has come to stay in India. It is practiced in the area bound by the Hanuman Tibba, Rohtang pass, Deo Tibba and Chandekhani Pass near Manali. A major feature is the compactness of the heli-skiing area. A sortie of ten minutes can carry the skiers to the top of a 14,000 foot high slope. Heli- skiing in Manali, Auli and Gulmarg provides an enormous variety of ski runs, and routes as complicated or a straightforward as the individual can tackle. A helicopter takes a group to the numerous peaks that surround the resort from where they make their descent. Best time : December to January
Popular skiing destinations
The following are worth exploring:
UTTARACHAL - AULI
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Auli, 16 km from Joshimath is an ideal winter resort A 3 km long slope ranging from a height of 2519 to 3049 m is a major attraction. A 500 m long ski-lift carries skiers back to the slope top, thus saving them the trouble and time to bridge up wearing long skis.
Clifftop Club Resort – World’s second highest ski resort located next to the sky slopes, Venues for national and international snow sports in winter. Own skiing equipment and instructors.
How to Getting Their
By Road
The best option is to travel from Delhi by road. Delhi to Haridwar is 229 kms. on National Highway no. 47 (NH-47). The climb from Haridwar to Joshimath is 257 kms and takes about 10 hours. The ascent to Joshimath winds through Rishikesh, Srinagar, Karnaprayag, and Chamoli. Joshimath to Clifftop Club is 17 km by road or 15 minutes by cable car. We suggest a stay at Rishikesh/Rudraprayag to break the journey if traveling from Delhi.
- Delhi-Haridwar 229 km
- Haridwar-Srinagar 89km
- Srinagar-Rudraprayag 91km
- Rudraprayag-Nandprayag 38km
- Nandprayag-Pipalkoti 21km
- Pipalkoti-Joshimath 67km
The cable car is operational only up to 4:20 pm in winters hence it is advisable to reach the cable car parking at Joshimath by 4 pm to avoid being stranded at Joshimath. Charges for the return trip of the cable car are Rs 400/- per person, valid for 1 week. Those opting to drive up to Auli in their own vehicles can only reach Clifftop Club in summers. In winters, the only option is to avail the cable car from Joshimath. Parking can be availed at Joshimath as well as at GMVN from where the chair lift operates to take people to tower no. 8 where Clifftop Club is located. The chair lift charges are Rs 200/- for a return trip.
By Train
The nearest Railway Station is Rishikesh / Haridwar which is directly connected from Delhi by Mussoorie Exp and the Dehradun Shatabdi, from Mumbai by Bandra-Dehradun Exp. and from Kolkata by Howrah-Doon Exp. and from Lucknow by Gorakhanath/Doon Exp. Rishikesh to Joshimath is to be covered by road.
By Air
The nearest airport is Jolly Grant near Dehradun (280 Km). A helipad at Clifftop Club premises has made the landing of private/commercial chartered helicopters possible. Some guests have already made use of these facilities. A nominal landing fee is charged for a chopper landing.
Highlights
Clifftop Club is located at over 10,000 ft above sea level. Excellent ski slopes and state of the art ski lifts have placed Auli as an important destination for skiing and snow sports.
Clifftop Club provides an uninterrupted 270 degree view of Nanda Devi and adjoining ranges. A short trek takes you to Gorson Reserve Forest where you can revel in the magnificent sunrise and views and experience walks in dense alpine forest terrain. Gorson Reserve Forest is located off Tower number 10, which can also be accessed by a short trek up the slopes. Magnificent views of sunrise can be enjoyed here. A short walk in the dense alpine forest takes you to Chhatrakund, a frozen lake.
AROUND AULI
Badrinath
A day trip to the holy shrine of Badrinath can be made possible if one rises early to avail the first gate of departure at Joshimath. The road from Joshimath to Badrinath is a one-way drive, being narrow, steep and treacherous. A convenient "gate system" regulates up and down traffic to and from Badrinath. Many elite pilgrims to Badrinath prefer to stay at Clifftop Club, Auli and make a day trip to the temple by car only to return to Clifftop Club to soak in the ambience of the bonfire nights overlooked by Nanda Devi and adjoining peaks.
Valley of Flowers
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July to September sees trekkers to the Valley of Flowers making stopovers at Clifftop Club to experience the luxury of lavish cuisine and luxurious accommodation with our pampering to end the trek on a high note
The ascent to the valley of Flowers begins from the small settlement of Govind Ghat (1800 m), 22 km beyond Joshimath en-route to Badrinath. After crossing a suspension bridge over the Alaknanda a 3 km trek brings one to the small village Pulna with basic facilities to tourists. The next 9 km trek from Pulna to Govind Dham (Ghangaria) is for the most part along the Bhyundar Ganga. This route is punctuated with waterfalls, wild flowers, forests and beautiful landscapes. On the way there is one smaller migratory village, Bhyundar, named after the river and surrounded by dense broadleaf moist temperate forest. The last stretch is a steep ascent to Govind Dham, 3 km beyond which lies the Valley of Flowers.
The Valley of Flowers National Park (87.50 km2, lat 30° 41' - 30° 48'N and long 79° 33' - 79° 46'E) is located in Chamoli Garhwal, about 595 km northeast of India's capital Delhi in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Its altitude ranges from 3,200 m to 6,675 m. Such a variation in the altitude provides a great diversity of landscape and microhabitats.
AULI VILLAGE
Also known as a skier's paradise, Auli has one of the best slopes in the world. The 3km long slope ranges from 2519m to 3049m offers a magnificent panoramic view of great Himalayan peaks like the Nanda Devi (7817m), Kamet (7756m), Mana Parvat (7273m) and Dunagiri (7066m). You could reach Auli from Joshimath (1890m) by taking an enchanting 3 km ride on the world's most highly situated and longest ropeway (cable car).
HEMKUND SAHEB
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Hemkund Sahib is near the Valley of Flowers that is 20km from Joshimath. It attracts thousands of Sikh pilgrims because Guru Govind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru (spiritual head of the Sikhs), had meditated by the Hemkund Lake in his previous birth. Nature too has been bountiful in making this place beautiful. There is a majestic gurudwara (a Sikh place of worship) near the lake where people offer prayers after bathing in its cold waters. The place also attracts Hindus in large numbers. It is referred to as Lokpal in the Hindu texts. Like most of the hill stations of India, the Valley of Flower was rediscovered by a British mountaineer, Frank Smiche, in 1938. His book, Valley of Flowers, which became a bestseller in those days, dwells mainly on the beauty of this place.
Jammu & Kashmir
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Snow Skiling in Gulmarg
Gulmarg's legendary beauty, prime location and proximity to Srinagar naturally make it one of the premier hill resorts in the country. Originally called ‘Gaurimarg’ by shepherds, its present name was given in the 16th century by Sultan Yusuf Shah, who was inspired by the sight of its grassy slopes emblazoned with wild flowers. Gulmarg was a favorite haunt of Emperor Jehangir who once collected 21 different varieties of flowers from here. Today Gulmarg is not merely a mountain resort of exceptional beauty- it also has the highest green golf course in the world, at an altitude of 2,650 m, and is the country's premier ski resort in the winter.
The journey to Gulmarg is half the enchantment of reaching there-- roads bordered by rigid avenues of poplar gives over to flat expanses of rice fields interspersed with picturesque villages. Depending on the season, nature's colours could be the translucent green of spring, summer’s rich emerald, or autumn’s golden hues, when scarlet chilies festoon windows of village homes. After Tangmarg, the climb to Gulmarg begins through fir-covered hillsides. At one point, known simply as View Point, travelers generally stop their vehicles for a few minutes and look out a spectacle of snow-covered mountains, almost within touching distance.
One of the major attractions for adventure loving tourists is skiing in the Himalayas. Gulmarg, the best ski resort in the Himalayas, was first established by the British in 1927, when two British Army Officers, Maj. Metcarp and Maj. Hadow had setup the Ski Club of India at Gulmarg.
Skiing had become very popular during the pre-independence years and Gulmarg used to host two main events, one each during Christmas and Easter. In 1938-39 about 500 skiers are reported to have participated in the Christmas and Easter ski races. Gulmarg's atmosphere can generally be identified with 1940's and 50's European skiing-'the Alps of good old days'. It has good sunshine as well as good snow.
HIMACHAL PRADESH
Manali
Manali in Himachal Pradesh is known mainly for heli-skiing. The area around the town, including Deo Tibba, Hanuman Tibba, Rohtang Pass and Chanderkhani Pass, is where heli-skiing takes place. Skiers are taken aboard a helicopter up to a height of close to 14,000 ft, where they can then get off the copter and ski downhill. It’s exhilarating- and expensive- and is fast becoming a popular alternative to just going to Manali for treks.
Further out from Manali, good ski slopes exist at Solang; Solang Nallah, 10 km from Manali, also hosts an annual skiing tournament.
The Directorate of Mountaineering and Allied Sports in Manali is one of the premier institutions for skiing in the Himalayas. The organisation offers ski courses throughout the winter, and can provide both assistance as well as advice on where and how to go skiing. The directorate also hires out equipment.
Getting there
The airport closest to Manali is at Bhuntar, near Kullu; domestic flights arrive here from most major airports in India, and connecting buses do the trip to Manali.
The nearest railhead is Joginder nagar, 135 km from Manali. Manali itself has no train connections, although it’s well linked to the rest of northern India by road. There’s a large bus station on the Mall, with daily buses from Kullu, Chandigarh, Shimla and other major towns and cities in this part of the country.
Where to stay
Manali offers a reasonably wide range of accommodation. Some nice old hotels are situated on the outskirts of the town, while inexpensive lodges and privately owned guesthouses abound in the old town. Fortunately for skiers, Manali’s most crowded during the summers, when hordes of families from all across India descend on the town, determined to enjoy their summer vacations. Winters are low season for everybody except skiers, and the chances of getting good accommodation at relatively low tariffs are bright.
Kufri
The ski resort which is perhaps the most easily accessible for anyone in northern India is Kufri. Just about 10 km from Shimla, Kufri’s a quiet little town which becomes a busy winter wonderland once the snow starts falling. British officers in the Indian Army discovered this beautiful little place way back in the 1930s, and a serendipitous discovery it was- for Kufri, within a few years, became one of the hottest winter resorts in Himachal. The 1950s and 60s, especially, were boom time for Kufri, although it’s now been overshadowed by classier resorts like Auli. The snow still falls in Kufri, however, and a skiing trip here can be pretty satisfying. The Mahasu Ridge, just above Kufri, has some good slopes which are worth a try.
Getting there
Shimla, just about 10 km from Kufri, is well connected to the rest of India by air, rail and road. Shimla’s Jubbar bhatti Airport has flights from Delhi, Chandigarh and Kullu, and a narrow-gauge train links Shimla to Kalka. Kalka has train connections to a number of cities and towns in India, including Delhi. Daily buses link Shimla to major towns in northern India.
From Shimla, buses or hired taxis can be taken to get to Kufri.
Where to stay
Kufri’s so close to Shimla that it’s really not essential to stay in Kufri. You could, if you’re willing to do the short trip to and from Kufri everyday, stay in one of Shimla’s many hotels. Himachal’s capital has a wide range of properties, all the way from economy to deluxe. If you’d rather stay in Kufri itself, there’s a holiday resort, a winter sports club run by the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation, a PWD Resthouse, and a few guesthouses.
Narkanda
64 km from Shimla is one of India’s oldest ski resorts, Narkanda. Narkanda lies at an altitude of 8,100 ft, and is an important horticultural centre. Fruit orchards on the surrounding hills produce some of Himachal’s most luscious apples and cherries, making Narkanda one of Himachal’s pleasantest settlements, no matter what time of the year. What’s good about Narkanda is that it’s still comparatively unspoilt and uncrowded, so you won’t find yourself suffocated by hordes of fellow skiers.
The slopes at Narkanda run the gamut from beginner’s to advanced, from slalom to cross-country. Hattu Peak, 6 km from Narkanda, towers 2,000 ft above Narkanda and has popular ski slopes.
Himachal Tourism manages all the skiing facilities at Narkanda. They hire out equipment, conduct training courses, and provide everything from accommodation to transport. The Directorate of Mountaineering and Allied Sports at Manali also plays a part in the skiing at Narkanda; they organise special skiing courses January onwards every year.
Getting there
Fortunately for visitors, Narkanda is conveniently situated on the main highway from Shimla to Kinnaur. There are regular buses to and from Shimla (which, in turn, is connected to the rest of northern India by road and rail). The journey to Narkanda from Shimla is just about two hours, and both taxis as well as private vehicles can be hired in Shimla to do the trip.
Where to stay
Narkanda’s list of tourist accommodation facilities is rather modest. The town has a pretty- but otherwise fairly unpretentious- rest house, a small hotel operated by the Himachal State Tourism Development Corporation, and a handful of other Properties. Most are clean and comfortable, but nowhere near luxurious.
Skiing – winter in Auli
06 Days/05 Nights
Clifftop Club - Dec-end/Feb only
Day by Day Iteneray
Day 1
Depart for Haridwar by Shatabdi Express
Lunch at Haridwar
Board bus/taxi for Joshimath
Reach Rudraprayag by evening
Dinner and overnight at Monal Resorts, Rudraprayag
Day 2
Depart after breakfast for Joshimath-2hrs
Take Cable car to Clifftop Club and check in
Settling down time and lunch at Clifftop club
Soft trek to Gorson top
Dinner and bonfire at the Club
Day 3
Skiing lessons at Clifftop Club
Lunch, tea, dinner as usual
Day 4
Skiing at Clifftop Club
Lunch, tea, dinner as usual
Day 5
Skiing at Clifftop Club
Lunch and check out for Joshimath
Onward journey to Monal resorts Rudraprayag- overnight at Monal
Day 6
Road journey to Haridwar-Delhi with meals on way
Arrive Delhi at night
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