India has some of the world’s most stunning mountains and ranges. Himalayas, Manali, Auli, Gulmarg, Shimla, Sonarmarg; India possesses the truest beauty and calmness of nature. Regardless of these destinations and their popularity, most Indians are new to the sport ‘skiing’. Many tourist destinations offer skiing but only a few have the proper infrastructures and maintain the necessary attributes. Thousands of tourists visit Gulmarg and Auli to experience the adventure and feel the extremities of skiing. But where to visit first, Gulmarg or Auli? This question of Gulmarg Vs Auli often arises while planning a ski destination. Well, let us make it simpler for you so that you can book your tickets for your next trip to the mountains.
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Gulmarg Or Auli: Which Place Is Easier To Reach?
It is quite easy to reach Gulmarg from Srinagar. It takes only about an hour and a half (90 minutes) road trip to cover 56 kilometers after landing in Srinagar. On the other hand, reaching Auli is extremely tiresome. After reaching Auli’s nearest airport Dehradun, an exhausting journey of 8 hours on mountain roads awaits. The process of reaching the destination also changes during January, February, and March as the roads get covered with snow. During that moment, one needs to take a cable car ride of 3.5 km from Joshimath to reach Auli. The cable car connecting Joshimath to Auli is often not recommended as it might break down during bad weather conditions.
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Also read: Vaccinated Indians Can Go Skiing In Dubai Now; Meet Penguins Too!
Gulmarg Vs Auli: Which Destination Provides Better Services?
Gulmarg and its facilities:
Located in Jammu and Kashmir, Gulmarg marks itself as the best for skiing in the country with their world-class facilities. Their infrastructure, ski equipment, different slopes for varied skilled people (both beginners and professionals), and safety standards help the place to stand out as the best. Gulmarg offers one of the highest cable cars in the world that making the experience even more special. An American avalanche expert and a team of 14 proficient snow scientists and rescue experts manage the Gulmarg Ski Patrol. They are well equipped to deal with and tackle any uncertainties.
A guy named Yasin runs a shop for all the necessary equipment starting from boots to helmets to goggles for skiing. One can easily learn from the instructors. Gulmarg also has very slopes for both beginners and professionals which makes it entertaining and enjoyable for everyone. Apart from the skiing facilities, Gulmarg is a luxurious place to spend the vacation. It has easily accessible spa places, hotels, and accommodations.
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Auli and its facilities:
Auli is spectacular and a visual treat to the eyes. Situated in Uttarakhand, it portrays a great view an unbelievable view of the Garhwal Himalayas. Reaching after a tiring 8-hour ride, Auli does not have a lot of options to stay. The slopes for skiing begin somewhere at a height of 3000 m and extend for about 3 km. Also, it has an elevated drop of around 500 m. But the negative aspect of Auli’s skiing is that the snow stays for a very short period of time. Auli’s slopes are mostly south-faced, hence leaving it with a span of only a month to ski. The services and conditions get worse one after another. Their rescue team is very limited and only one chairlift is available to take tourists up to the slopes. Also, the condition of accessing equipment is not that great.
To decide ‘Gulmarg Vs Auli’ from a perspective of skiing, Gulmarg stands tall with its mesmerizing facilities. Want to explore the skinning destinations near UAE, have a look at this video.