Auli is a beautiful place in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand. It has big mountains all around and is great for both nature lovers and Snow activities in Auli. This 2,800 m hill station with snow-covered hills, colourful meadows and jaw-dropping Himalayan views is the dream of photographers. Be it golden sunrise, riding cable cars, or natural alpine meadows, Auli is a postcard view all the way through. We selected 10 of the best places to capture the beauty of Auli, which includes all the iconic spots of the Himalayan heaven, like its ropeway, ski slopes, meadows, and sunrise points. Get your Auli travel Packages from The Auli Meadows with your camera and let’s dive in!
1. Auli Ropeway: Rising Above the Himalayas
Ride the second longest and tallest cable car, on a 4 km stretch of the same route between Joshimath and Auli, and be rewarded with a gorgeous view. It takes around 20 minutes on a wide aerial track through oak forests, deep valleys, and snow-topped mountain faces, with Nanda Devi and Trishul. Click down the colourful red gondolas as they pass on the rocky background of the Himalayas, particularly during sunset, when the mountains are golden.
Tip: A wide-angle lens will help to capture the vast size of the place, and time your shot during the golden hour.
2. Auli Ski Slopes: Action Meets Serenity
Auli is also a winter wonderland with world-class ski slopes, 2,000 to 3,000 metres, where the action shots are taken. Photo of skiers slicing through the snow with the coniferous trees and mountains in the background. These slopes then become very green hills in the summertime, fit for peaceful panoramas with the mountains of the Himalayas in the distance.
Tip: A telephoto is great at magnifying a skier or a mountain in the distance.
3. Gurso Bugyal: Meadow Magic
This is only a 3-km walk behind Auli to Gurso Bugyal (3,050 metres), which is a large open alpine meadow covered in oak and rhododendron forest. In summer you may capture the pretty wildflowers scattered on the ground, and in winter, a snow-covered dream. The clear glimpses of the Nanda Devi, Trishul, and Dronagiri also make it perfect in terms of the wide shots.
TIP: Visit and stay overnight to shoot misty sunrise outlines or starry skies.
4. Auli Artificial Lake: Mirror of the Mountains
Auli has one of the highest man-made lakes, which is reflected in the crystal-clear waters of Kamet and Mana Parvats. The iced surface gives a magical effect during winter and crystal-clear reflections during summer. Shoot in the cool mornings to see it perfect as a mirror, and the surrounding slopes provide the depth.
Tip: Try reflections to make unreal and unbalanced pictures.
5. Nanda Devi Peak Viewpoint: Himalayan Majesty
Take photographs of the mythical Nanda Devi (7,816 metres), the second-highest mountain in India and a miracle declared by UNESCO, on the ridges of the ski resorts in Auli. The pointed shadow of it on a blue sky is a must-shoot, particularly at sunrise with the snow being pink. Include foreground meadows/slopes for scale.
Tip: A zoom lens makes the peak stand out.
6. Chair Lift Viewpoint: Elevated Thrills
The chairlift between the GMVN resort and the upper slopes (800 metres) gives an open-air view of hanging chairs over wooded valleys. Feel the excitement of the climb in blurry movement over standing mountains or green hills. Winter brings skiers down to the ground to hear dynamic compositions, whereas summers bring with them green vegetation.
Tip: To capture an alternate angle, take a shot when you are in the position; just remember that your equipment should be stable.
7. Kwani Bugyal: Untouched Beauty
The Kwani Bugyal (3,500 metres) is a mountaintop meadow located a 12 km trek beyond Auli, where grasslands roll and one can view Nanda Devi and Dunagiri. Not as busy as Gurso, but it is ideal when the sky is golden and the wildflowers are ready to shoot or the hills are covered with snow.Tip: Carry a tripod to capture long-exposure shots of breathtaking sunsets or stars.
8. Chattrakund Lake: Hidden Serenity
Chattrakund Lake is a crystal-clear gem 4 km off Auli in a deep deodar forest and reflects the peaks and vegetation. It’s pure, untouched feel suits the remotest nature images, and there are many possibilities during the summer of alpine plants and a chilly, misty feel in the winter.
Tip: Use the early morning shoot to avoid crowds and soft light.
9. Gorson Bugyal Sunrise Point: Dawn’s First Light
This meadow is an extension of Gorson Bugyal and is a good place to see the sunrise. See the first rays turn Nanda Devi and Trishul in hues of orange and pink. Mist-covered valleys below also give some magic to time-lapse shots or shadows.
TIP: Get there early in the morning with a tripod to make low-light shots.
10. Trishul Peak Sunrise View: A Fiery Spectacle
Take a shot of the sunrise behind the Trishul Peak (7,120 metres), in the form of a trident, apparent on the higher ridges of Auli near the top station of the ropeway. And that figure in a sky of dawning fire, with foreground meadows or barren slopes, is a complete dramatic frame. TIP: A polarising filter will increase the colour of the sky and minimise glare.
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