– by Mridula
This is an essay written by Mridula on her love for the mountains, as second part of her interview published earlier. Since the interview posted earlier, Mridula has also won the Best Travel Indiblog award.
When Arun suggested the topic ‘My Love for Mountains,’ I thought there are many ways to approach this one. I could say, this is actually an acquired love, my husband simply refuses to go anywhere else but the mountains (and only the Himalayas qualify for him as mountains) so I have to love them. But then it is really not true. I equally love going to the hills.
View from Kuari Pass. Image Courtsy: Mridula
I could also say it is something mystic, beyond what the words can describe, that pulls us to the mountains and the matter would end there. After all, I really do not have proper words to describe why we run to the mountains at the first opportunity. But recently something happened that I think gives a good insight into love for mountains (and travel in general).
Last week we went to a small village in Himanchal Pradesh and stayed at a place called Shringi Vatika. It was really cold out there but then I saw snowfall for the first time in my life. While coming back, I realized that I have dropped my cell phone somewhere. After a few phone call to the owners,we found it and my cell phone is with them. Now how do I get my cell phone back? Many suggested I can ask them to courier it. But the couple that runs he guest house is old and I do not want to trouble them. They would have to go some distance to find a courier service.
Then I tried persuading my husband to go there again next month. He kept giving me vague excuses as to why we can’t go back so soon. Then I realized my younger nephew is finishing his final exams for class 11th soon and he certainly needs a break before he gets into the grind of 12th board exams. So guess what? The two of us are going back to Shringi Vatika, because I really need my phone back. And I am wondering why did I not leave my cell phone behind in Lachung (Sikkim) or Ladakh. Let us see how many other places I will manage to leave my cell phone behind from now on.
My first visit to Auli in 2005
1. Auli photo album – 2005
2. Write-up on skiing in Auli
My second visit to Auli, 2006
1. A back-breaking journey: from Rishikesh to Auli
2. First Day at Auli
3. The days of Skiing
4. Spending time in Auli
5. Trekking and walking around
6. About Auli
7. Auli photo album – 2006
Auli -> Rishikesh -> Corbett National Park -> Varanasi -> Agra
+Previous: Trekking and Walking abound in Auli
+Next: Day trip to Rajaji National Park
+Go to beginning of the series
I spent six good days in Auli – skiing, trekking or just having fun indoors. It was time to head back. Getting in and out of Auli is always a painful experience. The long distance to Rishikesh that needs to be covered in the hilly roads is not the most pleasing experience. I was planning to catch a bus from Joshimath, but I met a few people from Bombay who were kind enough to offer to take me with them in their cab. It made things much better than taking a bus.
Reflecting back at the days I spent in Auli, I felt they were well worth the back-breaking journey. I was pretty unhappy to see the lack of snow this year, but the activities that you could do in summer like conditions in Auli are equally interesting.
THINGS TO DO: AULI IN SUMMER
In fact more people visit Auli in summer than winter, taking a short detour on their way to Badrinath temple. Hotel prices in Joshimath increase and you pay 50% more to access the cable car.
The cable car ride offers great views
If you are a day visitor, take the cable car up and enjoy the majestic views of the valley and the mountains on the other side. You get good views of Mt. Nanda Devi from Auli, and go a little higher to have a look at the peaks of Chhang Bhang, Trishul and Dronagiri.
Mt. Nanda Devi, just before sunset
Hire a guide to take you up to Gorsau top or the lake to the right of it. These are the places that get buried in snow in the winter and can’t be accessed. For those looking for a more difficult trek or adventure, Auli is the starting point to trek up to Kuari Pass. The views on the trek are known to be great, but I haven’t been there. Spending a day or two in Auli is worth it if you are here in summer. Early mornings are obviously best time to have a great look at the distant mountains.
See my Auli photo gallery for images from my this year’s trip. Read through the previous posts to know about my trekking and skiing experiences in Auli.
THINGS TO DO: AULI IN WINTER
In winter every thing looks different in Auli. Every inch of ground is covered in snow, and walking in most of the areas is impossible. You can’t climb up beyond the heights which can be reached by cable car. But a casual visitor can still enjoy the abundant snow, and frequent snowfalls. If you love to see snow, it is a worthy trip here even if you don’t intend to ski. Read about my experiences of skiing in Auli last year. Also see the last year’s image gallery when there was a lot of snow.
Auli is full of snow in winter
Of course, it is skiing that attracts many people to Auli. Auli has excellent slopes and you can come here to learn skiing. GMVN conducts introductory courses for seven days and certificate courses that run for 14 days. Instructors are good and the course is worth it.
Also see more about Auli in paintedstork.com
Visit to Auli in 2005
* Images from Auli(plenty of snow)
* Trip report
Visit to Auli in 2006
* Images from Auli(little snow)
* A back-breaking journey: from Rishikesh to Auli
* First Day at Auli
* The days of Skiing
* Spending time in Auli
* Trekking and walking around
* About Auli