In the lap of Himalayas!

Hey there! This is my 8th post on Uttarakhand and it's quite gratifying to see you all here, bonjour!

After writing about Kanatal, the most picturesque place I have ever visited, I thought I was done raving about Uttarakhand. But how wrong I was? It was just my short-term memory that made me believe so. As pointed out by my husband Abhijeet, there were still a few unique experiences that were worth sharing. The photos of some of the awe-inspiring sites, idly sitting in my phone's memory, refreshed my memory, and here I am ready to sketch the portrait of one more stunning place in Uttarakhnd, Auli.

Auli is also known as Auli bugyal, which means meadow in Garhwali. Primarily known as the skiing destination of India, tourists throng this place in winters. The skiing season was yet to start when we visited. But Auli found a place in our itinerary because of the unique stays that grabbed our attention during the exploration phase and the fact that it is hardly crowded during the off-season.  

The journey from Kanatal to Auli was quite long. After leaving at around 7am we reached Auli at 5pm while taking only one major break for lunch. We checked in at Shivalik camps and resort and the place pleased us with delicious food, scenic views, well-mannered staff and memorable tent stay. These days, many camping sites provide tent stays suitable for a family. The tents are laid on top of a solid framework that protects the dwellers from the extreme weather and provides for a better security. This allows small kids to enjoy the experience without worrying about their health and safety. 

The faraway mountains were getting closer, and closer as we traveled from Dehradun towards the Himalayan ranges. Our Auli stay brought us within an ace of them. Finding ourselves in the lap of the mountains made me feel like a pilgrimage, serendipitously ending into the darshan of a beloved deity. This beautiful abhanga (bhajan) written by Sant Dnyaneshwar resonated with my feelings when I saw the sight. Do listen to it, it's beautifully sung by India's nightingale, Bharat Ratna, late Lata Mangeshkar and composed by Pt. Hridaynath Mangeshkar. 

अजि सोनियाचा दिनु | वर्षे अमृताचा घनु ॥

हरि पाहिला रे हरि पाहिला रे । सबाह्याभ्यंतरी अवघा व्यापक मुरारी ||

दृढ विटे मन मुळी । विराजित वनमाळी ॥

बरवा संतसमागमु । प्रगटला आत्मारामु ॥

कृपासिंधु करुणाकरू । बाप रखमादेविवरू ॥

As nicely explained here, the abhang describes Sant Dnyaneshwar's state of mind when he saw Vitthala. He describes it to be the golden day of his life that showered him with immortality, because he saw Hari (the heart throb and the victor), the creator, the ocean of mercy, the forest dweller, Rakhumai's husband, the one who is omnipresent and firmly grounded, and known to mesmerize people with his flute, Vitthala. He further states that Vitthala is manifested when you come into the company of virtuous people. Isn't the above description apt for the Himalayas? The memories still give me goosebumps.

Tired because of the day long travel, we took some rest. The cold, starry, and dark night reminded me of this soothing song from Jhumroo. written by Majrooh Sultanpuri

ठण्डी हवा ये चाँदनी सुहानी

ऐ मेरे दिल सुना कोई कहानी

लम्बी सी एक डगर है ज़िंदगानी

ऐ मेरे दिल सुना कोई कहानी

सारे हसीं नज़ारे, सपनों में खो गये 

सर रख के आसमाँ पे, पर्वत भी सो गये 

मेरे दिल, तू सुना, कोई ऐसी दास्तां

जिसको, सुनकर, मिले चैन मुझे मेरी जाँ

मंज़िल है अन्जानी ...

ऐसे मैं चल रहा हूँ पेड़ों की छाँव में 

जैसे कोई सितारा बादल के गाँव में

मेरे दिल, तू सुना, कोई ऐसी दास्तां

जिसको सुनकर, मिले चैन मुझे मेरी जाँ

मंज़िल है अन्जानी ...

थोड़ी सी रात बीती, थोड़ी सी राह गई

खामोश रुत ना जाने, क्या बात कह गई 

मेरे दिल, तू सुना, कोई ऐसी दास्तां 

जिसको सुनकर, मिले चैन मुझे मेरी जाँ

मंज़िल है अन्जानी

ठण्डी हवा ये चाँदनी सुहानी 

The next day, I woke up at the dawn to witness the spectacle of the mountains, the sky and the sun, expecting it to be in a different panache than the last time. And yes, it was! Here is a photo-video showing the trailer for the act. For the actual show, one must visit Auli.

Later in the day, we visited the Auli skii resort. One can use ropeway or chair-lifting facilities to go from Auli to the skiing slopes. We opted for chair-lifting and it was a wonderful experience. At the skiing destination, you'll see one of the world's highest man made lakes, built with the intention of facilitating the skiing activities. 

As a turn-up for the books, this place also provided the fabulous views of some of the world's highest peaks like Nanda Devi, Kamet, and Dunagiri. Such a pleasant surprise it was! Afterall, something that we had only read about in the geography books, suddenly appeared in front of us. 

Nanda Devi Peak

Mt. Kamet (with it's peak blocked by the jealous clouds), pc: Abhijeet

Brahmakamal Peak (middle) and Dunagiri Peak (on the right)

Here is a video of the panoramic view that the place offers:

The place also acts as a base point for a couple of trails. We chose not to go trekking to avoid exhaustion. The trekkers may say that climbing these mountains is much more exciting than just watching them. I agree, but don't we enjoy movies without being actors ourselves? I love to be a spectator more when it comes to nature.

The next day morning, nature had planned a new show for us. The clouds were kind enough to reveal the mountains which they had mischievously blocked the previous day. Let me show you the trailer. 

Some important points to note when you visit Auli with kids or elderly people

Auli is a remote place and you won't find any shops or eateries easily. So, please carry enough food (dry snacks or fruits) and the other supplies with you. Otherwise, one has to travel to Joshimath (around 20-30 minutes travel) which is relatively bigger town down the hill. 

As usual let me end the leaf of my diary with a thought:

I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in.

- George Washington Carver (Amarican agricultural scientist)