Road to Auli—Maggi, Cable
Cars, and Cliffside Miracles
We left Dhanaulti just as the
morning mist began peeling off the treetops. It was 7:15 AM. Ritu had packed
boiled eggs, paranthas, and thermos chai for the road—her belief in nourishment
during journeys borders on military-grade preparedness. Tia, still wrapped in
her hoodie, muttered, “Another sunrise drive? Really, Papa?” Chintu, meanwhile,
spotted a squirrel and declared it a sign of good luck.
The road from Dhanaulti to
Joshimath was like flipping through a geography textbook—pine forests, steep
ravines, blue rivers, and hamlets so charming you’d want to freeze time. But we
didn’t have that luxury. Google Maps said the last cable car to Auli left at 4
PM. And if we missed it, our Clifftop Club dreams would be dashed.
We reached Joshimath just before
3:45 PM—after three Maggi stops (Chintu's doing), one mini-puke (also
Chintu's), and a heated debate about which bag had the hand sanitizer.
As we dashed toward the ropeway
station, a smiling porter shouted, “Last gaadi jaane waali hai, bhaag lo!” We
ran. I grabbed Tia’s oversized tote, Chintu carried nothing but his packet of
Frooti, and Ritu yelled back, “Don’t drop the camera again, Manoj!”
We made it. With just three
minutes to spare.
The Ride That Froze Time
The cable car ride from
Joshimath to Auli was something out of a postcard. As we rose above a tapestry
of oak forests, the snow-clad Nanda Devi range revealed itself. Tia finally put
her phone down. “Okay, this… is wow.” Chintu pressed his nose against the
glass. Ritu squeezed my hand silently.
Check-in at the Clifftop Club
Auli was smooth. The staff welcomed us with warm smiles and a round of herbal
tea—sorely needed after our adrenaline-packed entry. “Aap log Joshimath se aaye
hain? Aapka time perfect tha,” the receptionist grinned, stamping our entry
like we’d crossed an international border.
Our room had a large glass
window that framed the mountains like an art piece. The fireplace crackled
gently, and I finally exhaled.
A Snowy Night & Firewood
Feasts
Dinner was served in a cozy
wooden dining hall. The head chef, Manoj Bhaiya (yes, namesake!), told us they
prepared fresh local dishes that night—gahat ki daal, aloo jhol, and piping hot
rotis. Ritu was impressed. “This is better than most city restaurants,” she
murmured, stuffing her second roti. Tia tried to take a food aesthetic shot,
only to be photobombed by Chintu mid-bite.
Later, wrapped in quilts and
laughter, we sat by the fire as a hotel staff member narrated ghost stories of
old Himalayan hermits. Chintu clung to me. Tia rolled her eyes but stayed
close. That night, as snowflakes kissed the windowpanes, I realized moments like these outshine monuments.
Ski Lessons & A Flatland
Girl’s Meltdown
“Papa, my feet are frozen!” was
how our day began—thanks to Chintu’s excitement to touch snow at 6 AM. The
Clifftop staff provided basic skiing gear and connected us with an instructor
named Lokesh. “Bachhe seekh jaate hain jaldi,” he assured us. Tia glared.
“Let’s see.”
The white expanse of Auli was
mesmerizing. Mountains played peek-a-boo through clouds, and the ski slope
buzzed with first-timers squealing and tumbling. Chintu fell four times,
laughed every time, and asked for Maggi in between. Tia took one slow glide down
the slope and declared, “Nope. I’m built for flatlands. I'm retiring.”
Evening brought sore legs,
bruised egos (mine—I fell too), and a hot shower that felt like therapy. Dinner
at the resort was lighter—khichdi and sabzi. The staff made special warm halwa
for kids, which vanished in seconds.
Before we slept, Ritu whispered,
“Let’s stay here another day.” But we couldn’t. Chamoli awaited.
Downhill to Devotion – Drive
to Chamoli & Badrinath
We left Auli late morning and
drove downhill to Chamoli. The road curved alongside the Alaknanda River,
silver ribbons slicing through jade valleys. Our plan was to make a quick stop
at Badrinath Temple, about 60 km from Joshimath, then settle for the night at
Hotel Kailash Residency in Chamoli.
The darshan at Badrinath was
serene. Snow kissed the distant peaks, and the temple bells echoed in the crisp
air. Chintu rang the bell thrice. Tia tied a red thread. Ritu folded her hands
with eyes closed longer than usual. I didn’t disturb her.
While returning, the car gave a
violent jolt—flat tire. Middle of nowhere. No signal. I fished out the toolkit
while Chintu asked 19 questions (“Papa, can we put balloons on the tires
instead?”). Ritu hovered like a supervisor. Tia documented the entire affair
for “future embarrassment archives.”
A kind tea-stall uncle helped us
out. His name was Harish, and he served us steaming chai and kachoris while I
fixed the tire. “Yatra toh poori tabhi hoti hai jab kuch na kuch gadbad ho,” he
smiled. That smile carried us forward.
We reached Kailash Residency at
8 PM. Warmth greeted us. The receptionist, a soft-spoken lady named Radha,
offered soup before we even asked. “Aaj thak gaye honge aap,” she said, as if
she had been following our day. The rooms were basic but neat, with thick
blankets and hot water—luxuries after that ordeal.
Dinner was homely—dal, rice, and sabzi. Nothing fancy, but somehow it tasted like comfort.
That night, as we tucked in, I
noticed Ritu scribbling in her notebook. She smiled without looking up. “This
trip… it’s turning into something else entirely.”
I knew what she meant.
Travel Notes: Auli &
Chamoli
Auli Tips
- Always book the Clifftop Club in advance—it fills
fast.
- Try skiing early in the day; slopes are less
crowded.
- Bring layered thermals and lip balm. The wind is
biting.
- The nearest town is Joshimath for snacks, meds, and
ATMs.
Badrinath & Chamoli Notes
- Leave early for Badrinath—roads can be
unpredictable.
- Take a mechanic contact from Joshimath, just in
case.
- Kailash Residency is perfect for families—clean,
warm, and welcoming staff.
Hotel Contact Links (for
fellow travellers):
- Clifftop Club Auli
- Hotel Kailash Residency, Chamoli
Read the Full Series:
- Page 1: Nainital—A Bottle, a Temple & Too Many Selfies
- Page 2: Mukteshwar Mischief & Ranikhet Reflections
- Page 3: Dhanaulti Dramas & the Drive to Auli
- Page 4: Slopes, Snow & Surprises in Auli and Chamoli
- Page 5: Kausani Views & Ghost Stories in Abbott Mount
- Page 6: Pangot – Whispers in the Woods & a Farewell We Didn’t Want
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