Tourist places in and around Auli
Joshimath
Joshimath which is 12 km from Auli is in the Chamoli District and has many temples and memorials.It is a gateway to Badrinath and the Valley of Flowers. Adiguru Shankaracharya on his visit to Uttarakhand had founded Joshimath which is 47 km from Badrinath.
Another attraction here is a sight-seeing trip between Joshimath and Auli by a ropeway. This ropeway is 4 km long one and is called the Rajju and is at a height of 1917 mts to 3027 mts above sea level. This is the longest and the second highest ropeway in Asia. Two passenger cabins are used in this. Each cabin can accommodate from 20 to 25 people. This whole trip passes through ten towers. On the eighth tower of the ropeway one can stop because this is where one gets off for skiing and looking in and around Auli. It takes about half an hour to complete this trip. This service operates from morning to evening.
Gurso Bugyal
Gurso Bugyal is 3 kms from Auli, and is a huge meadow spread amidst a mixed forest of oaks and conifers. Gurso Bugyal is at 3056 mts above sea-level. One can reach Joshimath via the ropeway. It is barely 1.5 kms from the last tower of the ropeway. As there is no accommodation available here one can only admire the scenery during the day and return to Auli by night.Chattrakund located 1 km from Gurso Bugyal, is in the middle of the jungle is a small lake of sweet water called Chattrakund. This place can be visited when visiting Gurso Bugyal.
Saildhar Tapovan
Saildhar Tapovan is 15 km on the Joshimath road is a small village where there are many hot-water springs. 3 km ahead in Saildhar are hot water fountains where the water is almost at a boiling point.Kwanri Bugyal is 12 km from Gurso Bugyal Kwanri is a very interesting place for trekkers. Its at 3350 mts above sea-level. Many tourists camp here in summer. Nanda Devi hotel in Joshimath organises such camps where porters, guides, cooks and camping equipment are available. June and September months are the best time visit.
Chenab Lake
Chenab Lake is the last village from Joshimath is Dang which has to be passed to reach this beautiful lake. The road is rough, because of which this lake is not very popular with the tourists.Vanshinarayan Kalpeshwar is 12 km from Joshimath, 10 km from a village called Helang, this is a beautiful valley where there is a cave called Kalpeshwar. 10 km further down the road is a spot called Vanshinarayan which is unmatched in its beauty.
Bhavishya Badri
Bhavishya Badri is 3 kms by foot from Tapovan this spot is situated in the midst of a dense deodar forest.Panchakki
Panchakki (Water Wheel) derives its name from the mill that, in its days, was considered a great feat in engineering. Driven by water brought through earthen pipes from the river 6km away, the mill once ground grain for pilgrims.The mill itself is to the right of the first tank as you enter. It is also the shrine of a saint, Baba Shah Musafir.
Himroo Factory
Tucked away in the old town near Zaffar Gate, this small workshop is the only place in the city that still manufactures hand-woven Himroo shawls from cotton, silk and silver threads. This art developed as a cheaper alternative to the more extravagant brocades of silk and gold thread, known as Kam Khab, that were woven for royalty in the 14th century.Aurangabad caves
Aurangabad is well known for its Himroo, shawls and saris. It can be found in the many showrooms around the market area. Most are produced in bulk using power looms but here you can see the traditional process. Many of the designs are based on motifs in Ajanta frescoes.Although they're easily overlooked in favour of the Ajanta and Ellora caves, Aurangabad has its own group of caves 2 km north of the Bibi-ka-Maqbara. They were carved out of the hillside around the 6th or 7th century AD. The 10 caves are all Buddhist; caves 1 to 5 are in the western group and caves 6 to 10 are 1 km away in the eastern group.
Bibi Ka Maqbara
Bibi Ka Maqbara is the tomb of Begum Rabia Durani, wife of Emperor Aurangazeb. The monument is a brilliant example of Persian Architecture. The arched alcove crowned by a swelling dome, Bibi Ka Maqbara is considered a poor imitation of Taj Mahal in Agra. The layout and surrounding of the tomb is quite similar to that of Taj but somehow the architecture fails to produce the magic of Taj. Nevertheless, the monument has its own charm and has been attracting tourists far & wide.Quick Getaways
Daulatabad
In the twelfth century, Bhillama, king of the Yadav Dynasty built an indestructible fort at Daulatabad. Situated on a pyramid-shaped hill 13 kms away, the fort with its slippery gravel pathways, spiked gates, spiral staircases and dungeons is a sight to behold. The sultan of Delhi Mohammed Bin Tughlaq was so impressed by the fort that he shifted his capital from Delhi to Daulatabad.Ajanta
Famous for its caves, Ajanta is one of the few historical and architectural marvels of India. Recognised as the World Heritage site today, it was discovered during the 19th century by a group of British officers who were on a tiger hunt.The Ajanta group of caves, located deep within the Sahyadri hills above the Waghora, depict the story of Buddhism that existed here during 200 BC to 650 AD.
Ellora is one of the highly visited World heritage sites of India. Situated 30 kilometres Northwest of Aurangabad, Ellora is easily accessible from the nearby major towns. It houses 34 monasteries and temples with some exclusive uninterrupted sequence of monuments that date back from 600 to 1000 AD. The temples of Ellora are dedicated to Brahmanism, Jainism, and Buddhism. It also has some of the best stonework portraying the legends related to Lord Shiva.