Located on the important Hindu pilgrimage route of Badrinath, Auli is well connected by road, rail and air from several major cities across India. However, reaching the town requires quite a long ride from the nearest airport or railway station.
Jolly Grant Airport, located 288 km in Dehradun, and the railhead situated 254 km in Haridwar are the nearest airport and railway stations to reach Auli from other major cities in India.
The onward journey from the airport and the railway station is arduous, with many winding mountain roads en route. Thus, it is advisable to keep an entire day to arrive at Joshimath/Auli and retire to the comfort of your hotel/resort for relaxation. For more information, here is a guide on Auli how to reach.
How to reach Auli by Air
If you fly directly, Jolly Grant is the nearest airport to Auli. It is connected from anywhere in India, and you’ll get plenty of options of hiring private cabs or getting a shared taxi to reach Auli from Dehradun. Regular flights from Mumbai, Jaipur, Bangalore, Indore, Chennai, Nashik, Raipur, Vadodara, Surat, Ahmedabad, and Delhi are operated to reach Auli. Major operators like Indigo, Vistara, Air India, and Spice jet have regular flights to reach Auli by air.
The second part of reaching Auli requires that you either pre-book a private cab or ask the hotel/resort you are staying in to arrange the transfer. You can also book a private/rented cab on the spot and drive to Auli by road. The distance from Jolly Grant Airport to Auli is 288 km and it will take close to 8-9 hours to drive there.
Book a flight from any major city in India to Delhi. Then to reach Auli from Delhi airport, you need to pre-consider your mode of transportation and timings from where and when to start your onward journey as Haridwar railway station is your last major rail stop to Auli. Auli to Haridwar distance is about 279 km by road, which can be covered by taking a cab for 8 hours.
It is advisable to plan your trip accordingly as it is quite a tiring and challenging ride to Joshimath/Auli from both Dehradun, Delhi/Haridwar, and Rishikesh.
How to reach Auli by Rail
Nearest major railhead to reach Auli is located at Haridwar/Rishikesh, 281 km away. Major cities from India are connected more with Haridwar than Rishikesh, so you must plan a night halt/onward journey from Delhi/Haridwar/Rishikesh accordingly. Joshimath offers quite affordable accommodation compared to Auli, so the budget of your trip should be an important consideration when you are planning how to reach Auli and where to stay.
How to Reach Auli by Road
Auli is well-connected by bus from Dehradun and Haridwar. State-run and privately owned buses ply regularly on this route to Auli from Delhi and Dehradun.
Other ways to reach Auli: Private Cabs and shared taxis could be used to reach Auli along this route.
| Travel by Road | Distance | Routes | Travel Time |
| Delhi to Auli | 520 km | Delhi - Haridwar - Rishikesh - Joshimath - Auli | 12 hr |
| Joshimath to Auli | 2 km | Use cable car or By on foot | 2hr |
| Rishikesh to Auli | 263 km | Rishikesh - Joshimath - Auli | 7hr |
Route to reach Auli by Road from Rishikesh:
Rishikesh – Devprayag (74 km/ 2 hr 10 min) – Srinagar (36.8 km/ 54 min) – Rudraprayag (33.3 km/ 1hr 2 min) – Joshimath (115 km/ 4 hr 16 min) – Auli (9 km/ 25 min)
The total distance from Rishikesh to Auli by road without any diversions is approximately 258 km. The journey is often a bumpy ride that takes at least 9-10 hr by road or more.
As mentioned earlier, plan carefully about how to reach Auli from Dehradun or Delhi by air, rail, or road as all preferred modes of transportation will require this long tedious journey by road. Another factor you want to consider is the budget for stay. Auli is mostly about deluxe accommodations and luxury resorts which are pricier to stay whereas nearby Joshimath has a lot of budget and affordable options.
How to reach Auli from Delhi by road & by flight
From Delhi to Auli
- By Road: The best way to reach Auli from Delhi is to take a bus from Delhi to Rishikesh. Auli Uttarakhand's distance from Delhi is approx. 501 km and takes about 12 hr or more to reach (overnight). From Rishikesh, either you can take a private cab direct to Auli (8-9 hours) or a shared taxi till Joshimath. Further, get on the cable car to reach Auli.
- By Fligth: You can also take a flight from Delhi to Dehradun, and from there, you can hire a cab or a bus to Joshimath.
How to reach Auli from Rishikesh
Traveling by road is the best way to reach Auli from Rishikesh. You can catch a bus which will take almost 9 to 10 hours. Auli to Rishikesh distance is approx. 285 km, which can also be covered by hiring a taxi which will take 8 hours to reach Joshimath. Further, you can take a cable car (ropeway) to Auli.
How to reach Auli from Joshimath by Cable Car
Joshimath to Auli Ropeway is the best way to get to the beautiful hill town. Named among the highest ropeways in India, the ride makes it possible to cover the difficult track distance of 4.15 km in 22 minutes.
The base of the ropeway is in the town of Joshimath at an altitude of 6254 feet where you will find more options for hotels and tourist services. There are two cable cars and 10 towers, ending at the height of Auli at 9896 feet. The cable car ride to Auli offers mesmerizing views of the Himalayan peaks - Nanda Devi, Mana Parbat, Dungagri, and more.
