About Auli Artificial Lake
Prime Day & Hours: Weekends, sunrise and sunset
Suggested Duration: 4-5 hours
Tickets: free
Nearest Railway Station: Rishikesh New Railway Station, about 255 km away
Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, about 271 km away
Nearest Bus Stop: Joshimath bus stand, about 11 km away
Auli Artificial Lake, about 3,000 meters high and near the Cliff Top Club, is one of the highest man-made lakes in the world, and a must addition to your Auli tour packages. It was built to provide snow guns and extend skiing carvings when there is less snow, and it also attracts tourists looking for a peaceful place to visit.
You can either trek 1-2 km from the GMVN rest-house or take the chairlift to the edge of the lake. You will be surrounded by Himalayan giants like Nanda Devi, Kamet, and Neelgiri. In the winter, the lake freezes into a beautiful ice mirror surrounded by snowy slopes. In the summer, its clear blue waters reflect the mountains all around it, making for great photos.
Visitors can relax on benches by the lake, enjoy the peacefulness of the mountains. They can also combine their visit with skiing, ropeway rides, and hikes in the meadows at Gurso Bugyal, Chattrakund, and Joshimath.
Auli Artificial Lake Highlights
• Discover Auli Artificial Lake, one of the world’s highest man-made lakes, perched around 3,300 m amid Himalayan slopes.
• Bask in breathtaking panoramas of Nanda Devi, Kamet, Dronagiri, and Hathi‑Ghoda peaks mirrored by the lake.
• Enjoy a peaceful picnic or photography session, with benches lining the lake providing spectacular Himalayan backdrops.
• Embark on a ski adventure on the adjacent ski track, perfect for both beginners and ski enthusiasts.
How To Reach Auli Artificial Lake
By car/taxi: Auli Artificial Lake is about 11 km away from the Joshimath city centre, via Auli road. It will take you around 30 minutes to get there.
Best Time To Visit Auli Artificial Lake
Peak Season (March to June):
- Weather Insights: Clear skies, mild days 10 to 25 °C, nights cooler at 5 to 15 °C
- Things to Do: Enjoy the lake, embark on further treks
Moderate Season (September to November):
- Weather Insights: Crisp, clear air, daytime highs of 10 to 20 °C, nights around 2 to 8 °C
- Things to do: enjoy a picnic
Low Season (July to September: Monsoon):
- Weather Insights: Heavy rain, poor visibility, with temperatures ranging from 4 to 17 °C
- Things to do: Enjoy lush greenery, nature photography
Auli Artificial Lake Other Essential Information
Know before you go
- Carry layered, weather-appropriate clothing, pack waterproof jackets, gloves, sunglasses, sunscreen, and warm base layers essential year-round.
- Good hiking boots or waterproof shoes are strongly recommended as the trek from the chair-lift/road is uneven and often slippery, especially with ice or snow.
- Book cable-car tickets in advance as the last lift is around 4 PM, and road access from Joshimath after dark requires taxis; shared rides from Rishikesh are cost-effective.
- Carry cash as ATMs exist only in Joshimath; Auli has limited banking facilities, so plan ahead to avoid payment issues.
- Bring water and energy bars, especially if trekking to Gurso Bugyal or Kuari Pass, as shops are sparse on the way.
- Pack first-aid, trekking poles; note that the road to Auli can be winding and cold at night.
- Avoid littering, stay on marked trails, don’t swim in the lake, practice responsible tourism and preserve Auli’s fragile Himalayan environment.
Admire the Alpine Engineering Marvel
Auli Artificial Lake is the world's highest man-made lake, at about 2,800 m. It was built to provide water for snow cannons so that the ski slopes stay covered in snow even when there isn't much natural snowfall. Its usefulness supports Auli's winter sports economy and hosted the South Asian Winter Games in 2011, which made the ski season longer even when there wasn't much snow.
Enjoy the Scenic Ropeway
The lake is close to the Cliff-Top Club and can be reached by a beautiful 1 km walk or chair/cable-lift ride from GMVN or Joshimath. The Auli-Joshimath ropeway, which is 4 km long and the second longest in Asia, takes visitors directly to the benches by the water and offers stunning views of the Himalayas along the way.
Embark on treks
Serves as a launchpad for expeditions to nearby meadows like Gorson (Bugyal), Chattrakund, and Kuari Pass that you can visit. You can walk through oak, deodar, and rhododendron forests, as well as alpine grasslands. Treks range from easy walks through meadows to moderate climbs that last for several hours. It show off a diverse range of native plant species and stunning panoramic view of the valley.
Participate in Lakeside Leisure & Camping
There are benches around the edge of the lake where you can sit and relax. Camping by the lake with bonfires and stargazing on a clear night under the alpine sky is a magical experience that stay with you forever. The peaceful atmosphere makes it a great place to take a leisurely winter walk or think quietly after skiing or hiking.
Indulge in Skiing and Adventure Events
The lake's water always stays cold enough for ski seasons, which lets Auli host big events and train people in snow sports. There are ski courses for both beginners and experts, and winter festivals draw enthusiasts s. People who aren't very serious about skiing or snowboarding can still watch or join in on the fun on nearby slopes.
Tourism Board Alliances
Auli Artificial Lake FAQs
What is Auli Artificial Lake?
At about 3,056 m in Uttarakhand, Auli Artificial Lake is one of the highest man-made lakes in the world. It was built in 2003 by redirecting a stream from Nanda Devi. It acts as a reservoir to supply water for snow guns, which keeps the slopes consistent even when there isn't much snow.
Why was Auli Lake constructed?
Designed to help Auli's ski season, it holds water for making fake snow. The pipe-fed reservoir runs more than 20 permanent and mobile snow machines. That ability let Auli host the 2011 South Asian Winter Games and keep the skiing conditions great even when it wasn't snowing.
What activities can I enjoy at Auli Artificial Lake?
Enjoy beautiful views of the Himalayas while taking pictures, going for nature walks, and having peaceful picnics. Skiers can use nearby slopes that are fed by the lake's artificial snow in the winter. The frozen lake turns into a magical ice field that explorers can see themselves in.
Auli Artificial Lake Reviews
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