Munsiyari vs Auli: Which Is Better for Your Trip?

Both Munsiyari and Auli get called “snow destinations,” and both show up in every winter search for Uttarakhand. But they sit in different halves of the state, and they deliver different trips.

Auli is in Garhwal, above Joshimath. It has India’s best-known ski slopes, a chair lift and wide views of Nanda Devi. Munsiyari is in Kumaon, deep in Pithoragarh district. It’s a quiet mountain town facing the Panchachuli peaks, with village homestays and day treks rather than ski runs.

Most comparisons online are written from Delhi and assume you’ll reach Auli via Rishikesh. We’re based in Haldwani, at the Kumaon end of the state, and plan both trips from here. So this guide also covers what most pages skip:

• pickup from Haldwani and Kathgodam
• the Kumaon-to-Garhwal crossover road that links the two places
• what the roads are doing right now
• itineraries that combine both without backtracking

Quick Answer

Munsiyari or Auli: which is better?

Choose Auli if:

• you want to ski or learn skiing
• you want snow play on open slopes with a chair lift
• you’re coming from Delhi, Haridwar or Rishikesh
• you want to add Badrinath or the Valley of Flowers

Choose Munsiyari if:

• you want a quiet snow village rather than a ski resort
• you want close-up Himalayan peaks (Panchachuli)
• you want village homestays and the Khaliya Top trek
• you’re starting from Haldwani, Kathgodam or anywhere in Kumaon

Bottom line: Auli is the activity destination; Munsiyari is the slow-travel one. With 9–10 days, you can do both on one loop using the Bageshwar–Gwaldam–Karnaprayag crossover.

Munsiyari vs Auli at a Glance

1. Snow: Which Is Better for a Winter Trip?

Both get reliable snow between late December and February, with January usually the heaviest month. The difference is what you do with it.

In Auli, snow means activity. The slopes are built for skiing, gear is available on hire, instructors work through the season, and a chair lift links the lower and upper slopes. Children can sledge, beginners can take a ski taster, and everyone gets the Nanda Devi backdrop. For a full breakdown of lessons, gear and GMVN courses, see our guide to skiing in Auli.

In Munsiyari, snow means silence. The town, Kalamuni Top, Betuli Dhar, Thamri Kund and Khaliya Top all turn white, and you walk through it rather than ski on it. There are no lifts or ski runs. What you get instead is snow on stone-roofed village houses and Panchachuli glowing over a white valley at sunrise.

Pick Auli if the kids want to play in snow or you want to try skiing.
Pick Munsiyari if you want a snowy mountain village to yourselves.

Our Munsiyari winter snow trip is built around buffer days for road closures. If you’re timing a holiday around New Year, the Munsiyari New Year package is quieter than Auli in that week. For Auli’s snow calendar, read Auli in December: first snow, Christmas and New Year.

2. Views: Panchachuli vs Nanda Devi

Munsiyari faces one range directly. The five Panchachuli summits, the highest above 6,900 m, rise across the Gori Ganga valley, close enough that they fill the window of a view-facing room. You don’t drive to a viewpoint; you wake up to it.

Auli gives you a wider arc. From the slopes and from Gorson Bugyal you see Nanda Devi (7,816 m, India’s second-highest peak), plus Kamet, Mana Parvat, Dunagiri and Trishul. It’s more of a panorama; Munsiyari is more of a single, overwhelming wall.

Both are best from early morning until roughly 10 AM, before clouds build. October and November give the clearest air at both places.

3. Getting There from Haldwani and Kathgodam

This is where a Kumaon-based plan differs from a Delhi-based one.

Pickup points we use

Departure time matters. For both Munsiyari and Auli from Haldwani, we aim to leave by 7 AM. Hill roads are best driven in daylight, and an early start puts you at the overnight halt by mid-afternoon rather than after dark.

Route to Munsiyari

Kathgodam / Haldwani → Bhowali → Almora or Kausani (overnight) → Bageshwar → Thal → Birthi → Kalamuni Top → Munsiyari

• About 270–280 km in total.
• The road to Thal is mostly good double-lane.
• After Thal, it narrows into a single-lane climb past Birthi Falls and over Kalamuni Top (about 2,700 m). This is the slowest and roughest stretch.
• Fill fuel at Bageshwar or Thal. There is no reliable pump after Thal.
• From Bageshwar there’s a shorter link via Kapkot and Tejam that joins before Birthi. It saves distance, but parts are rough, so we choose between the two on the day based on vehicle and road reports.
• Winter fallback: if Kalamuni is snowed shut, the alternate approach runs via Pithoragarh, Jauljibi and Madkot. It’s lower and longer, and it gets you in.

Route to Auli from Kumaon (the crossover)

Haldwani → Kausani (overnight) → Baijnath → Gwaldam → Tharali → Karnaprayag → Chamoli → Joshimath → Auli

• About 320–340 km in total.
• This is the route most Delhi-written guides never mention. Instead of dropping back to the plains and going up via Rishikesh, you cross from Kumaon into Garhwal at Gwaldam.
• The descent to Tharali and Karnaprayag follows the Pindar river.
• At Karnaprayag you join the main Rishikesh–Badrinath highway for the last stretch to Joshimath.
• From Joshimath, it’s about 16 km of road up to Auli.

Route to Auli from Delhi

Delhi → Rishikesh or Haridwar → Devprayag → Rudraprayag → Karnaprayag → Joshimath → Auli

• About 500 km, best split with a night in Rishikesh, Rudraprayag or Joshimath.
• The Delhi–Dehradun Expressway has shortened the first leg considerably.
• Delhi travellers can start with the Auli package from Delhi or the shorter Auli trip from Haridwar.

4. Road and Access Status (October)

Last checked: mid-October by the SnazzyTrips Kumaon and Garhwal teams. Mountain roads change daily, so we reconfirm 48 hours before every departure.

Munsiyari

• Haldwani–Almora–Bageshwar–Thal: open, with normal post-monsoon conditions.
• Thal–Birthi–Kalamuni–Munsiyari: open. October and November are the best months on this stretch, once monsoon debris has been cleared and before snow.
• Kalamuni Pass in winter: expect temporary closures after heavy snowfall, typically from January, until the road is cleared. In past winters, the Kalamuni stretch has stayed blocked for several days at a time.
• Winter rule: every Munsiyari winter trip we plan includes a buffer day, a high-clearance SUV and the Jauljibi route as a fallback.

Auli

• Joshimath–Auli ropeway: still suspended. It was shut in January 2023 after the Joshimath land subsidence damaged it, and it has not returned to regular service. Plans for a new ropeway have been reported, but there is no confirmed reopening date. Many older websites still describe the ropeway as running; plan around the road.
• Joshimath–Auli road (about 16 km): open. In winter it can be icy or briefly closed after heavy snow until it’s cleared. Our drivers carry snow chains and time the drive up after the morning ice softens.
• Auli chair lift: runs on the slopes during the ski and tourist seasons.
• Rishikesh–Joshimath highway: open, with ongoing widening work in places. Expect short halts at work zones.
• Joshimath town: remains the working base for Auli and Badrinath. For a detailed look, see is Joshimath safe to visit now.

5. Things to Do: Activity vs Atmosphere

Auli

• Skiing and snow play (in season)
• The chair lift over the slopes
• The walk to Gorson Bugyal, and on to Tali Lake for fit walkers
• Auli’s artificial lake near the upper slopes
• Jyotirmath, Narsingh Temple and the Kalpavriksha in Joshimath
• Badrinath, about 45 km away (open roughly May to November)
• The Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib from Govindghat (July to September)

More ideas in places to visit in Auli beyond the ski slopes.

Munsiyari

• Sunrise over Panchachuli
• The Khaliya Top day trek from Balati
• The forest walk to Thamri Kund
• Birthi Falls and Kalamuni Top on the drive in
• The Tribal Heritage Museum and Nanda Devi Temple
• Sarmoli homestays and Darkot’s handwoven wool
• Madkot hot springs on the Jauljibi road

Full details are in our list of 15 best things to do in Munsiyari.

6. Where You’ll Stay

Auli:

• On the slopes: resorts, the GMVN rest house and cottages, with snow at the door.
• In Joshimath, 16 km below: more hotel choice and better value, plus easy Badrinath access.

Some properties advertised as “Auli” are actually on the road between the two, so confirm the exact location. Our guide on where to stay in Auli compares the options.

Munsiyari:

• On the town ridge: hotels, some with Panchachuli-facing rooms. Only some rooms in those hotels face the right way, so ask specifically.
• KMVN tourist rest house in town.
• Village homestays in Sarmoli and Darkot.
• Camps and cottages near Khaliya and Balati.

Both places: winter stays need room heating, and heavy snow can interrupt power and water. Ask about backup before booking.

7. Three Itineraries Built from Haldwani and Kathgodam

These itineraries are planned around Kumaon pickups and the crossover road, unlike the Delhi–Rishikesh routes most sites copy.

A. Munsiyari in 6 days (ex-Haldwani or Kathgodam)

• Day 1: Pickup at Kathgodam or Haldwani by 7 AM. Drive via Bhowali and Almora to Kausani (about 130 km). Sunset over the Trishul range.
• Day 2: Kausani → Baijnath temples → Bageshwar → Thal (fuel) → Birthi Falls stop → Kalamuni Top → Munsiyari. Arrive mid-afternoon.
• Day 3: Panchachuli sunrise, then the Tribal Heritage Museum, Nanda Devi Temple and Maheshwari Kund. Evening walk to Sarmoli.
• Day 4: Khaliya Top trek from Balati. If you prefer something easier, the Thamri Kund walk plus Darkot village.
• Day 5: Second sunrise. Munsiyari → Chaukori tea gardens → overnight at Chaukori or Almora.
• Day 6: Drive back to Haldwani or Kathgodam by early afternoon, in time for the evening trains to Delhi.

Closest packages:

• 6-day complete Himalayan Munsiyari tour
• 7-day Munsiyari tour for a slower pace

B. Auli in 6 days via the Kumaon crossover (ex-Haldwani)

• Day 1: Haldwani by 7 AM → Bhowali → Almora → Kausani.
• Day 2: Kausani → Baijnath → Gwaldam → Tharali → Karnaprayag → Joshimath. A long but scenic day along the Pindar valley.
• Day 3: Up to Auli by road. Ski taster or snow play in winter; Gorson Bugyal walk in other seasons.
• Day 4: Auli sunrise over Nanda Devi. In May to November, a day trip to Badrinath and Mana; otherwise a second slope day.
• Day 5: Joshimath → Karnaprayag → Gwaldam → Kausani or Baijnath.
• Day 6: Back to Haldwani or Kathgodam.

Why this route works: no drop back to the plains, and Kausani on both ends breaks the drive. It’s the natural route for anyone already in Kumaon.

C. Munsiyari + Auli in 10 days, one-way (Kathgodam in, Haridwar out)

This is the loop for travellers who want both places, with no backtracking.

• Day 1: Kathgodam → Kausani.
• Day 2: Kausani → Bageshwar → Thal → Munsiyari.
• Day 3: Munsiyari: sunrise, museum, villages.
• Day 4: Khaliya Top or Thamri Kund.
• Day 5: Munsiyari → Thal → Bageshwar → Gwaldam (overnight). This is the start of the crossover.
• Day 6: Gwaldam → Tharali → Karnaprayag → Joshimath.
• Day 7: Auli: slopes, chair lift (in season), Gorson Bugyal.
• Day 8: Badrinath and Mana (May to November), or a second Auli day in winter.
• Day 9: Joshimath → Rudraprayag → Rishikesh.
• Day 10: Rishikesh or Haridwar drop. Trains or the expressway back to Delhi.

Season note: in deep winter, swap Day 2’s Kalamuni approach for the Jauljibi route if needed, and keep Day 8 as a buffer.

This loop also connects to the wider Garhwal tour packages. You can extend at the end with Rishikesh or Haridwar, or add Chopta for the Tungnath trek near Rudraprayag.

8. Best Time: Month by Month

9. Who Should Pick Which?

• Families with kids wanting snow play: Auli. The open slopes and chair lift suit children far better.
• First-time skiers: Auli, with no contest.
• Couples and honeymooners:
  • Munsiyari for privacy, view rooms and quiet evenings.
  • Auli if you want a snow resort feel. The Mussoorie and Auli honeymoon package pairs it with Mall Road evenings.
• Trekkers:
  • Munsiyari for Khaliya Top and the glacier gateways.
  • Auli for Gorson Bugyal and as a base for the Kuari Pass trail.
• Pilgrims: Auli, for Badrinath. In Kumaon, Munsiyari pairs naturally with Adi Kailash and Om Parvat in the same district.
• Seniors: Auli in April–June or October, or Munsiyari with a slow itinerary. Avoid both in deep winter.
• Travellers starting in Kumaon: Munsiyari is closer. Auli works via the Gwaldam crossover.
• Travellers starting in Delhi or Haridwar: Auli is the easier reach.

SnazzyTrips Insights: What Running Both Routes Teaches You

SnazzyTrips is based in Haldwani and has planned trips across both Kumaon and Garhwal since 2003. Our drivers run the Thal–Kalamuni climb to Munsiyari and the Gwaldam–Karnaprayag crossover through the season. That’s where these lessons come from.

The ropeway question comes up on almost every Auli call. Travellers have read that they can ride the cable car from Joshimath. That ropeway has been suspended since 2023. We tell people on day one, plan the road, and the trip goes smoothly. Operators who don’t mention it leave travellers stranded at a closed station.

Thal is the real starting line for Munsiyari. Everything before Thal is routine hill driving. Everything after it, past Birthi and over Kalamuni, needs a driver who knows the bends and a vehicle with clearance. We fuel at Thal every time, because there’s no reliable pump beyond it.

The crossover saves a day. Most travellers combining Kumaon with Auli are told to go back down to Haldwani and up again via Rishikesh. Crossing at Gwaldam to Karnaprayag avoids the plains entirely and is far more scenic.

Winter needs a plan B, not hope. For Munsiyari, that’s the Jauljibi road when Kalamuni shuts. For Auli, it’s snow chains and timing the Joshimath climb after the morning ice. Every winter itinerary we build has a buffer day for exactly this.

Snow expectations must be honest. Auli in April is green. Munsiyari in early December may have no snow yet. We’d rather tell you that than sell you a snow trip that turns out brown.

This local depth is why we work with 150+ verified partners across 50+ destinations and have planned trips for more than 20,000 families. Learn more about our Haldwani team.

Packages for Both Destinations

Auli packages

From Delhi and Haridwar: the Haridwar and Delhi packages linked earlier.

From other cities (via Delhi or Dehradun):

• Auli trip from Kolkata
• Auli snow package from Ahmedabad
• Auli holiday from Bangalore
• Auli package from Chennai

Combinations and the full list:

• The monsoon-season Auli and Valley of Flowers package pairs the slopes with the Valley of Flowers trek.
• Pilgrims can add Badrinath.
• Everything is listed on our Auli tour packages page.

Munsiyari packages by length

The 2- to 4-day trips assume you’re starting near Haldwani.

Munsiyari packages by traveller and season

Couples:

• Munsiyari couple trip
• Munsiyari honeymoon package

Families and seniors:

• Munsiyari family tour
• Munsiyari senior citizen package

Friends, groups and solo travellers:

• Munsiyari friends getaway
• Munsiyari group trip
• Munsiyari solo package

Budget and comfort:

• Munsiyari luxury trip
• Munsiyari budget package

Trekkers:

• Munsiyari adventure tour
• Munsiyari trekking package
• Khaliya Top trek package
• Khaliya Top from Delhi
• Khaliya Top from Mumbai

By season:

• Summer Munsiyari package
• Monsoon Munsiyari trip

Kumaon combinations:

• Munsiyari with Binsar
• Munsiyari with Nainital

Munsiyari packages by departure city

North India:

• Munsiyari from Delhi
• Munsiyari from Noida
• Munsiyari from Gurugram
• Munsiyari from Chandigarh
• Munsiyari from Lucknow
• Munsiyari from Jaipur

West and Central India:

• Munsiyari from Ahmedabad
• Munsiyari from Vadodara
• Munsiyari from Rajkot
• Munsiyari from Surat
• Munsiyari from Nagpur

South and East India:

• Munsiyari from Hyderabad
• Munsiyari from Bangalore
• Munsiyari from Chennai
• Munsiyari from Kolkata

Hub pages:

• See every option on the Munsiyari tour packages hub.
• For other routes, browse Uttarakhand tours from Delhi and Uttarakhand tours from Mumbai.

By trip style

• Uttarakhand snowfall and winter packages
• adventure tour packages
• trekking and hiking tours
• honeymoon packages
• family holidays
• group tours
• luxury trips
• offbeat tours
• monsoon packages

FAQs: Munsiyari vs Auli

Is Munsiyari better than Auli?
For quiet, close-up mountain views and village life, yes. For skiing, snow activities and an easier route from Delhi, Auli is better.

Can you ski in Munsiyari?
No. Munsiyari has snow but no ski slopes, lifts or rental infrastructure. For skiing in Uttarakhand, go to Auli.

Is the Joshimath–Auli ropeway working?
No. It has been suspended since January 2023 after the Joshimath land subsidence, with no confirmed reopening date. Auli is reached by a 16 km road from Joshimath.

How do I reach Auli from Haldwani or Kathgodam?
Drive via Kausani, Gwaldam, Tharali and Karnaprayag to Joshimath (about 320–340 km), ideally over two days with a night in Kausani, then 16 km up to Auli.

How do I reach Munsiyari from Kathgodam?
Drive via Almora or Kausani, Bageshwar, Thal and Kalamuni Top (about 280 km), with an overnight halt in Kausani or Almora.

Does the road to Munsiyari close in winter?
The Kalamuni Pass can close for a few days after heavy snowfall, usually from January. The alternate route via Pithoragarh and Jauljibi usually stays usable.

Which gets more snow, Munsiyari or Auli?
Both get regular snow from late December to February. Auli’s higher slopes hold snow longer, sometimes into March.

Can I visit Munsiyari and Auli in one trip?
Yes. A 9–10 day one-way loop works well: Kathgodam to Munsiyari, across to Joshimath and Auli via Bageshwar, Gwaldam and Karnaprayag, then out via Rishikesh.

Which is better for a honeymoon?
Munsiyari for privacy and quiet; Auli for a snow-resort feel and activities.

Which is better for families with children?
Auli in winter, for safe snow play and the chair lift. Munsiyari suits families with older children who enjoy walks and village life.

What should I wear in Auli or Munsiyari in winter?
Thermals, a down jacket, waterproof gloves and shoes, a woollen cap and sunglasses. Our Auli winter packing list covers both.

Is Auli better than Chopta for snow?
Auli is better for skiing and easy road access; Chopta is better for snow trekking. See Auli vs Chopta.

The Bottom Line

If the goal is skiing, snow play and Nanda Devi with Badrinath nearby, choose Auli. If the goal is a quiet snow village, Panchachuli at sunrise and a trek through rhododendron forest, choose Munsiyari. If you’re starting in Kumaon and have 10 days, do both through the Gwaldam crossover.

SnazzyTrips is a Haldwani-based Leading Uttarakhand DMC operating since 2003. We work with 150+ verified local partners across 50+ destinations, have served more than 20,000 families, and hold a 4.6/5 average rating across verified traveller reviews.

Read what travellers say, see why people choose us as their travel agent for Uttarakhand, and explore more of Kumaon, Kausani, Binsar, Nainital and all of Uttarakhand. Pilgrims can also add the Char Dham Yatra.

Want a current road and snow update for your dates? Book a free consultation or call our Haldwani office.