12 Indian Towns That Feel Like Foreign Countries

5. Auli — India’s Alpine Ski Patch (Think Alaska or the Alps)

Auli’s sweeping slopes, conifer forests, and chairlifts offer a surprisingly alpine experience in India’s Uttarakhand hills, so much so that some travelers compare it to alpine resorts abroad. In winter, groomed trails and snow-covered meadows make Auli one of the country’s primary ski destinations; in summer, bright green pastures invite treks and panoramic views. The high-altitude landscape is open and stark in parts, and cable cars bring visitors over valleys in a way familiar to mountain resorts elsewhere. Local guesthouses and small lodges cater to outdoor-minded visitors who come for skiing, snow trekking, and quiet mountain mornings. The best winter months are December through February for snow activities, while May to June brings pleasant trekking weather. Regional tourism guides and local travel reporting describe Auli’s ski infrastructure and alpine-like landscape as reasons for its “foreign” association among winter-sport visitors.