Blog / 6 September 2026
Auli Ropeway: Everything You Need to Know
One of Asia's longest cable car routes was built to run between Joshimath and Auli — but it isn't currently operating. Here's the real status, and how to reach Auli in the meantime.
What it is and the route it runs
The Auli Ropeway is a cable car connecting Joshimath to Auli, built originally to ferry skiers and equipment up to the slopes, and popular in its own right as a scenic ride over pine forest with the Himalayan range opening up as you climb. It's one of the longer cable car stretches in Asia.
Current status: closed since 2023
The ropeway has been non-operational since January 2023, after land subsidence in Joshimath — part of the wider geological crisis the town experienced that year — damaged infrastructure along its route. A reconstruction project has been proposed, but as of now it's still at the planning stage, with no confirmed construction start date or reopening timeline. We'll update this post the moment that changes.
How to reach Auli in the meantime
With the ropeway out of service, the road from Joshimath is currently the only way up — a scenic, manageable drive that takes about 30–45 minutes. See our full guide to reaching Auli → or check directions from wherever you're starting.
Distance from We Are Made Of Stories
The ropeway's Joshimath base station is about 12 km from our property, along the same road you'll take on your way in — worth a quick look at the towers even while it's out of service, and we'll let you know the moment it's running again.