In search of snow: Auli, Jyotirmath hoteliers face unexpected slump as tourists turn away

Dehradun: The snow-clad peaks of Auli, a hill resort above Jyotirmath (earlier Joshimath) in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, perched at an altitude between 8000 and over 10,000 ft and the sprawling Gorson Bugyal, an alpine meadow about 3 km from Auli, at around 10, 000 ft, usually glisten like a postcard this time of the year. Even when Auli's slopes see little snowfall, visitors often trek uphill to Gorson bugyal, where thick layers of snow typically promise a winter wonderland. This year, however, the appeal seems to have skipped the region, with both Auli and Gorson remaining conspicuously bare.The disappointment was palpable over the New Year weekend. Families who travelled to the popular winter destinations in Chamoli returned early, with some venting their frustration on social media. Others, unwilling to give up on winter's appeal, chose to postpone their bookings or head farther into the mountains towards Niti Valley in search of snow. Nestled deeper in the higher Himalayas, Niti Valley lies about 85-90 km from Jyotirmath and sits at an altitude of 3,600-3,800 metres at Niti village, with surrounding areas rising even higher.For hoteliers in Auli, the absence of snow has translated into a sharp business slowdown. Ajay Bhatt, a hotelier in Auli, said, "Tourist turnout was healthy during the New Year period but dipped sharply around Jan 5. Auli has accommodation for around 3,000 tourists. Normally, all hotels are full at this time of year. Now, occupancy is down to 40-45%."Bhatt added that many visitors are deferring their trips, hoping for snowfall in Feb or March rather than cancelling their bookings altogether. "Those who do come are disappointed and, after a day or two, move towards Niti Valley. We too are recommending that they go there. Gorson is usually covered in snow from Nov until April. Without it, our season could turn very lean."Rakesh Ranjan, president of the Jyotirmath Hotel Association, said, "Jyotirmath, about 11 km from Auli, has around 100 registered homestays and 85 hotels. Room occupancy is only 10-15%, which is very unusual for what is normally a peak season."Ranjan also pointed to operational issues, saying that the ropeway was not functioning properly and authorities failed to operate the ice-making machine on time. "Messages circulating on social media have kept tourists away," he added.Notably, the state recorded an acute rainfall deficit during the post-monsoon season this year, with Dec 2025 emerging as the driest Dec in the past decade, according to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The state registered an overall rainfall shortfall of 24% during the post-monsoon period (Oct to Dec). Conditions worsened sharply in Dec, when the state received no rain or snowfall at all, resulting in a 100% deficit across all 13 districts.