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Skiing in India

With their vast open spaces, above the snowline, the Garhwal and Kumaon hills of Uttaranchal, offer a plethora of ski locales. For the avid skier, cross - country runs of 10-20 km are now available, with the added advantage of fresh powder snow.

Due to their awesome height and spread, Garhwal and Kumaon, like other areas in the Himalayas, offer the thrills of exploratory long distance skiing, round the year. Winter skiing in Garhwal is, now, professionally conducted at the Auli slopes.

The usual season is late December to early March, depending on the snow conditions.

Skiing at Uttaranchal
The large slopes of Garhwal and Kumaon covered with seasonal snow become an ideal place for skiing in the winter months . One can feel the adrenaline levels rising as one negotiates the challenges of the steep gradients and traverses unimaginable distances . Quite truly , the thrill of skiing remains unparalleled as the elements are defeated exhilaration swells up in skiing , the use of only the simplest forms of implements adds to the adventure. With their wide open spaces above the snowline, garhwal and kumaon offer yet another exciting possibility - ski touring amongst the glaciers, for the avid skier , cross - country runs of 10-20 km are now available , with the added advantage.

Skiing at Auli
Auli , 16km from joshimath is an ideal winter resort. The natural advantages of auli 's slopes, coupled with state - of the -art facilities provided by gmvn have made it comparable to the best in the world. The snow capped slopes of auli are flanked by stately coniferous and oak forests which cut wind velocity to the minimum . Auli offers a panoramic view of Himalayan peaks like Nanda Devi (7817 mts.), Kamet (7756 mts), Mana Parvat (7273 mts.) and Dunagiri (7066 mts.) Seemingly only a snowballs throw away, Auli offers perfect skiing conditions. Seasonal skiiers have clean streches of absolutely virgin slopes to sport on . These slopes provide excellent opportunities for cross country, slalom and downhill skiing events. Winter skiing in Garhwal is now being professionally run at the Auli slopes.

Ice Skating in Shimla
The Shimla ice-skating rink has the largest open-air area with naturally frozen ice in this part of the world. The Ice Skating Club has already celebrated its Diamond Jubilee. Ice-skating normally begins in early December and carries on to February. Clear skies and low temperatures provide series of uninterrupted sessions. There are two sessions every day, in the morning and in the evening.