Auli in Uttarakhand Himalayas to Be the Host of INR 200Cr Grand Royal Wedding

Published: 12 Jun, 2019By Nidhi Singh

Uttarakhand’s very own ski destination, Auli nestled in Garhwal Himalayas is soon going to be the host of a grand wedding. Yes, the place was able to catch the eye of the NRI Business Tycoons, Gupta Brothers who chose this beautiful place to host the wedding of their two sons, Suryakant and Shashank.

Auli, which is situated in the Chamoli District of Garhwal Region in the North Indian state of Uttarakhand, is said to be getting prepared to host INR 200Cr wedding which is believed to be attended by several celebrities and eminent personalities. The weddings are to take place on 18-20 and 20-22 June. Almost every hotel in Auli has been booked for the guests for the weeklong festivities, so in case you’re planning to visit Auli during this time, hotel availability can be a problem.

Uttarakhand as a Wedding Destination

Uttarakhand has been promoted as an ideal wedding destination in India, and it inarguably is with it being blessed with the best of nature. Divided into two regions – Garhwal and Kumaon, Uttarakhand boasts scenic destinations in both its divisions including a plethora of pilgrimage destinations like Badrinath and Kedarnath. Off lately, Triyuginarayan, a place where it is believed Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati tied the knot in holy matrimony has also come into the limelight. Last year the news of Business tycoon, Mukesh Ambani finalizing Triyuginarayan for his son’s wedding made rounds.

The state that is quite popular amongst travellers and adventurers, now also aims at expanding the horizon and join the league of the best wedding destinations in India. With Auli in Garhwal Himalayas being chosen as a destination for a grand wedding, the door seems to open wide for Uttarakhand as a potential wedding destination. In case you don’t know about Auli, here is some insight into this top place to visit in Uttarakhand:

A Perfect Skiing Destination in Winter

Well, the people who know about Auli, recognize it as a top-class skiing destination in India. In fact, Auli has also been a host of First South Asian Winter Games in 2011.

A Base Point for Several Treks

The pristine beauty of Auli will not only impress the nature lovers but adventure enthusiasts as well. This beautiful place in Uttarakhand is the base for a number of treks including Gorson Bugyal and Kuari Pass.

Top Summer Retreat

While Auli looks surreal in the winters with the white out winning hearts, this must-visit destination has a different and equally stunning vista to offer in summer as well. During the summer months, the snow melts and the lush meadow underneath it comes to life rendering travellers a visual treat to remember.

Proximity to Popular Pilgrimage Destinations

Auli is in close proximity to popular pilgrimage destinations in Uttarakhand. So while relishing a nature holiday here, one can also pay homage to Badrinath (49 km) and Vishnuprayag (17 km). Joshimath, which is one of the major halting points for Badrinath, Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib is only a cable car journey away from Auli.

What We Need to Understand Before Planning a Wedding or Trip in Uttarakhand

We can go on and on about the qualities of Auli and its potential of being a not-to-miss destination in Uttarakhand but we need to also be concerned about practising sustainable and responsible tourism.

The much-talked about in wedding in Auli raises various concerns related to environment and law. The news making the round is the commencement of pitching of tents for which the approval is still pending. According to reports, the organizers have requested for pitching 20 luxury tents, however on the ground level, the tent pitching on a large scale has started before the arrival of the approval from the authorities. According to Ramesh Chandra, Chairperson of Painkhand Sangharsh Samiti, organizing of such large scale events can have adverse effect on Auli, which is a high altitude destination with a fragile environment. The impact of this is likely to be seen in the coming winter when Auli will be organizing winter skiing competitions.

It is of utmost importance to keep in mind when planning a trip or wedding in Auli or any other place in Uttarakhand:

• Hills have a fragile ecosystem, disturbing which can have various adverse effects.
• Overcrowding a destination is directly proportionate to the exploitation of natural resources.
• Littering and excessive plastic use should not be encouraged at any cost.
• Bringing your own vehicles to the hills not only leads to heavy traffic and discomfort but also takes away the opportunity of the locals to earn their livelihood.
• Disobeying laws/rules is not only illegal but is a major cause of concern for the environment and local communities.
• Using heavy sound system harms the fragile environment.

Uttarakhand indeed is an ideal place for destination weddings and planning a vacation but it shouldn’t come with a price of environment and ecosystem deterioration. Please choose your destination in the hills carefully and also put efforts to minimize the carbon footprints so that these destinations can be visited for hundreds of years in the future.