Travails of Being a Clifftop Club - How difficult it is to be a Ski Resort at 10,000 ft in India 

Cliff Top Club Resort, Auli, a Resort at 10,000 ft asl, close range snow clad Himalayan views all round the year, ski resort in winter, close proximity to two of the most significant pilgrimage destinations, close proximity to the most celebrated trekking route in the country. One tends to sort of go agog with the set of possibilities a destination like Auli and a resort like cliff top may have.

Auli was expected to be all-season destination. Badrinath (Hindu Pilgrimage) / Hemkunth Sahib (Sikh Pilgrimage) Season is from Mid-May to Mid-October (except July and August).  Skiing from end-Dec to Mid-March. Summer Holiday Season from April-June. Puja / Deewali in Oct-Nov, Christmas in Dec and Valley of flowers trek in July and August.

However the ground reality is far from the rosy picture. Auli has been having a tough time. An indifferent weather means that it has not been getting consistent snow all through the winter season. Promised Airport nearby has not taken off thus 250 kms curvy hilly ride the only access option. Joshimath to Auli Road has been an indifferent one (Cable car is the more preferred option). The entire route from Rishikesh to Auli is prone to seismic disturbances therefore making the route susceptible for landslides during heavy monsoon months of July and August. 

Indifferent weather, frequent cancellations, re-opening of Gulmarg as a skiing destination and indifferent snowfall, making Auli not a preferred choice of skiers. The Resort was built in phases and guests did have troubles with ongoing construction. The few months in a year where any construction could be done, in fact coincided with the Badrinath season and Clifftop had to run on a compromise solution which odd guests always had the trouble accepting.  Lack of Clifftop's ability to employ and retain suitable manpower to accept a job at such a difficult terrain (temperatures go down to minus 20 in winters), meant that some of the front office, service issues were not handled in the manner it could have been causing guest heartburns.

To add to this what hasn't helped is a very strict reservation policies. Clifftop is not at all sympathetic in refund cases where guests are likely to request early departure on account of indifferent weather or late arrival due to missed cable car. Travel agents during the season have faced odd guest bump offs and surprises. (One of our guest's bump off happened on account of their overbooking. We are still facing legal wrath of the guest. Another guest left complaining indifferent heater and ongoing construction noise). 

So a resort with so many possibilities would by now be full with different tourists all through the year, in fact struggles time and again despite its stunning location and virtual monopoly in the sector. Even while it tries to what it can do under the trying circumstances, its tough being a Clifftop Club Auli. Right from sourcing of raw materials, consumables to services like laundry etc. every task what is rudimentary for a city hotel is a painstaking one at Auli.

While Clifftop club still remains best accommodation in the 100 km radius around it, it still required to be opted for the right reasons. A lot of guest complaints arose out of lack of orientation as to how difficult it is to run a resort at that height. Guests need to keep this in mind and approach Clifftop holiday with limited expectations vis a vis hotel, facility and services. So a good idea would be to throw the mega expectations out of the window and just appreciate and celebrate the effort took to built a resort at 10,000 ft against all odds for one to stay and admire the very best of Himalayan views you can get anywhere in the world.

email - clifftop@nivalink.co.in

Note: Clifftop Club Resort is having Resorts in Corbett, Bhimtal, Nainital and Auli and have been in the business for around 10 years with Auli being their first resort. This article is written to orient guest expectation and putting a realistic picture. The article is not intended to harm interests of Clifftop Club Auli in any manner. Nivalink has been doing business with Clifftop for 7 years and would like to recommend it as an accommodation for all guests in future being the best accommodation option in Auli and region around Auli.