Char Dham Yatra by Helicopter

About Chadham Yatra Helicopter Services

Uttarakhand, lovingly referred to as the "land of the gods", is a land that is dotted with numerous shrines and temples, attracting pilgrims to this holy land every year. With Uttarakhand housing the holy temples of the Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath, Chardham Yatra is one of the most popular pilgrimages taken up by devotees who come to receive blessings from different gods. Surrounded by the Garhwal Himalayan Mountains all around, these temples are located at high altitudes. Although trekking is a popular way to explore the glorious temples, it is not a feasible option for everyone. Here is where the option of visiting the temples with a helicopter comes in. Taking a helicopter ride for your pilgrimage is a comfortable option for those who wish to visit the temples but aren't able to do so due to old age or sickness. By traveling through the state in a chopper ride, you can now visit the Char Dham Temples without straining yourself physically and explore the beauty that surrounds it as you fly through these regions of Uttarakhand.

With the needs and requirements of the many pilgrims that visit its doors every year, there are now options available to cover this pilgrimage destination through a helicopter ride. Which is why, today there are a range of options that you can choose from to make your Char Dham helicopter yatra the most comfortable one, ranging from standard to luxury yatra options. You can choose to book for yourself a Char Dham Yatra service with either a private or a government agency, depending on your needs, requirements and budget concerns. Currently the government-run helicopter services only offer rides for the Shri Kedarnath Dham, and must be booked online at their authorized website. Apart from visiting the temple of Kedarnath, if you wish to cover the Char Dham Yatra completely by Helicopter, then you may want to opt to book a tour with an authorized private agency.

Read along to find out more about how you can explore the Char Dham Temples on a helicopter yatra, advantages of opting for one, what would be the cost of covering these temples by a helicopter, and things to keep in mind as you take on this holy expedition.

Why Should You Opt for a Chardham Helicopter Yatra 2024?

Choosing to explore the temples of the Char Dham on a helicopter yatra can be said to be one of the best ways to experience the beauty of these temples. For starters, it is a more convenient way to reach the temples as compared to the arduous trekking that you might have to do through rough terrains amidst high altitudes, though offering a rewarding sight at the end, it sure can be taxing for your body if you're not used to trekking for long. It is also a beneficial way to travel for those who are sick of health and are older in age.

Another advantage of opting for a Chardham Helicopter Tour is that you can cut down on the travel time by almost half. Riding the chopper for visiting the temples will significantly lessen the number of days that you spend traveling and make your pilgrimage to the Chardham a much more pleasant experience. For example, whereas a regular pilgrimage tour to the Char Dham might take you around 10 to 11 days to cover, opting for a helicopter ride to cover these temples will take you just 5 to 6 days, cutting down on the travel time for those who are especially busy.

Along with these reasons, by choosing to ride to the Chardham temples in a helicopter, you will also be provided with the beautiful and scenic vistas of the Garhwal Himalayan ranges all around you. By flying through the region instead, you will get to experience a different perspective of the region as you travel through Uttarakhand on this holy pilgrimage to the state.

Helicopter Yatra offered by Private Agencies

There are many private agencies that offer helicopter tours for the pilgrims who take up the Char Dham Yatra and provide the chance to visit the pilgrimage destinations of all the four temples of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. These helicopter tour packages come in types and offer standard as well as luxury facilities, depending on the tour package you choose from. With the standard packages offering a basic but comfortable yatra experience, choosing a luxury Chardham Helicopter Yatra package will provide you with some of the most luxurious stays, travel facilities, sightseeing and even access to VIP Darshans at the Chardham Temples. Beginning from the city of Dehradun, the yatra will cover the four temples falling into the pilgrimage circuit of the Chardham and lead you back to Dehradun after completion of the yatra.

Helicopter Yatra offered by Government Agencies

The trek to the Kedarnath Temple is one of the most popular as well as the most difficult trek that pilgrims cover during their Chardham Yatra. Which is why, the helicopter yatra offered by government agencies currently offers to visit the Kedarnath Dham. A joint effort between the Uttarakhand government and the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has led to the creation of the website: https://www.heliyatra.irctc.co.in/that you can visit to book a helicopter ride to the Kedarnath Temple.

Through this website, you can be flown to the temple from any of the three different helipads located near Kedarnath Dham namely, the Guptkashi Helipad, Fata Helipad, and the Sersi Helipad. The cost details for the chopper rides along with the heli tour operators from these locations have been mentioned as follows:

Location	Tour Operator
Guptkashi Helipad to Kedarnath	Aryan Aviation
Guptkashi Helipad to Kedarnath	Trans Bharat Aviations
Phata Helipad to Kedarnath	Pawan hans
	Thumby Aviation
	Global Vectra Helicorp
	Himalayan Heli Services
Sersi Helipad to Kedarnath	Kestrel Aviation
Sersi Helipad to Kedarnath	Arrow Aircrafts

Government Guidelines and Tips for Booking a Helicopter Ride

For an efficient and smooth yatra experience, it is essential that you understand and follow the due processes to be followed while booking tickets for a helicopter ride with government agencies. Here are the guidelines laid out by the government to ensure you have a safe and secure journey on your visit to the holy abode of Kedarnath:

It is essential to first register at the Tourist Care website of Uttarakhand: https://registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in/ , and then create an account at the IRCTC Heliyatra website: https://www.heliyatra.irctc.co.in/ . For creating an account on any of these sites, you will require a valid mobile number mandatorily.
Check the availability of seats and choose a desired slot. Make the online payment via credit or debit card, UPI, or means of net banking for the chosen ride and complete the booking process.
After completion of the booking, make sure to keep a copy of your IRCTC Heliyatra ticket, printed out as well.
It is important to note that in a single ticket, a maximum of 6 passengers can be booked, and with a single user ID, only 2 such tickets can be bought.
Heliyatra tickets can only be booked three days prior and two days after the mentioned tour dates in the Char Dham Yatra Registration.
On reaching the helipad for the commencement of the yatra, you need to have with yourself, a hardcopy of your heliyatra ticket and a valid ID proof, without which access to the helicopter can be denied.

How to Plan and Prepare for Chardham Helicopter Yatra ?

Experiencing the pilgrimage of Char Dham with a helicopter ride can turn out to be a mesmerizing and unforgettable memory. Flying through the Garhwal Himalayas for a serene and relaxing pilgrimage expedition, it can surely become an experience like no other. To ensure that you enjoy your pilgrimage safely and comfortably, here are a few things that you need to keep in mind:

While boarding the chopper that will take you across the Chardham temples, it is necessary that you carry your heliyatra ticket, and a valid ID proof such as Aadhaar, Voter ID, PAN Card, Passport, or Driving License, that was used at the time of booking the tickets. For infants, the birth certificate submitted during the booking must be brought along.
Before beginning the journey, passengers will be weighed since the chopper has weight limitations. Passengers as well passengers carrying infants must weigh a maximum of 80 kg, after which Rs.150 per kg of your weight will be charged.
Reporting time is 1 hour before departure and must be followed strictly. Pilgrims are urged to reach the site of departure even earlier, if possible.
During the duration of the yatra, pilgrims will only be allowed to carry one piece of baggage per person not weighing more than 2 kilograms.
Along with these, pilgrims, especially the elderly are advised to get a medical checkup done before the journey and to carry appropriate medication as per their requirement.
If you are coming from a low altitude region, then it is advised that you spend a day or two acclimatizing yourself with the weather of the region to avoid falling sick due to an extreme change in altitude.

Beware of Scammers! Tips to Stay Safe Online from Fake/Scam Websites

With the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand being one of the most sought-after pilgrimage destinations in the country, it attracts thousands of devotees to the state every year. As such, there has been a rise in the number of scam websites that offer to book helicopter rides. Though many of these have been found and shut down by the government of Uttarakhand, it is never too bad to be cautious. While you book a helicopter tour package or a helicopter service to a single temple, make sure that you are booking from an authorized tour agency after doing your due research. When booking a helicopter yatra to Kedarnath, make sure to only book through the website authorized by the government at https://www.heliyatra.irctc.co.in/ and check for spelling and other errors in the website's name.