How to Book a Chardham Helicopter Package

Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath are some of Uttarakhand's most important Hindu pilgrimages, and they are called the Chardham. It is a sacred journey, called the Chardham Yatra, taken by the devotees to pay their respect and follow the beliefs prevailing in these temples and the Gods associated with them. With the needs and requirements of the many pilgrims who do the Chardham Yatra every year, there are now options available to cover this pilgrimage destination through a helicopter ride. This is why, today there are a range of options you can choose from to make your Char Dham helicopter yatra the most comfortable one, ranging from standard (budget friendly) to luxury yatra options.

Although trekking to Char Dham is a popular and traditional way to explore the glorious temples, it is not feasible for everyone. Here is where the option of visiting the temples with a helicopter comes in. By traveling through the pilgrimage in a helicopter ride, you can now visit the Char Dham Temples without straining yourself physically and explore the beauty surrounding it as you fly through these regions of Uttarakhand.

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 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.

Helicopter Yatra offered by Private Agencies

Many private agencies offer Chardham helicopter tour services for the pilgrims and provide the chance to visit the pilgrimage destinations of all four temples of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. These Chardham helicopter tour packages come in different 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.

Here’s a guide on booking the Chardham Helicopter Yatra through private agencies, along with the government guidelines to be followed:

Choose a Certified Agency : Begin by selecting a certified and authorized helicopter service provider. Ensure that the agency is registered with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and approved by the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA).
Check Availability and Select a package : Visit the agency’s official website or contact them directly to check the availability of the dates and the Char Dham Yatra packages. Since slots fill up quickly, booking well in advance is recommended, especially during peak seasons.
Most agencies offer different packages covering Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. Some packages include VIP Darshan, accommodation, and meals, while others might just cover the helicopter ride.
Fill in the Details carefully and proceed to make the payment : You will need to provide personal information, including name, age, ID proof, and medical fitness (some agencies might ask for a fitness declaration). Further, payment can usually be made online via net banking, credit/debit cards, or UPI. A confirmation receipt will be generated upon successful payment.
Receive Booking Confirmation for Char Dham Helicopter Yatra Service : Once the booking is confirmed, you will receive an email or SMS with the booking details, including your flight timings, reporting time, and helipad location.
Carry Necessary Documents : Ensure you carry your booking confirmation, ID proof (Aadhaar, Passport, Voter ID), and any other document requested by the agency on the day of your Yatra.
Refund and Cancellation Policies : Understand the refund and cancellation policies clearly. Most operators offer refunds in case of flight cancellations due to weather but charge cancellation fees if initiated by the pilgrim. By following these steps and guidelines, you can ensure a smooth and fulfilling Char Dham Yatra experience through private helicopter services.

Helicopter Yatra offered by Government Agencies – Kedarnath Dham

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. This 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.

Government Guidelines and Tips for Booking a Helicopter Ride

For an efficient and smooth Yatra experience, you must understand and follow the due processes to be followed while booking tickets for a helicopter ride with government agencies.

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/. To create 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 Chardham 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?

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, you must carry your heliyatra ticket, and a valid ID proof 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 as 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 to the weather of the region to avoid falling sick due to an extreme change in altitude.

Package Inclusions offered by Private Agencies for Chardham Helicopter Yatra

Anyone planning to hire a helicopter for the Chardham Yatra should remember to check package deals whether they contain the specific services such as VIP darshans Pilgrims need, accommodation, meals, transfers, etc. They offered convenience of time, and comfort as well as organizing and coordinating some tasks to enable pilgrims to concentrate on the religious journey.

Government Taxes, Royalty & Levies
With regard to incidental costs such as GST, royalty charges, and landing charges at the helipads all the other authorized charges by the concerned authorities are inclusive of the prices mentioned in the packages above.
Accommodation – free of cost for night’s stay
The cost of living a luxurious life for the trip at a 4-star or 5-star hotel before the yatra. It also informs the guest regarding free breakfast and dinner, during the overall trip.
Pick and Drop Facility
Airport transfers, from and to Dehradun Airport, Railway Station, or Bus Stand, and helipad are available free of charge.
Visit of Shrine by VIP in Every Dham
Solutions like VIP Darshan pass for all four Dhams so that the guests don’t have to wait endlessly in queues.
Local sightseeing is also possible if time permits to spend on this activity.
For example, the Triyuginarayan temple at Kedarnath or the Mana village at Badrinath.
Horse / Pony Ride at Yamunotri
The facilities might comprise Palanquin or Pony at Yamnotri to transport the devotees to the temple. This is on condition that they are available.

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.