In a major development for devotees undertaking the Char Dham Yatra, air services to Kedarnath and Badrinath Dhams commenced on Saturday from Dehradun’s Jolly Grant Airport, offering a faster and more convenient option to access the remote Himalayan shrines.
The Char Dham Yatra—covering the sacred temples of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath—officially began on April 30 with the ceremonial opening of the portals of Yamunotri and Gangotri on Akshaya Tritiya. On Friday, the revered Kedarnath Dham also welcomed devotees with grand Vedic rituals and spiritual chants, while the portals of Badrinath Dham in Chamoli are scheduled to open on May 4.
This year, helicopter services are providing enhanced accessibility, allowing pilgrims to complete the Kedarnath and Badrinath darshan in a single day. The fare for this one-day Do Dham Yatra has been fixed at ₹1.25 lakh per person. A three-day package with added amenities is also available at ₹1.45 lakh. The MI-17 helicopters, which can accommodate up to 20 passengers, are being deployed for the aerial pilgrimage.
In 2024, nearly 3,000 devotees used the helicopter service, with fares then set at ₹1.11 lakh. The air route begins with Kedarnath and proceeds to Badrinath, making the journey significantly shorter compared to road travel.
Meanwhile, registration for the Char Dham Yatra has been made mandatory by the Uttarakhand government. Pilgrims can register online via the official website -- registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in -- or through the mobile app TouristCareUttarakhand.
Offline registration began on April 28 and is being facilitated at major locations such as Haridwar and Rishikesh.
Booking for helicopter travel is available through the official IRCTC portal at heliyatra.irctc.co.in.
The Char Dham Yatra, one of the most spiritually significant pilgrimages in Hinduism, draws lakhs of devotees annually. With the summer opening of these Himalayan shrines, Uttarakhand once again becomes a hub of spiritual activity and religious tourism.
Follow us
