Kedarnath Opened Its Doors For Pilgrims; Find Out How To Book Helicopter Ride, Timings, and Prices

On Friday, 06th May 2022 the Kedarnath Dham, one of Hinduism’s holiest temples, opened its doors to pilgrims. The Kedarnath Temple is located at a height of 12000 feet in Uttarakhand, India, in the scenic environs of the Rudra Himalaya Range. Between November and April, the temple is closed for nearly six months due to harsh weather conditions.

About Kedarnath

Kedarnath is a town in Rudraprayag district in the state of Uttarakhand in India and has gained importance because of the Kedarnath Temple. It is approximately 86 kilometres from Rudraprayag, the district headquarter.

How To Reach Kedarnath?

The Kedarnath temple is not accessible by road and must be accessed via an 18-kilometre uphill climb from Sonprayag. It takes a few days to get to the temple, and due to the altitude, not many people are able to visit. As a result, the Uttarakhand government began providing helicopter services to the temple.

Kedarnath Helicopter Services

Several helicopter service providers, including Pawan Hans, Pinnacle Air, and Heritage Aviation, offer per-seat air transport to the Kedarnath Dham. Most companies have 5-7 passenger helicopters that can be rented for the entire chopper or booked per seat. There are both one-way and round-trip tickets available.

One can reach the Kedarnath Helipad, which is located about 700 metres away from Kedarnath Temple in a short time of 8 minutes on a chopper.

From where to take the helicopter to Kedarnath?

Devotees visiting the holy Kedarnath Dham can take a helicopter ride to arrive at the Kedarnath temple without having to walk for days. The chopper services are available in Phata, Sersi, Sitapur, Guptkashi, Dehradun and Delhi.

Pawan Hans operates helicopters at Phata, using 6-seater Bell 407/Ecureuil B3 helicopters. The Phata helipad is located 2 KM beyond Phata and is also linked by a good motorable road on the way to Kedarnath. Phath is situated 206 km ahead of Rishikesh. It is the nearest railway station.

How to book a helicopter for Kedarnath?

Bookings for helicopters can be made online through the websites of helicopter operators.

Pilgrims are advised to book helicopter tickets from Phata to Kedarnath and back through the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) website at www.heliservices.uk.gov.in. Feel free to visit Pawan Hans’ website, www.booking.pawanhans.co.in, to book Charter helicopter services for Shri Kedarnath Dham.

It is best to arrange helicopter rides well in advance because they are always in high demand.

Kedarnath Helicopter Booking Price

The cost of a Helicopter ride to Kedarnath is depending on the location from which you wish to depart. However, the fare range from ₹4680 to ₹7750 for a round trip per person to and from Kedarnath Dham on the same day. A single side ticket can also be purchased for ₹3000 to ₹3500.

Covid-19 Guidelines

Pilgrims should be aware that the state government has set a daily restriction of 12,000 pilgrims visiting the temple owing to Covid-19.

The Uttarakhand administration, on the other hand, has stated that a negative test result or a Covid-19 vaccination certificate is not required for the Char Dham Yatra.