Kedarnath is one of the most sought after religious sites in India, which has emerged as a popular travel destination too. Usually visited as part of the Char Dham Yatra which includes Badrinath, Gangotri Dham and Yamunotri Dham, Kedarnath is also a site which people go to, individually because of the immense significance that it holds. Out of the four Dhams in this circuit, Kedarnath is undoubtedly the most difficult to reach with a rigorous climb. Therefore, many pilgrims have started opting for helicopters to cut short their travel time and also make their Yatra more convenient. This guide covers all details related to doing Kedarnath Yatra by helicopter including booking the tickets, prices and FAQs.
About Helicopter Yatra to Kedarnath
It has been made possible to visit Kedarnath Dham by helicopter since 2010; for more than a decade, pilgrims have been able to take benefit of this luxury, which is slowly becoming a norm. The primary reason why a growing number of travelers are now opting to fly to Kedarnath is because of the intense and demanding trek of 16 km uphill. Many pilgrims are physically unfit for such a rigorous trek, or have medical conditions that bar them from doing it on foot. Some are senior citizens, far from the fitness level required for this Yatra, but still hoping to get a chance to visit Kedarnath Dham. Doing this Yatra by helicopter turns out to be a major advantage in such conditions.
Additionally, many people choose to go to Kedarnath by a chopper in order to cut down the travel time. While a road trip from Guptakashi and a trek of 16 km uphill and another 16 km downhill, with an overnight stay at Kedarnath Dham can take about 3 days, a helicopter ride makes it possible in just a few hours. So, if you are short on time or looking to make your trip more comfortable, a helicopter ride is the best option for you.
About Kedarnath Dham
Kedarnath is considered one of the most prominent pilgrimage sites among the worshippers of Lord Shiva. It is part of the Uttarakhand Char Dham Yatra, Panch Kailash and also the 12 Jyotirlingas. Situated in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, this temple sits atop a mountain at an elevation of 3583 m and is accessible by trek, which starts from Gaurikund.
The temple is surrounded by majestic snow covered Himalayan peaks, which makes the spiritual experience of visiting this place even more magical. Due to harsh weather conditions, it is not accessible during winter months and is only open to public between April-October/November.
Helipads that Operate Flights to Kedarnath
Primarily, there are three helipads near Kedarnath that operate regular flights- Phata, Sersi and Guptakashi. One can also book a helicopter from Dehradun, but it will still drop you at Sirsi from where you’ll have to change flights. The distance and approximate charges from each of these helipads to Kedarnath helipad is as listed:
1- Phata Helipad
Phata is the most popular choice when booking for a helicopter ride to Kedarnath. It is located about 14 km from Guptakashi and 16 km from Sonprayag, the two major towns which pilgrims choose as base for their Kedarnath Yatra. It is around 31 km from Kedarnath and takes around 9 minutes to reach by air. The cost is around 2500 rupees one way and 5000 rupees return, per person.
2- Sersi Helipad
Sersi Helipad is a bit closer to Kedarnath, that is, 23 km away and it takes around 11 minutes by air to reach from Sersi. Located 20 km away from Guptakashi and 9 km from Sonprayag, this Helipad is the closest one to Kedarnath. The price of tickets is similar to those from Phata — 2500 rupees one way and 5000 rupees return.
3- Guptakashi Helipad
Guptakashi is located further away, at a distance of 45 km from Kedarnath. It takes about 15 minutes of flying to reach Kedarnath Helipad from here. Ticket prices are slightly higher with around 3800 rupees one way and 7700 rupees return.
List of Companies Operating Helicopter Yatra to Kedarnath 2025
Every year, the government authorizes certain companies to operate chopper services to Kedarnath. It is advised to pilgrims to only book their trip through authorized companies using the official website – https://heliyatra.irctc.co.in/ . Any other website or operator claiming to organize helicopter Yatra can turn out fraudulent. Therefore, pilgrims must stick to only booking through the IRCTC website.
Here is a list of operators authorized for 2025:
1- Phata to Kedarnath
- Pawan Hans
- Global Vectra Helicorp
- Thumby Aviation
- Trans Bharat Aviation
2- Sersi to Kedarnath
- Arrow Aircraft
- Himalayan Heli Services
- Kestrel Aviation
3- Guptakashi to Kedarnath
- Trans Bharat Aviation
- Aryan Aviation
Booking Helicopter Tickets to Kedarnath
Helicopter services from these three major helipads commence at 6:30 in the morning till 11:10 am. After a flight time of about 10-15 minutes, pilgrims deboard at Kedarnath Helipad which is only 700 m away from the Kedarnath Temple. After deboarding, you can either walk up to the temple or use pitthus or palki for the same.
Pilgrims visiting the Kedarnath Temple via helicopter are required to book priority Darshan because they only get about 2-3 hours window after deboarding before they fly back. Also, prior registration on the official website https://registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in/ is mandatory for Kedarnath Yatra, as well as for booking helicopter ride. In addition to this, pilgrims are required to get a bio-registration and medical checkup done at the time of travel.
Step-by-Step Process of Booking Helicopter Tickets and Guidelines
- Register yourself on the Uttarakhand Government Portal and obtain your Yatra Registration Number.
- Sign-up on the official IRCTC portal for helicopter booking – https://heliyatra.irctc.co.in/ and create your account using by validating your email id and mobile number via OTP. Your registered mobile number is going to be your user ID.
- Login using these credentials on the above portal and begin your helicopter booking process.
- To book helicopter for multiple persons, enter group ID or enter Unique Registration Number if you’re booking for single person.
- One user ID is allowed to book a maximum of two tickets, each allowing up to six passenger. So one person is allowed to book tickets for maximum of 12 people. If more tickets are required, a new user ID will have to be created.
- To check for dates available, you can see the calendar on Heliyatra website of IRCTC and choose from the dates that are being shown as available.
- For toddlers younger than 2 years of age, no ticket is charges, nor are they offered any additional seat. For those who are 2 year old or older, full fare that is equal to a regular adult fare will be charged and they’ll be provided with seat.
- Carry physical copies/printouts of the tickets along with the ID proof as submitted at the time for booking for all passengers. Not complying with this may result in not being allowed to fly. Screenshots or digital copies of the ticket will not be considered valid.
- Passengers should arrive the helipad at least one hour before and the entry point at least two hours before the scheduled time of departure to allow enough time for check-in and security check.
- There is a weight limit of 80 kg per passenger. If the passenger is carrying an infant with them, then their weight together should be under 80 kg. Above this weight limit, there is an additional charge of INR 150 per kg for the extra weight.
- It is best to book your tickets between 15 to 6 days before the date of travel for the cheapest price, after which, the prices may increase based on the dynamic pricing policy of UCADA.
Refunds & Cancellation Policy for Kedarnath Helicopter Service
- In order to cancel your tickets that were booked online, you can go to the IRCTC helicopter booking website and cancel the tickets online. It is not possible to cancel them offline.
The refund policy based on the timeline of cancellation is as follows:
| Time of Cancellation prior to starting time of booked slot | Refund |
| More than 5 days before departure time | 75% of ticket booking amount |
| Between 48 hours – 5 days before departure time | 50% of ticket booking amount |
| Between 24 hours – 48 hours before departure time | 25% of ticket booking amount |
| Less than 24 hours before departure time | No Refund |
| No Show (Not reporting 1 hour before the departure time at the helipad) | No Refund |
Note – The amount refunded is after deducting payment gateway fee and convenience fee.
- If your journey gets canceled due to bad weather or any other technical reasons, you are eligible for a full refund. In order to claim the refund, you must present your IRCTC ticket or the boarding pass at the helipad check-in counter as soon as possible and get it duly stamped to confirm the cancellation.
Kedarnath Helicopter Yatra FAQs
Q-1: Is Helicopter service available for Kedarnath Dham Yatra?
Ans: Yes, helicopter services have been operational to Kedarnath for more than a decade now with thousands of pilgrims opting for it every year.
Q-2: How to book Helicopter for Kedarnath Darshan?
Ans: Helicopter tickets to Kedarnath can only be booked on the official IRCTC website https://heliyatra.irctc.co.in/ by creating a user ID, registering your email id and phone number and then booking the preferred available dates.
Q-3: What is the cost of visiting Kedarnath by Helicopter?
Ans: Helicopter ticket prices can range anywhere between 2500-3500 rupees one way and 5000-6500 rupees return. However, these are subject to change.
Q-4: From which helipad can I go to Kedarnath?
Ans: Kedarnath Helipad is well connected to three nearby helipads in Phata, Sersi and Guptakashi, which are all under 15 minutes away by air.
Q-5: Is there a weight limit on the luggage during the Kedarnath helicopter yatra?
Ans: Yes, every passenger can carry a maximum weight of 2 kg with themselves during the Chopper ride.
Q-6: Is prior registration mandatory for booking Helicopter to Kedarnath?
Ans: Yes, it is mandatory to register first on the official website- https://registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in for Kedarnath Yatra and only then can you book helicopter tickets.
Q-7: Can helicopter tickets to Kedarnath be cancelled?
Ans: Yes, it is fairly easy to cancel your helicopter tickets by simply signing into your IRCTC Heliyatra account.
Q-8: How much does priority Darshan cost?
Ans: Since pilgrims visiting Kedarnath Dham by helicopter have their return scheduled after a few hours, it is crucial to get your priority Darshan booked, which costs INR 2500 per person.
Conclusion
To sum up, doing Kedarnath Yatra by helicopter has emerged as a quick and convenient alternative and is gaining popularity with every passing year. There are many factors that become an obstacle for those who are old, or going through some sort of physical ailment in their Kedarnath Yatra, especially the long and difficult trek. It is truly a blessing for those pilgrims to opt for Heliyatra and make their dream of Kedarnath Darshan come true.
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