Good news pilgrims! A new helipad has been constructed at Yamunotri. This new establishment will significantly ease the pilgrimage for the devotees en route to the Yamunotri Dham. Earlier, travellers have to take a full six kilometre trek to reach the holy shrine of Goddess Yamuna. But not anymore! The new helipad is here to make the life of pilgrims easier and simpler.
Why a New Helipad, Though?
Necessity is the mother of invention, that’s why! As per 2024 records, the year witnesses a footfall of whopping 7 lakh pilgrims in Yamunotri and even higher pilgrim count at Gangotri, with 8.1 lakh travellers!
Various photographs and videos show heavy devotee traffic on rather narrow and steep trek paths en route to Yamunotri. And it was far tougher for pilgrims who are senior citizens. Many activists and local authorities have since then raised concerns over pilgrim safety. Some even called for a wider route!
Finally, a new helipad was suggested that will help tourists completely circumvent the tricky trek routes and reach the Yamunotri Temple easily and in a much faster way!
A teerth purohit, Ashish Uniyal, has weighed in on the situation and told the press how welcoming is this new change! He stated, “As per tradition, Yamunotri is the first Dham that pilgrims are required to visit in Char Dham Yatra, followed by Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. Hence, the shrine is of great importance to pilgrims but due to the trek, many elderly people struggle to visit. This initiative is a welcome step.”
Relief for Pilgrims, Finally!
The new helipad set up at Garud Ganga area of Yamunotri will make the pilgrimage for devotees easier by leaps and bounds! Pilgrims can now skip the arduous trek route via Kharsali altogether and reach the sacred shrine via chopper, all in a matter of a few minutes! Moreover, the helipad will also be used for providing quick emergency services.
The new helipad is constructed at a lofty height of 10,804 ft and is built by government-run BRIDCUL (Bridge, Ropeway, Tunnel and other Infrastructure Development Corporation of Uttarakhand Limited).
The total cost of constructing the bridge has been estimated to be INR 60 lakh, as per Narendra Pal Singh, the managing director of BRIDCUL.
The helipad, however, is not operational yet. It will first undergo an inspection from the civil aviation team and then an approach road will be built, connecting to the helipad.
All is Not Well….Environmental Concerns Arise Galore
As good a change a new helipad brings, it’s not without its fair share of cons. Environmentalists and social activists have complained about using helicopter in areas like Himalayas, which are inherently ecologically-fragile.
Founder of SDC (a Doon-based NGO), Anoop Nautiyal, has expressed his thoughts on constructing a helipad in the Himalayas, stating, “Studies conducted by national scientific institutions have warned about the adverse effects of aerial operations on wildlife. Considering this, there are serious concerns about expanding chopper services to Yamunotri. Strict regulations are needed to prevent helicopters from operating recklessly in the challenging Himalayan terrain, endangering both pilgrims and the ecosystem.”
Emphasizing on the problems created by heli services, he further added, ”Helicopter operations have been plagued by mismanagement, inadequate safety measures, environmental risks, and frequent allegations of black-marketing of tickets.”
Increase in Number of Pilgrims Predicted
Well, environmental concerns aside, there are new developments on the horizon! As the new helipad diminishes the travel time and cuts back on requirement of trekking, the officials predict that this will largely increase the pilgrim footfall. Moreover, even in case of accidents and fatalities, the help can now reach the affected travellers much faster – multiplying the importance of helipad two-folds!
All in all, the new helipad development is a welcoming change, giving the Yamunotri pilgrims a much-needed relief. If you’re planning a Yamunotri Dham trip, it’d be a perfect opportunity to take the heli ride and enjoy a swift spiritual tour!
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