Dehradun, April 4, 2025: Preparations for the Chardham Yatra are going on in full swing in Uttarakhand. This time the enthusiasm of the devotees is at its peak for this holy journey starting from April 30, especially about Kedarnath Dham. Like every year, this time too, lakhs of devotees are expected to flock to see Baba Kedar. Meanwhile, to make the journey smooth, online booking of helicopter services is going to start, which will prove to be a boon for those who cannot climb on foot.

Booking date and process
The doors of Kedarnath temple will open for devotees on May 2, 2025 at 7 am. Helicopter services will start from Guptkashi, Sirsi and Phata from this day. Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UKADA) and IRCTC have completed its preparations. IRCTC will open its portal on April 8 for online booking of heli tickets. UCADA has handed over the data of travel registration to IRCTC, and registration for Chardham Yatra will be mandatory for booking.
IRCTC will soon release the booking link on its official website heliyatra.irctc.co.in. District Tourism Officer Rahul Chaubey says, “The system of online registration has started. When the journey starts, offline registration centers will also be opened in Rishikesh and Sonprayag, so that every devotee gets convenience.”
5% increase in fares
This time helicopter services will be operated by companies like Pawan Hans, Himalayan Heli, Trans Bharat, Global Victra, Thumby Aviation, Kestrel Aviation and Air Aircraft. Under the three-year contract, the fare has been increased by 5 percent. The new fares are as follows:

Sirsi to Kedarnath: Rs 6,061

Phata to Kedarnath: Rs 6,063

Guptkashi to Kedarnath: Rs 8,533

(Note: This is the fare per passenger for round trip.)

Last year, the fare from Guptkashi was Rs 8,126, which has now increased to Rs 8,533. A passenger, Ramesh Joshi, says, “The fare has increased a bit, but travelling by helicopter saves both time and effort. It is a necessary facility for elderly people like me.”

Record number of passengers expected

The faith of devotees towards Kedarnath Dham is increasing every year. Till Wednesday, 3,72,169 pilgrims have registered online, which is the highest among the Char Dhams. Last year in 2024, 16,52,076 pilgrims had darshan, while in 2023 this number was 19,57,850. This time too, a record-breaking crowd is expected. Rahul Chaubey says, “If we look at the trend of the last two years, this time the number of pilgrims can double. We are fully prepared for this.” Why is helicopter service necessary? To reach Kedarnath, one has to climb 16 kilometers on foot from Gaurikund. Due to the rough path and height, this is not possible for everyone. In such a situation, helicopter service is like a lifesaver for the elderly, children and physically disabled people. Shanti Devi, a devotee from Dehradun, says, “Last year I did darshan by helicopter. I reached the temple in 10 minutes, otherwise it was impossible for me to go on foot.” Challenges and precautions However, helicopter service depends on the weather. Flights can be cancelled in bad weather. Apart from this, the risk of fraud through fake websites is also increasing. Chamoli Police recently tweeted and warned, “Book heli tickets for Chardham Yatra only from heliyatra.irctc.co.in. Avoid other sites, otherwise you may be a victim of fraud.”

Further preparations

UKADA and IRCTC have implemented QR code system this time to make the booking process transparent. This will stop black marketing of tickets. Also, health facilities and security arrangements are also being strengthened on the travel routes.

So if you are also planning to visit Kedarnath this year, then wait for the booking to start from April 8. Book tickets on time, as the slots fill up fast. This journey will not only give spiritual peace, but also a memorable experience in the lap of the Himalayas.