Helipads in Uttarakhand, the land of most sacred pilgrimage sites and rugged Himalayan terrains plays a very crucial role in boosting the pilgrimage tourism, catering to medical emergencies, connecting remote locations and supporting disaster relief operations. Though Helipads serve many purposes, this blog primarily focuses on key helipads in Uttarakhand and their role in the region to enhance travel (pilgrimage tourism) for devotees and adventurers.
There are many people who often confuse between heliports and helipads but this blog will cover in detail about the major helipads in Uttarakhand. Before we cover helipads in detail it is essential to know the difference between a Helipad and heliport.
What is Helipad- A Helipad is a permanent and larger facility for the landing of helicopters. It is very small, often found in remote areas, (Mountains, hotels or hospitals). It may be shaped like a simple H on the ground or a complex paved area.
What is a Heliport- Heliport is larger than a Helipad. It is a mini airport in itself offering comprehensive facilities like refuelling, maintenance, traffic control. It also acts as a permanent hub for multiple helicopters.
Uttarakhand depends on helipads for pilgrimage tours like Chardham yatra, Hemkund Sahib Yatra or Do Dham Yatra but Helipad supports broader aviation needs like strategic and military use, refuelling and disaster response coordination etc.
| Name of the Helipad | Nearest Pilgrimage Site | Role in Tourism |
| Sahastradhara Helipad | Tapkeshwar Mahadev Temple | Tapkeshwar Mahadev Temple, Phata/ Guptkashi or Joshimath for Chardham Yatra |
| Phata/ Guptkashi | Kedarnath Temple | Base for Kedarnath Helicopter Service |
| Joshimath | Badrinath Temple | Base for Badrinath temple |
| Harsil | Gangotri Temple | Connects devotees to Gangotri Dham |
| Kharsali | Yamunotri Temple | Connects devotees to Yamunotri Temple |
| Ghagharia | Hemkund Sahib | It’s a last stop before the final trek to Hemkund Sahib |
| Badrinath Helipad | Badrinath Temple | Base for Badrinath Temple |
| Kedarnath Helipad | Kedarnath Temple | Base for Kedarnath Temple |
You may get confused whether Sahastradhara in Dehradun is a Helipad or heliport. It has both helipad and heliport facilities. Sahastradhara Heliport is a primary facility which offers infrastructure for landings, ATC communications, Passenger terminals, parking for multiple helicopters. As an Helipad it serves as an auxiliary landing spot which offers backup during peak Chardham Yatra pilgrimage season. Your booked Chardham helicopter will depart from this heliport. It also offers a training area for pilot practice and quick landing spot for emergency evacuations.
Note- You can also book a helicopter on the spot from Phata/ Guptkashi and Joshimath but the possibilities are less to get a guaranteed ticket due to the high demand in peak pilgrimage season.
To book helicopter services for Hemkund Sahib you need to book a ticket from Govind Ghat to Govind Dham. The route covers 13 kms and it takes around 8-10 minutes to reach Hemkund Sahib. The Hemkund Sahib Helicopter service is only offered by IRCTC through its official website.
Helipads in Uttarakhand play a major role in enhancing travel for Chardhams and other pilgrimage sites. Most of the shrines are located in the high-altitude Himalayan region of Uttarakhand where no larger heliports exist. Small helipads like Phata/ Guptkasdhi/ Kharsali and Ghagharia fill the gap in catering the transportation needs of the devotees to reach Chardham and other shrines like Hemkund Sahib. Some setups like Kedarnath Helipad operate only during the Chardham Pilgrimage season. Hence, it helps in connecting the devotees to the sacred shrines of Uttarakhand and boosting the tourism of the region.
The best time to reach Chardhams in Uttarakhand are the months of May to June and September to October. Avoid Monsoons (July to August) due to unpredictable weather and flight cancellations. For Hemkund Sahib- July to September is ideal to seek blessings of the Guru.
Follow these useful tips to book your helicopter for a hassle-free pilgrimage journey to Chardhams and Hemkund Sahib-
So, are you ready for the take-off to get the divine darshan of Chardhams in Uttarakhand? The helipads in Uttarakhand bridge the gap between devotees and the divine in a few minutes. It shortens the distance between faith and fulfilment. People often compare helicopter journey with road journey and say that road journey is most fulfilling as it shows more devotion and endurance of devotees to overcome hardships to reach Dhams. But we cannot dismiss the role of helipads which help elderly people in getting Chardham darshan who cannot walk for long due to age and physical limitations.
It also helps those who want to cover all the shrines in a shorter period of time. Devotees who travel to Chardhams by helicopter, the journey may be shorter but the devotion may remain just as deep as an ocean. You must undertake the journey to the sacred pilgrimage sites of Uttarakhand by helicopter once in a lifetime to experience the beauty in soaring above the clouds.
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