In 2026, Chardham Yatra opens on 19 April – the earliest start in years. Helicopter demand is expected to be the highest ever. Kedarnath Dham alone recorded over 16.56 lakh pilgrims in 2025, setting a new all-time high and surpassing previous years, and with the 2026 season starting weeks earlier, early booking is not optional – it is the only way to get your preferred slot.
This guide covers every major helipad in Uttarakhand: location, altitude, distance from shrine, 2026 UCADA official fares (revised from 2025), step-by-step IRCTC booking process, and what to expect on the ground at each helipad.
A designated landing area for helicopters – typically a cleared flat surface with an H-marking. No terminal, no ATC, no refueling. Pilgrims land, walk to the shrine, complete darshan, and return to the same spot. All mountain helipads in Uttarakhand – Kharsali, Harsil, Phata, Sirsi, Guptkashi, Kedarnath, Badrinath – are helipads.
A full helicopter facility with passenger check-in, ATC, refueling, maintenance, and multi-helicopter capacity. Only Sahastradhara in Dehradun qualifies as a heliport in Uttarakhand. This is where all Chardham packages begin.
Practical point: Your Chardham journey starts and ends at Sahastradhara Heliport. Everything in between – Kharsali, Harsil, Kedarnath – is a helipad. Understanding this helps you plan ground transfers, especially for Gangotri where 25 km taxi is needed after landing.
| Helipad / Heliport | Nearest Shrine | Altitude | Key Role |
| Sahastradhara Heliport, Dehradun | Departure hub for all Dhams | ~700 m | Only full heliport; check-in, ATC, refueling, baggage screening |
| Kharsali Helipad | Yamunotri Temple | ~2,675 m | ~1 km walk from Yamunotri Temple; also winter seat of Yamunotri deity |
| Harsil (Harshil) Helipad | Gangotri Temple | ~2,620 m | ~25 km road from Gangotri temple; taxi 45–60 min required |
| Sersi (Sirsi) Helipad | Kedarnath Temple | ~1,900 m | Shortest flight to Kedarnath (5–7 min); cheapest 2026 fare; 2 operators |
| Phata Helipad | Kedarnath | ~2,650 m | Highest traffic base; 4 operators; 8–10 min flight to Kedarnath |
| Guptkashi Helipad | Kedarnath | ~1,320 m | Lowest altitude base; 15 min flight; 2 operators; good for pilgrims staying in Guptkashi |
| Kedarnath Helipad | Kedarnath Temple | ~3,500 m | ~500 m stone path walk to temple; highest helipad on standard circuit |
| Badrinath Helipad | Badrinath Temple | ~3,100 m | 500 m–1 km from temple; also used for emergency medical evacuations |
| Joshimath Helipad | Badrinath (backup) | ~1,875 m | Staging base when Badrinath weather prevents direct landings; main emergency evacuation hub for corridor |
| Govind Dham (Ghangaria) | Hemkund Sahib | ~3,050 m | Hemkund Sahib route only; 6 km further trek to shrine; booked via IRCTC separately |
UCADA revised Kedarnath fares for 2026. The Sersi sector saw a significant ₹2,753 reduction vs 2025. Phata increased slightly. All fares exclude 18% GST and ₹300 IRCTC convenience fee.
| Helipad | 2025 Fare (₹) | 2026 Fare (₹) | Change (₹) | Operators |
| Sersi (Sirsi) | ₹8,839 | ₹6,086 | – ₹2,753 ↓ | 2 |
| Phata | ₹8,842 | ₹9,680 | + ₹838 ↑ | 4 |
| Guptkashi | ₹12,444 | ₹12,154 | – ₹290 ↓ | 2 |
Add to above: 18% GST + ₹300 IRCTC convenience fee per booking. Final ticket price shown at time of payment on heliyatra.irctc.co.in.
Best value in 2026: Sersi helipad at ₹6,086 return is now the most affordable option, with the shortest flight time (5–7 min). If a Sersi slot is available, it is the smart choice for budget-conscious pilgrims.
The operational center of all Chardham heli ops. During peak season, 80–100+ helicopter movements per day happen here. In 2026, with the season opening 10 days earlier, April volume is expected to be unprecedented.
Serves Yamunotri Dham at ~2,675 m. After landing, a ~1 km mostly level walk leads to the temple. Kharsali is also where the Yamunotri deity spends winter – the idol moves here when the Dham closes in November.
Harsil is 25 km from the Gangotri temple by road – the most indirect helipad-to-temple connection on the circuit. After landing, a taxi ride of 45–60 minutes takes you to Gangotri. This transfer is included in all organized Chardham helicopter packages.
Plan extra time: The Gangotri leg consistently takes longer in helicopter packages due to this transfer. If you are building your own package, confirm taxi inclusion.
Three helipads serve as departure bases for the Kedarnath shuttle. UCADA allocates slots across all three. You cannot choose your operator – IRCTC assigns by rotation.
From all three, a short flight lands you at the Kedarnath Helipad (~3,500 m), 500 m from the temple on a stone path.
At ~3,500 m, this is the highest helipad on the standard Chardham circuit. The 500 m stone-paved walk to the temple takes 8–12 minutes. Morning flights have the highest completion rate – cloud cover typically builds in the valley after midday.
500 m to 1 km from the main Badrinath Temple. Used for full Chardham helicopter packages (final stop before return to Dehradun) and for emergency medical evacuations throughout the season.
This helipad serves a completely separate pilgrimage – Hemkund Sahib, the sacred Sikh shrine at 4,329 m. From Govind Dham (~3,050 m), a 6 km trek leads to the shrine.
Bookings opened 11 April 2026 at 6 PM IST. A second phase for September–October dates opens in mid-June. Here is the exact process:
Fraud warning: UCADA and the Uttarakhand DGP’s office have flagged multiple fake sites in 2024–2025. Red flags: no IRCTC branding, upfront Aadhaar/PAN photo uploads, ‘agent fee’ or ‘fast-track fee’ of ₹500–₹5,000, or skipping the URN step. Use only heliyatra.irctc.co.in.
From practical experience: the helicopter does not diminish the experience – that is what almost every helicopter pilgrim says.
At Phata or Sersi at 5 AM in peak season, lines form before dawn. Pilgrims in warm clothes, many elderly, many families, sitting quietly in the cold mountain morning waiting for their slot number to be called. There is a specific stillness to that wait.
The helicopter approach to Kedarnath from the air – seeing the ancient stone temple at 3,583 m, surrounded on three sides by snow peaks, shrouded in early morning mist – is something you cannot fully anticipate from photographs.
What most people don’t realize: book morning slots. Not because it is recommended – because afternoon weather in the Himalayan valleys is genuinely unpredictable. Flights cancelled at 2 PM because of cloud formation are common. A 7 AM slot means clear skies, better darshan, and the return flight back before conditions change.
Namaste India Trip is a government-registered operator offering complete Chardham helicopter packages from Dehradun with full logistics.
All Chardham helicopter packages start and end at Sahastradhara Heliport, Dehradun – the only full heliport in Uttarakhand. Arrive at least 2 hours before your scheduled slot.
Only at heliyatra.irctc.co.in. IRCTC has a 5-year agreement with UCADA to manage all Kedarnath shuttle bookings. No agents, third-party sites, or WhatsApp groups are authorized.
UCADA-fixed 2026 fares (return, per person, before GST and ₹300 fee): Sersi ₹6,086 | Phata ₹9,680 | Guptkashi ₹12,154. Sersi is ₹2,753 cheaper than 2025. Add 18% GST + ₹300 IRCTC fee for the final price at checkout.
IRCTC HeliYatra bookings for the April–June 2026 season opened at 6 PM on 11 April 2026. The second phase for September–October dates typically opens in mid-June.
Sersi is cheapest (₹6,086) with the shortest flight (5–7 min). Phata has the most slots and 4 operators, making it easiest to book. Guptkashi is best if you are already based there. Book whichever helipad has availability on your preferred date – flight time difference is negligible.
Approximately 500 m via a stone-paved path. The walk takes 8–12 minutes at an easy pace.
No. The nearest helipad is at Harsil, 25 km from the Gangotri temple. After landing at Harsil, a 45–60 minute taxi ride takes you to the temple. Full Chardham packages include this transfer.
5 kg cabin baggage per passenger – IRCTC HeliYatra official limit. Weigh-in happens at the base helipad. Excess is not allowed on the flight.
If the operator cancels, IRCTC refunds the full amount minus payment gateway charges within 5–7 working days. If you cancel within 24 hours of departure, no refund. Build a buffer day into your plan.
Not legally mandatory on IRCTC HeliYatra. However, operators at Phata and Guptkashi counters often request a fitness certificate from an MBBS doctor for pilgrims aged 55+ or those with declared cardiac/BP/diabetes conditions. Carrying one is strongly recommended.
Helicopter services to Kedarnath start on 21 April 2026 – one day before the Kedarnath temple opens on 22 April. Bookings opened on 11 April 2026.
Online booking on IRCTC HeliYatra is return only. One-way tickets are available at helipad counters (Sersi, Phata, Guptkashi) on the day of travel, subject to availability. Counter bookings follow UCADA’s 50% dynamic pricing rule on the day.
In 2026, with the Chardham season opening in April and helicopter demand higher than ever, the window between deciding to book and losing your preferred slot is shorter than most people expect.
The correct portal is heliyatra.irctc.co.in – nothing else. The best slots are morning departures. The Sersi helipad is the best value in 2026 at ₹6,086 return. And building one weather buffer day into your itinerary is not optional – it is just realistic Himalayan planning.
Organizing your Chardham Yatra by helicopter in 2026? Contact Namaste India Trip for all-inclusive packages from Dehradun with complete helipad coordination, VIP Darshan, and 24×7 support.
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