Kedarnath Dham Yatra: The doors of Kedarnath Dham will open on April 22, helicopter fares have been increased..

Kedarnath Dham Yatra 2026: If you are planning to undertake the Kedarnath Dham pilgrimage in the coming days, this news may be of particular interest to you. Changes have been made to the fares for the helicopter services operating to Kedarnath. Helicopter services for Kedarnath Dham are operated from Guptkashi, Phata, and Sersi. Among these, the fares for the services operating from Guptkashi and Phata have been increased. Conversely, the fares for the helicopter service operating from Sersi have been reduced.

**Helicopter Service Fares Finalized**
Every year, lakhs of devotees from across the country arrive to undertake the pilgrimage to Uttarakhand's Char Dham (Four Shrines). To offer prayers at Kedarnath Dham, pilgrims utilize both the trekking route and the helicopter service. The helicopter service for Kedarnath Dham operates from three helipads: Guptkashi, Phata, and Sersi. This means that shuttle helicopter services to Kedarnath are available from all three of these locations. The Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) has finalized the fares for the Kedarnath helicopter service as part of the Char Dham Yatra. Compared to last year, the fare for traveling to Kedarnath from the Sersi helipad has been reduced this time, while the fare for the service from the Phata helipad has been increased. Online booking for helicopter service tickets to Kedarnath Dham will commence through IRCTC.

**Highest Number of Registrations Recorded for Kedarnath Dham**
The portals (gates) of Kedarnath Dham are set to open on April 22. Consequently, immense enthusiasm is being observed among devotees regarding registrations for the Kedarnath Dham pilgrimage. Among all four Dhams, Kedarnath Dham has received the highest number of registrations so far. Since registrations began on March 7, a total of 361,668 devotees have already registered for Kedarnath Dham. Meanwhile, the total number of registrations continues to rise rapidly.

**Helicopter Service to Begin on April 21**
Operations for the helicopter service to Kedarnath Dham are scheduled to commence on April 21. This service will be operated from the Guptkashi, Phata, and Sersi helipads. The Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) has completed the tender process for the Kedarnath heli-shuttle service, selecting eight operating companies. Of these, two companies will operate the heli-service from Guptkashi, four from Phata, and two from Sersi.

**What will be the travel time?**
Regarding travel time, it takes approximately 10 minutes to reach Kedarnath from Guptkashi and 10 minutes for the return journey. From Phata, the one-way travel time is about 7 minutes. Meanwhile, reaching Kedarnath from Sersi and returning takes just 6 minutes each way. Based on distance, the fares from the Guptkashi and Phata helipads have been slightly increased this time, whereas the fare for the heli-service from the Sersi helipad has been reduced.

**What will be the fare?**
UCADA has established specific fares for the heli-services operating from the Guptkashi, Phata, and Sersi helipads. The round-trip fare has been fixed at ₹12,154 from Guptkashi to Kedarnath, ₹9,680 from Phata, and ₹6,086 from Sersi. Compared to last year, there has been an increase of ₹290 from Guptkashi and ₹838 from Phata. Conversely, the helicopter fare from the Sersi helipad has become cheaper by ₹2,753. Additionally, a 5% GST will be levied on the fare, and a convenience fee will be charged separately for online ticket bookings.

**When might ticket bookings begin?**
Following the selection of the helicopter companies, UCADA is expected to commence ticket bookings starting April 10. However, the exact date is yet to be finalized. Ticket bookings will be conducted through the IRCTC website: heliyatra.irctc.co.in. Pilgrims planning to travel to Kedarnath by helicopter are advised to remain vigilant against fraudulent websites.

What the UCADA CEO Said
UCADA CEO Ashish Chauhan stated that all necessary measures have been taken to ensure the safe operation of helicopter services this time around. Comprehensive arrangements have also been put in place to ensure that pilgrims face no inconvenience. CEO Ashish Chauhan noted that while there has been a marginal increase in ticket fares for helicopter services operating from Guptkashi and Phata, the fare for the helicopter service from Sersi has been reduced by approximately 60%. UCADA CEO Ashish Chauhan further confirmed that the operators for the helicopter services have already been selected. Strict adherence to all safety and operational protocols will be enforced throughout the pilgrimage. Close monitoring will be maintained to ensure that pilgrims receive superior helicopter services. Additionally, the dates for ticket bookings will be announced shortly.

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