Dehradun (Uttarakhand): Over 1.1 million devotees have already registered for the upcoming Chardham Yatra, set to commence on May 10th, with all helicopter ride tickets fully booked until June 20th.
The booking for helicopter rides for darshan of Baba Kedarnath Dham commenced on April 20th. In just a matter of hours, all tickets from May 10th to June 20th were swiftly reserved. Following this, the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) began accepting bookings for helicopter rides from September 15th to October 31st. This time around, passengers will have the option to charter helicopters for the Chardham Yatra.
C Ravi Shankar, the Additional Secretary of the Uttarakhand civil aviation department, stated, “Helicopter booking facilities for Kedarnath Dham opened on April 20th, and all tickets for the period of May 10th to June 20th were fully booked in a very short span of time. Now, bookings are open for the period of September 15th to October 31st for the convenience of passengers. It’s important to note that helicopters will not be in operation during the monsoon season, from June 21st to September 14th.”
As part of the Chardham Yatra, the doors of Yamunotri, Gangotri, and Kedarnath Dham will open for devotees on May 10th, followed by the opening of the doors of Badrinath Dham on May 12th and Hemkund Sahib on May 25th.
It is mandatory for devotees embarking on the Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand to register themselves. Registration can be completed through the official Chardham Yatra website at https://registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in. Alternatively, individuals can also register by sending ‘Yatra’ via WhatsApp to 8394833833 or by downloading the Tourist Care Uttarakhand mobile app on their smartphones.
For devotees facing difficulties with online registration, a toll-free number, 0135-1364, has been provided to assist with the registration process.
Devotees intending to use helicopter services to reach Kedarnath or other sites are advised to book their tickets exclusively from the official IRCTC website at http://heliyatra.irctc.co.in. Officials emphasize that tickets should not be purchased from any other sources.
