In comparison to the arduous road journey of about 10-11 hours, one may plan to visit the famous Badrinath shrine by helicopter in just few hours. In fact, the helicopter journey
to Badrinath can be completed the same day in less than 6 hours only. Apart from the spiritual experience, the helicopter service to Badrinath also enables the tourists to view the scenic Himalayan peaks from a height of almost 10,000 feet above sea level.
This blog shares with you all the information on how to reach Badrinath Temple by helicopter.
Helicopter Service To Badrinath
(बद्रीनाथ हेलिकॉप्टर सेवा / हेलिकॉप्टर से बद्रीनाथ यात्रा )
Where does the Badrinath Helicopter Service operate from?
Helicopter service to Badrinath operates from the helipad located at Sahastradhara, Dehradun in the Uttarakhand state of India. The helipad is a gateway to the skies of Uttarakhand as it links the state capital to most of the helipads in the state.
Is the exact time of helicopter flight to Badrinath known in advance?
Many pilgrims who wish to fly to Badrinath by helicopter do not know that flying by helicopter is quite different as compared to flying by fixed wing airplanes. Thus, while the scheduled flights ( like Go Air, Indigo, Air India, etc. ) take off at a specific time each day, the helicopter flights to Badrinath are operated as non-scheduled flights in which the exact time of take-off is not pre-determined. Thus, the exact time of flight is known only one day in advance to the flight date. This is due to the fact that Badrinath helicopter flights are dependable on several factors such as weather conditions, Defence permissions, flying permissions from the Government’s aviation department.
In normal course, the travellers are required to reach Dehradun one day in advance to their flight date. In the evening, they are given a briefing about the next day’s flight schedule, along with the expected time of departure for the next day.
It is important to note that the time given for Badrinath Helicopter flight is only expected time and may differ from the actual time of departure which in turn depends on weather and other conditions as shared above.
Recent pictures of travellers who went by Helicopter from Dehradun to Badrinath through Waytoindia.com
What is the sequence followed on the date of flight?
Once the travellers reach the Helipad, they are taken to the helicopter where safety instructions are shared with them. Thereafter, they board the helicopter, ready to go on a pilgrimage of a lifetime to Badrinath, one of the four Dham designated by Adi Shankaracharya.
Once the passengers have boarded the helicopter, the captain of the helicopter sets the rotors on, and within a few minutes, the helicopter soars above from the ground leading to a panoramic view of the helipad at Sahastradhara in Dehradun.
Why is the option of flying to Badrinath by helicopter so costly?
Many pilgrims wonder as to why the cost of helicopter flight to so steep, when helicopter service at Vaishnodevi or Amarnath is much affordable. The reason for this is that unlike a few minutes helicopter sortie of Phata to Kedarnath by helicopter or Katra to Vaishnodevi Yatra by Helicopter, when you fly to Badrinath by Helicopter , the flying time is about 50 minutes to 1 hour each way.
Thus, it takes about one hour by helicopter to fly from Dehradun to Badrinath and similarly, it takes about one hour to fly from Badrinath to Dehradun by Helicopter.
Can I fly to Badrinath by helicopter from Delhi ?
One must note that at present Badrinath helicopter packages are available only from Dehradun. One may book helicopter packages from New Delhi to Badrinath , but it does not make much sense as the two cities are anyway connected by train, flights, and road and there is no sense spending about 1.5 lac extra for this journey from Delhi.
Which other places are visible to travellers from helicopter while flying to Badrinath?
In about 10 minutes after taking off from the Sahastradhara helipad, the travellers get the first visual treat down below in the form of Tehri Dam’s aerial view. The emerald green water of the Tehri Dam makes the passengers mesmerised as they may have never experienced anything like this earlier. On the horizon, travellers get their first glimpse of the snow-clad peaks too.
Travellers get amazed by the scenic beauty of the Uttarakhand Himalayas.
After flying for about 40 minutes at an altitude of about 10,500 feet above mean sea level, another visual delight is the lofty snow-capped mountains of the higher ranges of Himalayas.
In the picture above one can see the snow-capped mountains in the background with lush green slopes of Auli on the top and Joshimath in the lower reaches.
After another 10 minutes of flying the first sight is that of Badrinath Helipad on the right-hand side. The helicopter flies a little further towards the Badrinath Temple to get the pilgrims the first glimpse of the Badrinath Temple’s aerial view.
Thereafter the pilot lowers down the helicopter and the travellers get down at the Badrinath Helipad.
How far is the helipad located from Badrinath Temple? how will I reach Badrinath Temple from helipad?
As a part of the Badrinath Helicopter Package, a car awaits to the take travellers near to the Temple.
The car actually takes the travellers very near to the Temple, i.e. about 80 meters short of the Temple. This service is especially useful for infirm or old aged passengers who cannot walk much.
Is VIP Darshan included in the Badrinath Helicopter package?
Pilgrims go for the VIP Darshan at the Badrinath Temple. The pilgrims are not required to stand in the long queues as they are taken inside the temple through a side entrance. The facility of VIP Darshan is included in the service cost.
Upon reaching inside the temple, the travellers are taken near to the Garbhagriha (गर्भगृह ) where the idols of Lord Badrinath, Lord Kuber, Lord Uddhav, Lord Garuda, Nar, and Narayan are there. Dharmadhikari of the priest sitting outside makes the pilgrims aware of the different idols. After offering prayers, the travellers are escorted out of the temple.
After the Darshan at the Badrinath Temple, pilgrims reach back the point where the car had left them to board the car again for reaching back to the helipad.
Before this, the pilgrims may purchase some souvenirs from the shops that are lined up on the way to Temple. Pilgrims board the car and reach the helipad to take their flight back to Dehradun from Badrinath.
This way the journey which otherwise would have taken about 10-11 hours is completed in just about 5-6 hours.
After takeoff from Badrinath helipad, the travellers reach back the Sahastradhara helipad by about 15:30 am. (Assuming that they have been able to start their journey by 10:30 am in the morning.)
Waytoindia.com organises Badrinath Yatra by helicopter which can be booked by calling on +918527255991 or by writing a mail on info@waytoindia.com.
About Badrinath
Among the four Dhams (pilgrimages) of India located in four cardinal directions, Shri Badrinath Dham is located in the Northern State of Uttarakhand in the Chamoli district of the state.
While it takes close to 11 hours to drive from Haridwar to Badrinath, Badrinath Helicopter service reduces this time to just about one hour each way.
Badrinath Kedarnath Tour Package By Helicopter
(🚁 हेलिकॉप्टर से बद्रीनाथ व केदारनाथ की यात्रा )
Badrinath Kedarnath yatra by helicopter fare
One can also book Badrinath Kedarnath Tour Package by Helicopter. This package takes the Yatris to both the Dhams – Badrinath & Kedarnath by helicopter in one day.
The package includes the cost of helicopter charter, cost of shuttle tickets from Phata to Kedarnath and back, cost of Priority Darshan slip at Kedarnath, Cost of Vehicle from Badrinath helipad to Badrinath temple and back, VIP Darshan at Badrinath.
As of now the fare for Badrinath Kedarnath Tour Package by Helicopter (also called Do Dham Yatra by helicopter or Badrinath Kedarnath Yatra by Helicopter) is INR 5,25,000 for up to 5 to 6 passengers traveling together with the total weight of passengers not exceeding 425 kgs.
As of now the fare to visit Badrinath by helicopter is INR 4,00,000 for up to 5 to 6 passengers traveling together with the total weight of passengers not exceeding 425 kgs.
Waytoindia.com also arranges the Badrinath Helicopter Services on a per person basis. At present the per person charges (for passengers up to 70 kgs of weight) are INR 80,000 for One Dham(Badrinath or Kedarnath).
Waytoindia.com also arranges the Badrinath Kedarnath Yatra by Helicopter(also called Do Dham Yatra by helicopter or Badri Kedar Yatra by Helicopter) on a per-person basis. At present the per person charges (for passengers up to 70 kgs of weight) are INR 1,15,000. To know more about this kindly call +91 8527255991/95.
If you wish to know about Chardham Yatra of Uttarakhand, you may call us on 8527255991 or 8527255995.
Chardham Yatra by helicopter price
As of now the fare for Chardham Yatra by helicopter is INR 1,90,000 per person. This cost includes the cost of a 01-night stay at Dehradun, 01 night stay at Kharsali, a 01-night stay at Guptkashi and 01 Night stay at Badrinath at the best available accommodation. This cost also includes VIP Darshan at all the temples. Note that this tour also includes Maha Abhishek Aarti at Badrinath Temple, the only time when one can see the Saligrama idol of Lord Badrinath.
Important Information Regarding Badrinath Helicopter Service
- This pilgrimage by helicopter is done through Bell 407 or Euro-copter single-engine helicopters.
- The total weight of passengers must not exceed 425 Kgs.
- Each passenger must not take more than one small handbag which must not exceed 5 Kgs.
- A sudden drop in temperature is felt upon reaching Badrinath, thus, the pilgrims must take along warm clothing with them.
- Sudden changes in the weather conditions may lead to total or partial cancellations of flights. In such cases, pilgrims might be forced to complete the pilgrimage by road. Pilgrims are advised to understand the cancellation policy before booking the charter for Badrinath.
- Special Puja can be arranged at extra cost for the Pilgrims on advance request.
- Kindly note that Helicopter Yatra to Badrinath gets affected due to weather conditions such as heavy rains between July and mid-September.Thus, pilgrims should plan their travel either by mid-June or between 15th September to 15th October.
- Since Badrinath Temple is located at about 10900 feet above mean sea level, it is located in a high altitude area. Thus, the pilgrims who have any health problems such as asthma, cardiac problems or any other pulmonary health issues must first consult their doctor before booking a helicopter tour to Badrinath.
Badrinath By Helicopter 2023
Waytoindia.com has now started taking per person bookings for Badrinath Yatra by helicopter for the year 2023. For more details call us on +918527255991 or write to us on info@waytoindia.com.
Latest Update On Badrinath & Kedarnath Yatra 2023:
Chardham Latest News Today
श्री बद्रीनाथ धाम एवं श्री केदारनाथ धाम यात्रा के सम्बंध में आवश्यक सूचना व जानकारी (Registration for Badrinath Kedarnath Yatra)
(image source : Amar Ujala)
You can now do your registration for Char Dham Yatra on the link https://registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in/
Latest Weather Conditions In Badrinath & Weather Forecast for Badrinath
Helicopter service to Badrinath starts from Dehradun Helipad which is located at Sahastradhara in Dehradun.
To go to Badrinath by flight, one has to reach Dehradun in Uttarakhand state of India by flight or train.One has to reach Dehradun one day in advance to the actual travel date. The helipad is located in Sahastradhara which is near to Rajpur Road in Dehradun.
No, this service is available on charter basis only. Hence, you should do Badrinath helicopter booking well in advance.
Yes, if you book well in advance, you can share the cost with other passengers based on the total weight of all the passengers.
Yes, it is possible to book Badrinath to Kedarnath Helicopter. However, this is not a regular service and can only be booked on charter basis.
Yes, it is absolutely safe to undertake Dehradun to Badrinath helicopter service as these helicopters are completely air worthy and are flown by very experienced pilots.
Since the luggage goes into the tail of helicopter which has limited space and also since there are restrictions on the weight that helicopters can safely fly with, you can take small hand bags of maximum 5 kg per person only on your flight.
You would get roughly about 1-2 hours time for Darshan at Badrinath and Kedarnath each.
Generally, your Badrinath Kedarnath tour package by helicopter includes Priority darshan slip for Darshan at Kedarnath and VIP darshan at Badrinath, so that you are not required to stand in long queues.
Kedarnath temple is located about 500 meters from the Kedarnath temple. The walk is a bit inclined and owing to high altitude, one has to walk slowly. There are porters with baskets on their back and can be hired for those who have difficulty in walking.In contrast to this, a vehicle drives you from Badrinath helipad to about 200 meters from Badrinath temple from where an escort takes you to the temple for VIP Darshan.
If due to bad weather or technical issues, you are not able to fly at all, 100% of the amount paid by you gets refunded. If you have flown and done only a certain part of the journey and the rest of the journey could not be completed owing to bad weather or technical issues, you are charges on pro-rata basis and balance amount is refunded.
While we do not guarantee that in such a case we would be providing you helicopter the next day(but guarantee 100% refund if we are not able to fly you). However, having said that, it is always our endeavour to ensure that the pilgrims who have come that far are able to fly and have their Darshan.
Yes, it is certainly possible to do only one way journey, however, the charges remain the same as the service is on charter basis only.
Yes, it is possible to stay overnight at Badrinath and fly from Badrinath to Dehradun the next day. However, please note that in such a case it amounts to two separate helicopter charters for which the cost shall be double.In fact, you can also plan your journey where we would drop you at Badrinath on a specific day and you can stay there for a couple of days and we would come back to pick you on the day of your choice.
Yes, there are several places to visit in or near Badrinath.
You can visit Mana Village which is the last Indian village towards the Indo-China Border. Mana Village has several mythological points such as Vyas Gufa, Ganesh Gufa, Sarasvati River Point and Bhim Pul. Other than this, one can also perform the Pitru Tarpan at Brahmkapal on the banks of river Alaknanda(Waytoindia arranges the same on extra cost basis for the charter guests who go for overnight stay package.
Badrinath Temple is expected to open on 27th April 2023.
Yes, Pitru Tarpan is possible at Brahmkapal in Badrinath.You may call us on 8527255991 to know more about this.
While there are no historical records about the exact origin of the temple, as per some accounts, the temple was a Buddhist Vihara till 8th Century and later Adi Shankaracharya converted it into a Hindu Temple. The temple had gone through renovation and was expanded by Kings of Garhwal.
The opening and closing dates of Badrinath Temple are disclosed by the Temple committee year year and the temple remains open during most of the month of October. However, the exact closing date of Badrinath Temple varies each year and extends sometimes to the month of November as well.
The distance between Dehradun and Badrinath is about 338 Kms.
It is absolutely safe to travel to Badrinath, however, during the monsoon months of July and August, sometimes there are landslides on the route which creates some difficulties for the pilgrims .
The presiding deity of Badrinath shrine is Lord Vishnu.
Mata Murti Ka Mela is the most prominent festival of Badrinath that is celebrated to commemorate the descent of River Ganges on Mother Earth.
Badrinath Temple is located in high altitude area of Himalayas. The town becomes snowbound mid November onwards and remains under a thick cover of snow upto second week of April. Mythologically, it is believed that these six months, when the temple is closed, the Pooja in the temple is done by Devas or Demigods. This is the reason that the temple remains open for only 6 months for the tourists.
Internet connectivity is not up to mark in Badrinath. While the mobile internet works for the JIO mobile network, the speed is not satisfactory. Mobile internet connectivity for other service providers such as Airtel or Vodaphone is really bad and lacking.
Badrinath remains completely snowbound during the month of December. Even the residents of Mana village close their houses and come down to Govindghat or Joshimath. While it is not impossible to go to Badrinath in December, it is not easy to reach Badrinath in December owing to heavy snowfall.
Yes, there are two Jain Temples in Badrinath. The first one is Ashtapad Jain Temple located on the located at Narayan Palace Road in Badrinath and the second is Aadinath Digamber Jain Mandir in Badrinath.
Charan Paduka at Badrinath which is popularly also known as Vishnu Charan Paduka is a sacred rock which is believed to have foot impressions of Lord Vishnu. It is located at a 2.5 km climb towards Neelkanth.
It is not allowed to take pictures of Badrinath Idol inside the main Garbagriha or main sanctum Santorum of temple.
No, at present there is no daily helicopter service between Dehradun and Auli. However, upon request a chartered helicopter can be arranged for flight between Dehradun and Joshimath and from Joshimath the tourists can be dropped by road at Auli.
Badrinath Temple is opening on 27th April 2023 and Kedarnath Temple is opening on 25th April 2023.
The mountain peaks in and around Badrinath get their first snow of the season in the first week of November. By about December first week, there is heavy snowfall in the area and temple and entire area is covered by snow.
Many of the visitors in Auli in December wish to know if it is possible to visit Badrinath in December or January. Because of heavy snowfall, it is not possible for civil tourists to visit Badrinath. It is only the ITBP and Army who stay in Badrinath in the winter months. Also, since Badrinath Temple closes in October end or early November, there are no hotels or other amenities in the area.
