A Chardham Yatra is a religious trip where people visit four holy places in the Indian Himalayas: Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. This journey holds immense significance in Hinduism because, at this place, worshippers fulfil their spiritual promises. For many Hindus, going to these places is seen as necessary to find peace from life's troubles.
Chardham Yatra, also called the 'four abodes,' is a wonderful experience for Hindu devotees. This yatra covers four important temples and is a popular journey for religious enthusiasts. Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath are the main destinations included in Chardham Yatra by Helicopter. It is well-known for being one of the most revered religious journeys to pay respects to Hindu Gods.
Chardham By Helicopter
If you choose to travel to Chardham by Helicopter, it can offeryou:
● Free stay in Dehradun on your arrival day, including dinner and breakfast. This extra night in Dehradun turns your Heli-Tour into a
5-night and 6-day tour!
● Accommodation for 4 nights at each of the four Dhams, with all meals and local transportation provided.
● You can choose between vegetarian meals or Jain food.
● Local sightseeing with guides from Blueheights Aviation at all four Dhams.
● Airport and hotel transfers in Dehradun.
● A Palki service at Yamunotri.
● Shuttle service to Shri Kedarnath Ji from Sersi or the nearest Kedarnath helipad.
● Helicopter handling (chargeable).
● A duffle bag for your convenience.
● A tour manager to assist you on the journey.
Helicopter Route
The helicopter service to Char Dham Yatra starts from the Sahastradhara helipad in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. The Chardham helicopter usually departs at around 6:30 in the morning from this helipad. The helicopter journey takes about 50 minutes to 1 hour each way.
Chardham Yatra Itinerary
Day 1:
The Chardham helicopter journey begins and ends in Dehradun.When guests arrive, they will get a free stay with dinner and breakfast. You will be picked up either from Dehradun Airport or the Railway station, depending on when you arrive. It's a good idea to get to Dehradun by 1:00 p.m. In the evening, you will receive a briefing about the tour from the staff, and you will be given duffel bags to carry your stuff for the upcoming journey.
Day 2:
This is the official start of the Chardham Yatra by Helicopter. On this day, guests need to check outearly at 5:00 a.m. Then you will head to Sahastradhara Helidrome. From there, you just have to take a short walk to the hotel. After having breakfast around 8:00 a.m., you will reach Yamunotri for darshan. It takes approximately 5 hours and 30 minutes (roundtrip) for the Yamunotri Temple darshan, and the trek to Yamunotri is 6 km one-way. While in Kharsali, you can also explore the Hot Springs at Yamunotri Temple, Yamuna Mata Temple, and Shani Temple.
Day 3:
On this day, guests should be ready to check out at 05:30 hrs.You will depart from Kharsali Heli-base at 06:30 hrs, and you will be expected to arrive in Harsil by 07:00 hrs. Harsil, which is the Heli-base for your second Dham, is known for its stunning natural beauty in the Chardham Tour. After having breakfast at around 09:00 hrs, you will be ready for darshan at Gangotri Dham. The approximate time taken for Gangotri Temple darshan is 3 hours and 30 minutes (round trip). The road distance to Gangotri temple is approximately 25 km, which is about a 50-minute drive.
If local authorities permit and ensure road safety, you may also have the chance to witness the evening Ganga Aarti at Gangotri. While in Harsil, you can explore Bagodi Village, and Mukhwa Village, take a short trek to Chholmi village, go on a nature walk from Jhalla, and visit the Shiv Temple in Harsil.
Day 4:
On this day, guests should be ready to check out at 06:00 hrs.You will arrive at the Sersi base by 07:30 hrs. After having breakfast around 10:00 hrs, guests will be taken to Kedarnath Dham on a shuttle services flight. You will have approximately 2 hours for darshan and then need to return to the Kedarnath helipad. The crew will guide you to the Kedarnath temple, Adi Shankaracharya Samadhi, and Bhairo mandir (the protector of the Kedarnath valley). The approximate time needed for Kedarnath Temple darshan is 2 hours. Guests will be transported to the Kedarnath shrine by helicopter shuttle services, which is about a 7-minute flight from Sersi helipad.
While in Sersi, you can also explore the Triyuginarayan Temple, which is known for the celestial marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, or visit Gaurikund (subject to road traffic). In Kedarnath Dham, there are many attractions to see, including the Kedarnath Temple, Kedarnath Shivling, Bhim Shila, Adi guru Shankaracharya Samadhi, Bhairo mandir, Kedarnath Helipad, Kedar Valley, Alaknanda River, Rudra Cave, Gandhi Sarovar, and Vasuki Tal Lake.
Day 5
On this day, guests will have breakfast by 07:00 hrs in Sersiand should be ready for their flight to Badrinath by 08:00 hrs. In the afternoon, guests will be taken for darshan at the Badrinath temple. The approximate time needed for Badrinath Temple darshan is around 1-2 hours. Guests will be driven to the temple by car. The Badrinath Temple is open for darshan after the morning Mahabhishek Aarti. The temple committee usually closes the temple door during the daytime, between 1 PM to 3 PM.
While in Badrinath, you can also visit the Hot Spring at the Badrinath temple and explore Mana Village. If available, you may have the opportunity to witness the evening Aarti at Badrinath Temple, which includes Swaran Aarti or Chandi Aarti.
Day 6
For guests who have pre-booked the Maha Abhishek Puja, please be ready early in the morning at 03:30 hrs. The Puja will take place from 04:30 hrs to 06:30 hrs. Afterwards, guests should be prepared to check out at 08:00 hrs. You can estimate your arrival at Sahastradhara to be around 10:00 hrs. You will then be taken to the Dehradun Hotel to collect your luggage from the cloakrooms.
Finally, the team will drop you off at the airport or railway station for your departure. If you wish to spend an additional night in Dehradun, you can arrange accommodation for you at an extra cost.
Conclusion
The visit to Chardham will be quite memorable if you cover the distance through a helicopter. Flying above the vast grasslands of the Himalayas is a thrilling and unique experience that one must have in their lifetime at least once.
