Heli service from Doon to Kedarnath & Badrinath begins

Dehradun: The helicopter service from Dehradun's Jolly Grant Airport to Kedarnath and Badrinath commenced on Saturday. With the Badrinath shrine scheduled to open today, the chopper made its inaugural flight to Kedarnath and returned to the airport the same day. The service is operated by Rudraksha Aviation using a 20-seater MI-17 helicopter. A five-member team from the directorate general of civil aviation inspected the service on Friday and granted the necessary clearance.
On the first day, the chopper transported pilgrims to the Guptkashi helipad from where they were ferried to Kedarnath by a connecting helicopter. From Sunday onwards, the schedule will undergo a minor change. The chopper will first fly to Badrinath, then proceed to Guptkashi, before returning to Dehradun. The fare for a same-day round trip to both shrines is Rs 1.25 lakh per person. For those opting to spend one night each at Kedarnath and Badrinath, the fare is Rs 1.45 lakh per person.
Captain PK Chabri, CEO of Rudraksha Aviation, told TOI, "The Rs 1.45 lakh fare includes a three-night package. We provide accommodation on the first night in Dehradun, followed by stays in Kedarnath and Badrinath. The MI-17 is the only double-engine helicopter operating on the Char Dham route."
The chopper will operate two sorties daily from Jolly Grant: one at 7:00 am and another at 11:30 am. "Each day, we conduct two sorties. After completing the first round of pilgrim drops, the chopper returns for the second flight," Chabri said.
Dehradun: The helicopter service from Dehradun's Jolly Grant Airport to Kedarnath and Badrinath commenced on Saturday. With the Badrinath shrine scheduled to open today, the chopper made its inaugural flight to Kedarnath and returned to the airport the same day. The service is operated by Rudraksha Aviation using a 20-seater MI-17 helicopter. A five-member team from the directorate general of civil aviation inspected the service on Friday and granted the necessary clearance.
On the first day, the chopper transported pilgrims to the Guptkashi helipad from where they were ferried to Kedarnath by a connecting helicopter. From Sunday onwards, the schedule will undergo a minor change. The chopper will first fly to Badrinath, then proceed to Guptkashi, before returning to Dehradun. The fare for a same-day round trip to both shrines is Rs 1.25 lakh per person. For those opting to spend one night each at Kedarnath and Badrinath, the fare is Rs 1.45 lakh per person.
Captain PK Chabri, CEO of Rudraksha Aviation, told TOI, "The Rs 1.45 lakh fare includes a three-night package. We provide accommodation on the first night in Dehradun, followed by stays in Kedarnath and Badrinath. The MI-17 is the only double-engine helicopter operating on the Char Dham route."
The chopper will operate two sorties daily from Jolly Grant: one at 7:00 am and another at 11:30 am. "Each day, we conduct two sorties. After completing the first round of pilgrim drops, the chopper returns for the second flight," Chabri said.