The Kedarnath temple sits at 3,583 metres above sea level in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand — the highest of India’s 12 Jyotirlingas, accessible by a 16-kilometre uphill trek from Gaurikund. For pilgrims who cannot manage the trek due to age, health, or time constraints, helicopter service has transformed Kedarnath access: what was a full-day physical ordeal becomes a 7 to 15-minute aerial journey.
Since 2025, all Kedarnath helicopter bookings are exclusively online through the official IRCTC HeliYatra portal (heliyatra.irctc.co.in). No offline agents, no third-party websites, no travel agents are authorised. The fare structure is set by the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) and remains uniform across all operators on each route.
Kedarnath Helicopter Ticket Price 2026 — Official UCADA Fares
All fares below are per person and are exclusive of IRCTC convenience fee (₹300) and 18% GST. The final amount at checkout will be higher.
One-Way Fares
| Route | One-Way Fare (Base) |
| Sirsi (Sersi) → Kedarnath | ₹3,043 |
| Phata → Kedarnath | ₹4,840 |
| Guptkashi → Kedarnath | ₹6,077 |
Round-Trip Fares (Per Person)
| Route | Round-Trip Fare (Base) | + ₹300 Fee + 18% GST (Approximate Total) |
| Sirsi (Sersi) ↔ Kedarnath | ₹6,390 | ~₹7,840 |
| Phata ↔ Kedarnath | ₹10,164 | ~₹12,300 |
| Guptkashi ↔ Kedarnath | ₹12,762 | ~₹15,400 |
Important: These are UCADA-regulated 2026 fares confirmed before the season. GST and the ₹300 IRCTC convenience fee are added at checkout. Verify the final payable amount on the IRCTC portal at time of booking.
One-way option: One-way tickets are available — useful for pilgrims who want to fly up and trek down (or vice versa).
Kedarnath Helicopter — Quick Overview
| Detail | Information |
| Official Booking Portal | heliyatra.irctc.co.in |
| Regulated By | UCADA (Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority) |
| Booking Method | Online only (no offline agents authorised) |
| Char Dham Registration | Mandatory before booking any helicopter ticket |
| Helipads (Departure) | Sirsi (Sersi) / Phata / Guptkashi |
| Season | May–June (summer); September–October (post-monsoon) |
| Max Seats Per ID | 6 per booking; 12 for group bookings |
| Flight Duration | Sirsi ~7 min; Phata ~9 min; Guptkashi ~10–15 min |
| Cheapest Route | Sirsi (₹6,390 round trip base) |
| Premium Route | Guptkashi (₹12,762 round trip base) |
| Convenience Fee | ₹300 per passenger |
| GST | 18% on base fare |
The Three Helipads — Which One to Choose
Sirsi (Sersi) — ₹6,390 Round Trip Base (Cheapest)
Sirsi is the closest helipad to Kedarnath, with the shortest flight time of approximately 7 minutes. It is the most affordable option at ₹6,390 round trip (base fare before fees).
Advantages: Lowest fare; shortest flight; scenic steep ascent with dramatic mountain views.
Disadvantages: Fewest accommodation options nearby (fewer than 10 within 5 km); sells out fast — ironically, the cheapest option is often the first to fill. If your slot is rescheduled by weather, limited local stay options can be a problem.
Best for: Pilgrims who have arranged accommodation in advance or plan to proceed onward after darshan.
Phata — ₹10,164 Round Trip Base (Most Popular)
Phata is the practical middle-ground choice — not the cheapest but not the most expensive, with the most operator options and typically the widest slot availability during peak season. Flight time is approximately 9 minutes.
The Phata helipad at ~4,921 feet altitude means the helicopter gains over 6,800 feet of elevation in under 10 minutes — be mindful if any passenger has heart or respiratory conditions. The altitude gain is rapid and leaves virtually no time for acclimatisation.
Advantages: Most operators (United Helicharters, Thumby Aviation, Pilgrimage Aviation, Rajas Aerosports); widest slot availability; reasonable cost.
Disadvantages: Higher fare than Sirsi; rapid altitude gain.
Best for: Most pilgrims from North India — it is 180 km from Rishikesh and has the best connectivity.
Guptkashi — ₹12,762 Round Trip Base (Premium)
Guptkashi is the most expensive but most practical helipad for pilgrims staying overnight or arriving from farther distances. At 1,319 metres elevation, it provides the best acclimatisation opportunity before the flight. Flight time is 10 to 15 minutes. 30+ accommodation options are available within 5 km of the helipad.
Advantages: Best acclimatisation opportunity; most accommodation; good road connectivity; the helicopter flies past more dramatic mountain scenery at this distance; if weather delays occur, you have proper facilities to wait.
Disadvantages: Most expensive; fastest to sell out (the premium slots go first to well-prepared pilgrims who book on opening day).
Best for: Elderly pilgrims, those with mild health concerns who benefit from spending a night at 1,300 metres before the flight, and visitors who want a comfortable managed yatra.
Authorised Operators (2026)
| Helipad | Authorised Operators |
| Guptkashi | Chipsan Aviation, Trans Bharat Aviation |
| Phata | Thumby Aviation, Pilgrimage Aviation, United Helicharters, Rajas Aerosports |
| Sirsi (Sersi) | Himalayan Heli Services, Arrow Aircraft, Heritage Aviation |
Note: IRCTC allocates operators per sortie by rotation. You choose the helipad and date, not the specific operator — this prevents preferential booking and corruption.
Char Dham Yatra Registration — Mandatory Step
Before booking any Kedarnath helicopter ticket, every passenger must complete the Char Dham Yatra Registration on the Uttarakhand Government portal:
Registration site: registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in
- Register individually for each passenger
- Provide name (exactly as per Aadhaar), Aadhaar number, age, mobile number
- Receive a unique URN (Yatra Registration Number) per passenger
- This URN must be linked during helicopter booking on the IRCTC portal
Without a valid URN, helicopter booking cannot be completed. Register several weeks before booking opens to avoid last-minute issues.
How to Book Kedarnath Helicopter Tickets on IRCTC 2026
Step 1: Complete Char Dham Yatra Registration for all passengers at registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in. Receive URN numbers.
Step 2: Create/login to your IRCTC account at irctc.co.in (same credentials work on the HeliYatra portal).
Step 3: Visit heliyatra.irctc.co.in — the only authorised helicopter booking portal.
Step 4: Select Shri Kedarnath Dham as destination.
Step 5: Choose helipad (Sirsi, Phata, or Guptkashi) and travel date.
Step 6: View available time slots and select your preferred morning slot (earlier is better — weather holds best in the morning at Kedarnath).
Step 7: Enter all passenger details exactly as per Aadhaar card — name, Aadhaar number, URN, age, mobile. Any mismatch causes boarding refusal.
Step 8: Verify via OTP sent to registered mobile.
Step 9: Complete payment (UPI, debit card, credit card, or net banking). You have approximately 10 minutes to complete payment before the session expires.
Step 10: Download e-ticket. Carry both digital and printed copies.
Booking limits: Maximum 6 passengers per single booking; group bookings allow up to 12 per user ID.
When Do 2026 Bookings Open?
The IRCTC HeliYatra portal opens booking windows in batches — typically opening about 2 weeks before each travel date window. The official IRCTC portal (heliyatra.irctc.co.in) announced booking windows for 2026:
- For journeys from June 16–25: Booking opened June 10, 2026 at 3:00 PM
- For journeys from June 21–30: Booking opens June 19, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Check heliyatra.irctc.co.in for subsequent batch announcements covering July–October post-monsoon season.
Speed is critical: Guptkashi slots for peak May–June dates typically sell out within 60 to 90 minutes of opening. Being present on the portal at the exact booking opening time is the single most important factor.
What to Carry at the Helipad
| Document | Requirement |
| Confirmed e-ticket | Digital or printed |
| Government photo ID (Aadhaar preferred) | Must match booking exactly |
| Char Dham Yatra Registration confirmation | Printed or digital |
Reporting time: Report to the helipad at least 1 hour before your scheduled flight slot. Late arrivals forfeit their booking — there are no refunds for no-shows.
Baggage: 3 kg limit per passenger for shuttle helicopter. No excess baggage for standard shuttle service.
Offline / Walk-In Tickets (Last Resort)
If online slots are unavailable, helipad counters at Sirsi, Phata, and Guptkashi occasionally release same-day seats for cancellations and no-shows. These are sold at the UCADA dynamic fare — which can be up to 50% higher than the standard online fare.
No unauthorised agents are permitted. Any individual or website claiming to provide confirmed helicopter tickets outside heliyatra.irctc.co.in is committing fraud — multiple advisories from Uttarakhand police and DIPR confirm this.
The Kedarnath Temple — What to Know
- Altitude: 3,583 metres (11,755 feet)
- Jyotirlinga: The fifth and highest of the 12 Jyotirlingas
- Architecture: Stone temple reconstructed by Adi Shankaracharya ~1,200 years ago; extensive renovation post-2013 floods
- Lingam: A conical rock formation — Shiva in Sadashiva form
- Temple opens: Annually in late April/May (Akshaya Tritiya) for the summer season; closes in November
- Darshan: Free; no entry ticket required for the temple itself
The helicopter does not go inside the temple. The landing pad is approximately 500 metres to 1 km from the temple — a short walk at altitude. Plan for the walk.
Best Time to Visit Kedarnath by Helicopter
May to June: The primary pilgrimage season. Weather is most stable in the first half of May. June sees monsoon onset — increasing cloud cover and morning mist that can delay or cancel flights.
September to October: The post-monsoon second season. Clear skies, dramatic snow-capped peaks, and cooler temperatures. October is particularly spectacular visually, with winter snow beginning to appear on the surrounding peaks.
Morning slots: Always book the earliest available slot. Kedarnath weather deteriorates reliably from midday — afternoon mist and cloud frequently ground helicopters. Morning flights complete on schedule; afternoon flights are frequently delayed or cancelled.
Warnings Against Fraud
Multiple official advisories emphasise this:
- Only heliyatra.irctc.co.in is authorised for Kedarnath helicopter booking
- No travel agent, no third-party website, no individual can legitimately sell Kedarnath shuttle helicopter tickets
- Common fraud patterns: fake booking websites asking for Aadhaar photos, “fast-track fee” or “agent fee” charges, WhatsApp booking claims
- If you receive a ticket from any source other than heliyatra.irctc.co.in, it is fraudulent
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the Kedarnath helicopter ticket price in 2026?
Round-trip base fares: Sirsi ₹6,390; Phata ₹10,164; Guptkashi ₹12,762 per person. Add ₹300 convenience fee and 18% GST for the final payable amount. One-way fares: Sirsi ₹3,043; Phata ₹4,840; Guptkashi ₹6,077.
Q2. How do I book Kedarnath helicopter tickets in 2026?
Exclusively online at heliyatra.irctc.co.in. Char Dham Yatra Registration is mandatory before booking. No offline agents or third-party platforms are authorised.
Q3. Is Char Dham Yatra Registration mandatory for helicopter booking?
Yes. Every passenger needs a URN (Yatra Registration Number) from registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in before any helicopter booking can be made.
Q4. Which helipad is best for Kedarnath helicopter?
Sirsi is cheapest and closest. Phata has the most operators and widest availability. Guptkashi is the most expensive but best for acclimatisation and accommodation. Most first-time visitors choose Phata for the balance of cost and practicality.
Q5. What time should I report at the helipad?
At least 1 hour before your scheduled flight time. Bring your e-ticket, original government ID matching the booking exactly, and Char Dham registration confirmation. Late arrivals forfeit the booking without refund.
