Chardham Yatra registration and documents for helicopter pilgrims
Registration is compulsory, and helicopters ask for more details than a bus does. A checklist of what to arrange before you travel.
A helicopter yatra needs a little more paperwork than a road trip, and most of it has to be ready before the travel date. Here is what to arrange, and when.
Is Chardham Yatra registration compulsory?
Yes. Every pilgrim to the Chardham must register with the Uttarakhand government before travelling, on its official yatra registration portal, registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in, or at the registration counters in Uttarakhand. Registration gives each pilgrim a yatra registration number and is checked on the way. It applies to helicopter pilgrims just as it does to those travelling by road.
The same registration is needed to book the Kedarnath shuttle on IRCTC, which asks for the yatra registration number for each passenger. Register first, then book.
How does registration work?
- Sign up on the official registration portal with a mobile number.
- Add each pilgrim's name, age, ID and contact details.
- Choose the dhams you will visit and your travel dates.
- Download the registration for each pilgrim, and keep it on your phone and on paper.
Registration is free on the official portal. Be wary of anyone charging for it, or asking for payment to a personal account.
What details do helicopter operators ask for?
Helicopters carry a passenger list for every flight, so the operator needs, for each passenger:
- Full name, date of birth or age, and gender
- A government photo ID, such as Aadhaar, passport or voter ID; foreign nationals use their passport
- Accurate body weight
- Gotra, if a puja is to be performed in the passenger's name
- Contact address and phone number
The names and ID must match exactly what each passenger carries on the day.
What should you carry on the travel day?
- The original photo ID used for the booking, for every passenger
- The yatra registration for each pilgrim
- The booking confirmation, on the phone and on paper
- The IRCTC shuttle ticket for Kedarnath, if the package uses the shuttle
- A doctor's fitness certificate for high altitude, strongly advised for older pilgrims
- Regular medicines and prescriptions
Common questions
Do children need to be registered? Every pilgrim travelling to the dhams should be registered, including children, with their own details.
Can one person register a whole family? Yes, one account can add several pilgrims, each with their own details and ID.
Does the helicopter booking register me for the yatra? No. Yatra registration is separate from any helicopter booking, and every pilgrim needs it.
When should all this be done?
Register as soon as the travel dates are fixed, and send the passenger details with the booking. Missing or mismatched documents are one of the few things that can stop a passenger boarding even when the weather is perfect.
See what else to prepare in the travel tips for the Chardham Yatra, read the booking terms, and browse the Chardham Yatra by Helicopter package.