Is there a flight to Kedarnath?
No. No airline flies to Kedarnath and there is no airport there. What people mean by a flight to Kedarnath is a helicopter, and there are two kinds: a package from Dehradun, and the short shuttle from a helipad in the Kedar valley. Kedarnath shuttle tickets are sold only by IRCTC on heliyatra.irctc.co.in; BookHelicopter.com does not sell them.
The nearest airport to Kedarnath
Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, is the airport for the Kedarnath yatra. Most pilgrims fly in from Delhi and other cities, and the helicopter packages leave from Dehradun, from Sahastradhara Helipad or Jolly Grant itself. Reach Dehradun the day before you fly, as mountain weather can move morning departures. See helicopter service in Dehradun.
Three ways to reach Kedarnath by helicopter
- Dehradun to Kedarnath, same day. A helicopter package from Dehradun to Sersi, then on to Kedarnath, with darshan and the flight back the same day. See the Dehradun to Kedarnath helicopter.
- The IRCTC shuttle from the Kedar valley. Drive to Guptkashi, Phata or Sersi and take the shuttle: Sersi is closest and its flight shortest, Guptkashi furthest. Tickets are sold only by IRCTC; see helicopter booking for Kedarnath and the Kedarnath stay package for the hotels around it.
- With Badrinath or all four dhams. The Do Dham Yatra by helicopter adds Badrinath, and the Chardham Yatra by helicopter covers Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath from Dehradun.
Packages are priced on request with a written quote before anything is paid; the shuttle fare is set and published by IRCTC.
Without a helicopter
By road, the yatra goes from Haridwar or Rishikesh through Devprayag, Srinagar and Rudraprayag to Gaurikund, and from Gaurikund the temple is about 14 km on foot or by pony. The helicopter removes the trek and the long drives, though the short walk from the Kedarnath helipad is still at altitude. More in the Kedarnath Yatra guide.
Before you fly
- Register for the Chardham Yatra first; the shuttle ticket is booked in each pilgrim's name.
- Helicopters fly in daylight and fair weather only, so keep a spare day.
- Each passenger is weighed and baggage is limited; see the Kedarnath helicopter weight and baggage rules.
- Pay only IRCTC or a written quote from a company you have checked, never a personal account.