From Sahastradhara to Gangotri and back by noon
The trip starts at Sahastradhara Helipad in Dehradun. On the tentative schedule the helicopter leaves at 07:00 and lands at Harsil, the helipad for Gangotri in the Bhagirathi valley, at about 08:00. Our assistance team meets you at Harsil and takes you by road to Gangotri Temple, 24 km away and about 45 minutes one way by car or jeep. At the temple you are escorted to the shrine for priority darshan with the priority puja pass that comes with the package.
After darshan you drive back to Harsil for the return flight, which leaves at about 11:00 and reaches Dehradun at about 12:00, where services end. There is no trek at any point: the only legs are the two flights and the drive between Harsil and the temple. The exact reporting and flying times are advised a day before departure, and they can change at the last moment for weather or operational reasons.
Because the flight leaves early, plan to be in Dehradun the evening before rather than arriving on the morning of the yatra. Travel to Dehradun is not part of the package; see helicopter services in Dehradun for the helipads and other flights from the city.
What the package covers, and what it does not
The price is for the helicopter, not per seat: one helicopter, a Bell 407 or AS 350 B3 depending on availability, carries up to four passengers on the same-day return. On the ground the package covers arrival assistance and the road journey from Harsil to Gangotri Temple, the Gangotri priority puja pass, arrival and departure assistance, and fuel, toll, parking and driver allowance. All prevailing taxes are included.
Not included are travel to the starting point in Dehradun, meals, tips, personal expenses, travel insurance and anything not listed under inclusions. Each passenger may carry up to 5 kg of baggage, with only one small pack of up to 2 kg in the cabin, and bulky bags are not allowed on the helicopter. Leave larger luggage at your hotel in Dehradun; you are back before lunch.
Who the Gangotri helicopter yatra suits
- Older pilgrims. Of the four dhams, Gangotri is the easiest to reach once you have landed, because the way from Harsil to the temple is by road. There is no climb of the kind Yamunotri needs.
- Families and small groups. Up to four people share one helicopter, so a family of four travels together on one booking. Total passenger weight must stay within 300 kg, so give accurate weights when you enquire.
- Pilgrims short of time. The helicopter replaces the two-day road journey up the valley, so Gangotri darshan fits into one morning from Dehradun.
If anyone in the group has a medical condition, mention it in the special requirements box of the enquiry form so the ground team can plan the transfer at Harsil.
Season, weather and a spare day
Gangotri Temple opens on Akshaya Tritiya in spring and closes around Diwali, when the goddess moves to Mukhba for the winter, so the helicopter yatra runs only in that season. Within it, May and June and then September and October are usually the easiest months to fly; the monsoon months of July and August bring cloud and rain that often stop flights. Our guide to the best time for Chardham Yatra by helicopter goes through the season month by month.
Mountain flying depends on the weather at Dehradun, along the route and at Harsil. A morning can start cloudy and clear later, so keep a spare day in Dehradun after your planned date. That turns a weather delay into a short wait instead of a missed darshan.
What decides the price
The price is on request, with a written quote inclusive of taxes and the State Government royalty before anything is paid. It is priced per helicopter, so the main thing that changes what each pilgrim pays is how many of the four seats you fill. Beyond that, the quote depends on:
- Your date. Prices are subject to change without prior notice, so the rate is confirmed for your travel date when you book.
- Helicopter availability. The trip runs on a Bell 407 or AS 350 B3, subject to which is available on the day.
- Route. Gangotri alone, Gangotri with Yamunotri, or all four dhams are priced as different packages.
- Anything you add. Meals, stays and other services outside the inclusions are paid for separately.
Gangotri with Yamunotri, or all four dhams
Yamunotri is the other western dham. Its helipad is at Kharsali, and the temple is a steep 5 km climb from there on foot, by pony or by palki, so it asks much more of pilgrims than Gangotri does. You can fly to it on its own with the Yamunotri yatra by helicopter, or see both in one day: the Gangotri Yamunotri helicopter yatra flies Dehradun to Kharsali, then Kharsali to Harsil, and back to Dehradun. Yamunotri and Gangotri in one day by helicopter explains how that longer day runs. To add Kedarnath and Badrinath, see the Chardham Yatra by helicopter, which includes nights at Kharsali and Harsil.
