Badrinath Helicopter: How to Book and What It Costs

Facts checked November 2026.

Many families want to see Badri Vishal by helicopter, especially elders who cannot manage long road days. But booking a Badrinath helicopter works very differently from Kedarnath. This guide explains the options, who controls them, what fares are actually published, and the safety rules you should know.

Is there a regular helicopter shuttle to Badrinath like Kedarnath?

Not in the way Kedarnath has one. For Kedarnath, UCADA runs a tender every year and operators fly short shuttles from Guptkashi, Phata and Sersi. Those seats are sold only on the IRCTC Heli Yatra portal.

Reported, not confirmed: ETV Bharat reported in February 2026 that UCADA had finished the tender for a helicopter service from Gauchar to Badrinath, and in April 2026 that devotees would pay Rs 22,000 per person. The April report did not say whether this is one way or return, and said a 2024 trial had drawn little interest. We could not confirm that this shuttle actually ran in 2026, or where it was booked. It does not appear on the IRCTC portal. If you plan around it next season, ask us to check the status first.

So for most pilgrims, “Badrinath helicopter” means a charter: you hire a whole helicopter (or seats in an operator’s package) that flies from Dehradun.

What are the helicopter options for Badrinath?

Always ask whether a quote is for the whole helicopter or per seat. The fare changes with the route, the number of shrines, overnight stays and the operator. Please do not trust any Badrinath fare you see online unless the operator confirms it in writing.

What does a same-day Do Dham charter look like?

Pawan Hans, the government-owned helicopter company, publishes a sample plan for its Do Dham charter. It shows how tight the day is. Times below are from that sheet, which carries no year, and depend on weather.

At Badrinath the helicopter lands at the Badrinath helipad, and the Pawan Hans package includes road transport from the helipad to the temple and back. Getting to Sahastradhara heliport in Dehradun is not included, nor are special pujas or hotel stays if weather holds you up.

How do you book a Badrinath charter?

1. Complete Char Dham yatra registration. The IRCTC portal says the Uttarakhand government’s yatra registration is mandatory for helicopter bookings. Keep the registration number ready, and ask your charter operator what they need.
2. Choose the route. Badrinath only, Do Dham with Kedarnath, or a longer Char Dham plan. Decide if you want a same-day return or a night stay.
3. Get a written quote. Ask the operator or your yatra organiser for the full charter fare, what is included, and the cancellation rules.
4. Share exact weights and IDs. Every passenger must declare their real body weight. A wrong figure can mean being refused at boarding.
5. Pay and wait for UCADA approval. Pawan Hans takes 100% advance and refunds in full if UCADA does not approve the charter.

Pawan Hans’s published cancellation terms give an idea of the rules: 20% is deducted up to 7 days before, 50% up to 48 hours before, 75% under 48 hours, and nothing is refunded under 24 hours. If the helicopter cannot fly all day because of weather or a technical issue, they offer a new date or a full refund.

What weight, baggage and safety rules apply?

• Total weight: the Pawan Hans Do Dham sheet allows up to 5 passengers with a combined body weight of 300 kg. A family of five adults may go over this; you may need fewer people per helicopter. Other operators set their own seat and weight limits.
• Baggage: only a 2 kg handbag per person. No suitcases.
• Children: no child or senior citizen concession on the charter; children over 2 pay full fare on the Kedarnath shuttle leg. Minors under 18 cannot fly alone.
• Daylight only: flights run only between sunrise and sunset and are stopped in sudden bad weather, ETV Bharat reported in February 2026.
• Pilot rules for 2026: pilots needed at least 750 hours of hill flying, ThePrint reported, and Kedarnath shuttle frequency was cut by 30%, ETV Bharat reported in April 2026.
• Forbidden items: arms, ammunition and other restricted items under DGCA rules.

Mountain weather changes in minutes. Keep a spare day in your plan, and carry warm clothes and your regular medicines, because both Kedarnath and Badrinath are very cold even in season.

Why were Char Dham charter helicopters halted in November 2026?

On 30 October 2026 a privately operated helicopter flying from Badrinath to Dehradun crashed near Joshimath (Jyotirmath) in Chamoli district. All six people on board, the pilot and five passengers, died, PTI and ANI reported. After a DGCA and UCADA meeting, a co-pilot was made mandatory on Char Dham charter helicopters, and the DGCA directed that every flight leg needs its own clearance, Outlook reported. For example, a Sahastradhara to Badrinath flight needs fresh clearance before going on to Kedarnath.

Charter operators wrote to UCADA that the co-pilot rule would make operations “financially unviable” and said they would suspend Char Dham charter services from 2 November 2026, PTI reported. No restart date was given. With Kedarnath closing on 11 November and Badrinath on 16 November, charters this season look unlikely. Read our full update on the Char Dham charter helicopter halt.

When can you plan a Badrinath helicopter yatra again?

The next chance is after Badrinath reopens in spring; in 2026 it opened on 23 April. Helicopter services also pause for the monsoon; in 2026 Kedarnath flights restarted on 15 September, ANI reported. Before you pay, check whether the co-pilot rule has changed charter fares or seat numbers.

If a helicopter is not possible, Badrinath is reachable by road the whole way. Our Badrinath yatra guide covers the road route, darshan and stay. For the bigger picture, see the Char Dham helicopter yatra guide, and before any flight read our notes on helicopter safety in the hills.

How Yatra To Temples can help

See our Do Dham heli yatra to Kedarnath and Badrinath and the one-day Kedarnath Badrinath heli yatra from Dehradun; for current charter fares, dates and darshan arrangements, ask us.

Frequently asked questions

Can I book a Badrinath helicopter on IRCTC?

No. The IRCTC Heli Yatra portal lists only Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib. Badrinath charters are booked with the operator or through a yatra organiser, and each one needs UCADA approval.

How much does a Badrinath helicopter cost?

There is no government-fixed per-seat fare for Badrinath charters. A Pawan Hans sheet lists Rs 7,04,000 for a same-day Kedarnath and Badrinath charter for up to five people, but it states no year, so the fare may have changed. Other operators quote on request, so always get the fare in writing.

Where does the Badrinath helicopter start from?

Charters start from Sahastradhara heliport in Dehradun. You must reach the heliport on your own; Pawan Hans asks passengers to report at 6 am.

Is the helipad close to Badrinath temple?

The helicopter lands at the Badrinath helipad, not at the temple. Pawan Hans includes a vehicle from the helipad to the temple and back in its Do Dham package. Ask your operator if this is included in theirs.

Can I fly to Badrinath now, in November 2026?

Charter services from Sahastradhara were suspended from 2 November 2026 and no restart date was announced. Badrinath closes for winter on 16 November, so plan for next season or go by road.

What if bad weather cancels my flight?

Flights run only in daylight and stop in bad weather. Pawan Hans offers a new date or a full refund if the helicopter cannot fly all day. If weather stops you midway, hotel costs are usually yours, so keep a spare day.

Is there a weight limit?

Yes. The Pawan Hans Do Dham charter allows up to five passengers with a total body weight of 300 kg, and 2 kg of hand baggage each. Declare your real weight, as you can be refused boarding if it is wrong.