Manimahesh Yatra by Helicopter

Highlights & Route

For elderly parents, young children and anyone who cannot manage the 13 km climb from Hadsar, the helicopter service between Bharmour and Gaurikund opens the Manimahesh Yatra. The flight takes a few minutes, lands at the Gaurikund helipad at about 3,900 m, and leaves only a 1 km walk to the lake itself. This package wraps those flights into a five-day visit from Amritsar or Pathankot, with a night at Bharmour before the flight to help the body adjust, a night in the camp near the lake, and a gentle return through Khajjiar and Dalhousie.

Helicopter operations on this route are run by operators appointed by the Chamba administration each season, with tickets sold online through the official Manimahesh Yatra portal. In 2026 the Bharmour to Gaurikund fare was about Rs 3,828 per person each way. Flights depend entirely on weather and daylight; morning slots are the most reliable, and delays of a few hours or a day are not unusual in the monsoon tail.

The rest of the journey is by road. The first day climbs from the plains through Chamba to Bharmour with temple stops on the way; the fourth day descends to Dalhousie for a quiet night; the fifth returns you to Amritsar or Pathankot. Our team handles the flight booking and the compulsory yatra registration, and a guide accompanies you at Gaurikund and the lake.

Route

Amritsar / Pathankot → Chamba → Bharmour (1 night) → helicopter to Gaurikund → Manimahesh Lake → Gaurikund camp (1 night) → helicopter to Bharmour (1 night) → Khajjiar → Dalhousie (1 night) → Amritsar / Pathankot

Good to know before you book

• The yatra and the helicopter service operate only within the window fixed by the Chamba administration, from Janmashtami to Radhashtami; in 2026 this was 25 August to 19 September. The 2027 dates will be announced before the season.
• Helicopter tickets are sold online on the official portal and are weather dependent. If flights are cancelled, the options are to wait a day, trek, or take a pony; we will discuss these with you before the yatra.
• Online yatra registration (Rs 50 per person in 2026) is compulsory for every yatri, including those flying, and is checked before boarding.
• Gaurikund is at about 3,900 m and the lake at 4,080 m. Flying straight up from Bharmour gives the body little time to adjust, so the night at Bharmour matters and the walk to the lake should be slow.
• Baggage on the helicopter is limited to a small bag per person; the main luggage stays with the vehicle at Bharmour.
• The camp at Gaurikund is a tent on sharing basis with sleeping bags and shared toilets; nights are near freezing.