As the annual Char Dham Yatra is set to commence on April 30, with the sacred Kedarnath Dham temple scheduled to open its doors on May 2, helicopter services for pilgrims have witnessed unprecedented demand this year. On Tuesday, the first day of ticket bookings for the heli service, an astounding 35,000 tickets were booked within just 5 minutes, covering the entire month of May.
This marks the first time in history that such a massive volume of helicopter tickets has been booked in a single day for the Kedarnath route. The Uttarakhand state government, aiming to streamline and regulate the booking process more efficiently, entrusted the responsibility to IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) for the very first time.
Officials have attributed the surge in bookings to improved online systems and the growing number of devotees choosing helicopter travel for easier and faster access to the high-altitude shrine. The rush reflects not only the spiritual fervor associated with Kedarnath but also the increasing reliance on air connectivity to accommodate pilgrims of all ages and health conditions.
The state government has assured that further measures are being considered to meet the high demand and ensure a smooth and safe pilgrimage for everyone participating in the Char Dham Yatra 2025.
