There are no airports at the four shrines. When people ask for the yatra by air, they mean one of two things. The first, and by far the more common, is to fly to Dehradun (or Delhi) and then do the circuit by road with a private car. The second is a helicopter yatra, where a chartered helicopter flies you from Dehradun to all four dhams in about six days. This page covers both, with most detail on the flight-plus-road plan.
Jolly Grant airport sits between Dehradun and Rishikesh, about 35 km from both Haridwar and Rishikesh. It has direct flights from several major Indian cities and connections through Delhi from most others. Landing here in the morning lets you reach Barkot, the first night stop, the same evening, saving a full day compared with flying to Delhi.
Nearest airportJolly Grant, Dehradun
AlternativeDelhi (IGI), 230 km from Haridwar
Road tour9N/10D from Dehradun
Land priceFrom ₹21,500 per person
Helicopter yatra5N/6D from ₹2,15,000
FlightsBooked by you
Three ways to fly in
Plan
Duration
Price per person (from)
Who it suits
Fly to Dehradun + road tour
9N / 10D
₹21,500
Most pilgrims from far cities
Fly to Delhi + road tour
11N / 12D
₹24,500
Cities without good Dehradun flights
Fly to Dehradun + helicopter yatra
5N / 6D
₹2,15,000
Elders, short holidays
Land and helicopter prices are 2027 estimates; flights to Dehradun or Delhi are not included. The road price is for a group of 4 on budget hotels.
Prices are per person for four travellers sharing a car, twin or triple sharing. The final quote depends on your dates, hotel category and group size. If your group is large, a Tempo Traveller can meet you at the airport too.
Airport-to-airport itinerary from Dehradun
Day 1
Land at Dehradun, drive to Barkot
About 165 km6–7 hoursNight: Barkot
Your driver meets you outside arrivals at Jolly Grant. Morning flights are best, as the drive through Dehradun city and up to Mussoorie takes most of the day. Descend past Kempty Falls to the Yamuna and check in at Barkot.
Day 2
Yamunotri
45 km each way + 6 km trekFull dayNight: Barkot
Drive to Janki Chatti and walk the 6 km trail to the temple of Yamuna Devi, or ride a pony. After a dip in the hot spring and darshan, return the same way. A quiet evening in Barkot follows.
Image space images/yamunotri.jpg 1200 × 675 px
Day 3
Barkot to Uttarkashi
100 km4–5 hoursNight: Uttarkashi
A short drive across the ridge to the Bhagirathi valley. Settle in at Uttarkashi by lunchtime. Visit the Kashi Vishwanath temple in the evening.
Day 4
Gangotri
100 km each way8–9 hoursNight: Uttarkashi
Drive up the valley past Gangnani's hot spring and the orchards of Harsil. Darshan at Gangotri temple, then time by the Bhagirathi near Bhagirath Shila. Return to Uttarkashi.
Day 5
Uttarkashi to Guptkashi
220 km8–9 hoursNight: Guptkashi / Sitapur
A full day's drive towards the Mandakini. Break the trip with tea at a roadside dhaba. Prepare a light pack for Kedarnath.
Day 6
Kedarnath
30 km + 16 km trek7–9 hoursNight: Kedarnath
Drive to Sonprayag, jeep to Gaurikund and climb to Kedarnath, or take the helicopter if you have IRCTC tickets. Evening aarti at the temple. Stay in a guest house or tent near the shrine.
Day 7
Back to Guptkashi
16 km trek + 30 kmFull dayNight: Guptkashi
Morning darshan of the Jyotirlinga and a short walk to the Adi Shankaracharya Samadhi. Walk down to Gaurikund and jeep to Sonprayag. Drive to Guptkashi.
Day 8
Guptkashi to Badrinath
200 km8–9 hoursNight: Badrinath
Cross to the Alaknanda via Ukhimath and Chopta. Climb past Joshimath to Badrinath. Tapt Kund bath and evening darshan.
Day 9
Badrinath, Mana, Rudraprayag
160 km6–7 hoursNight: Rudraprayag / Srinagar
Morning darshan, then Mana village with Vyas Gufa and Bhim Pul. Drive down the valley to Rudraprayag or Srinagar. Check your flight time with the driver.
Day 10
Drive to Dehradun airport
About 160 km5–6 hoursNight: Tour ends
Leave early, stopping briefly at Devprayag. Drive via Rishikesh to Jolly Grant airport. Book a flight that leaves after about 4 pm to allow for traffic and hill delays.
Flying into Delhi instead? The car can collect you at the airport and follow the Delhi itinerary, with a night in Haridwar at each end.
What is included
Included
Airport pick-up and drop at Jolly Grant (or Delhi on the 12-day plan)
9 nights' hotels, twin or triple sharing
Breakfast and dinner (all meals on Luxury)
Private car with hill driver
Fuel, tolls, parking, permits
Registration help
Not included
Flights to and from Dehradun or Delhi
Pony, palki, pithoo, helicopter tickets
Sonprayag – Gaurikund jeep
Lunch on Budget and Deluxe
Puja and VIP darshan
Extra nights due to weather; insurance
Planning from a city far from Uttarakhand
Pilgrims from the South, West and East gain the most from flying. A train from Bengaluru, Chennai or Hyderabad can take two nights each way, which adds four days to a ten-day yatra. A morning flight to Dehradun, sometimes with a change in Delhi, gets you to Barkot on the evening of the same day. We have separate planning pages for travellers from Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Mumbai, each with the onward plan from the airport.
Airfares to Dehradun climb steeply in May and June, when schools close in North India and the yatra is at its busiest. Booking flights early, or travelling in the quieter weeks from mid-September to October, keeps costs down and also gives you clearer mountain views. Check the best time to visit before fixing dates.
Flight tips for the yatra
Check baggage limits. Domestic cabin and check-in allowances are smaller than on trains; pack woollens that compress.
Avoid tight connections. If you change flights in Delhi, keep at least three hours between them.
Leave a buffer on the way back. Landslides in monsoon can delay the drive by half a day; consider a night in Rishikesh before flying out.
Register before you fly. The free registration is needed at checkpoints; see the registration guide.
Helicopter shuttles. Kedarnath shuttle seats are sold only on IRCTC HeliYatra; read how to book online.
Booking steps
Agree the yatra dates with us on +91-99111 77951.
Book your flights to Dehradun or Delhi.
Send the flight details; the driver is matched to your arrival.
Pay the advance and receive your confirmation and hotel list.
Char Dham Yatra by air: FAQ
Which is the nearest airport to the Char Dham?
Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun. It is about 35 km from Haridwar and Rishikesh and is the closest commercial airport to all four shrines.
Can I fly directly to Kedarnath or Badrinath?
Only by helicopter. Kedarnath shuttles run from Phata, Sersi and Guptkashi (tickets on IRCTC HeliYatra), and charter helicopters fly from Dehradun. See the helicopter booking page.
Are flights included in the package?
No. You book flights yourself, and we start the road package at the airport.
How much does the full trip cost by air?
The land package from Dehradun starts at about ₹21,500 per person for four people, plus your airfare. A helicopter yatra from Dehradun costs about ₹2,15,000 per person.
Is it better to fly to Delhi or Dehradun?
Dehradun saves about two days of road travel. Fly to Delhi only if fares or connections from your city are much better.
What time should my return flight be?
Afternoon or evening. The drive from Rudraprayag to the airport takes about five to six hours.
