One shrine, one day, no long drives. Choose Kedarnath or Badrinath, fly from Dehradun in the morning, and be back the same evening, or use the Kedarnath shuttle on a budget.
"Ek Dham" simply means a single shrine. By helicopter it usually means one of three things, and they differ hugely in price and certainty. The two private charters from Dehradun give you a guaranteed seat and a fixed day. The Kedarnath shuttle from the valley helipads is far cheaper but depends on winning seats on IRCTC and getting yourself to the helipad by road.
2027 estimates except the Phata shuttle fare, which is the 2026 fare as we listed it. Charter prices depend on date, aircraft, passenger weight and group size.
Shuttle seats are sold only on the IRCTC HeliYatra portal; we do not sell them. Charters are private flights that we arrange directly. We are Char Dham Trip, a private travel company in New Delhi.
Kedarnath or Badrinath: choosing your one dham
Pilgrims usually know which shrine they want, but if you are undecided, these differences may help.
Kedarnath
Badrinath
Deity
Lord Shiva, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas
Lord Vishnu as Badri Narayan
Altitude
3,583 m
3,133 m
Without a helicopter
16 km trek from Gaurikund
Road right up to the town
Value of flying
Very high: removes the trek
Saves about four days of driving
Nearby on the day
Bhairavnath temple, Adi Shankaracharya Samadhi
Tapt Kund, Brahma Kapal, Mana village
For Kedarnath, the helicopter changes the whole experience, because the alternative is a long climb. For Badrinath it is mainly a time saver. Families who want both should look at the Do Dham helicopter yatra, which covers the pair in 1 night and 2 days.
Charter or shuttle: the honest trade-off
A charter costs many times more than a shuttle seat, and the reason is not comfort but certainty. With a charter you choose your date weeks ahead, fly from a city with good hotels and an airport, and avoid the two long road days to the Mandakini valley. With the shuttle, you are tied to the IRCTC booking phases, the seats on your preferred date may be gone within hours, and you still need a road trip of three or four nights. Travellers flying in from Mumbai, Bengaluru or abroad for a short visit often find the charter is the only way to fit Kedarnath into their leave.
Kedarnath in a day: how the charter runs
Here is a typical Kedarnath charter day. The Badrinath version follows the same pattern, with Mana village in place of the Bhairavnath temple; see Badrinath by helicopter for its details.
Early
Report at Sahastradhara, Dehradun
Helipad check-inEarly morning
Arrive at the Sahastradhara helipad with photo ID and your yatra registration. Ground staff weigh passengers and bags and give a short safety briefing. Take off over the Doon valley and the Garhwal ridges, with snow peaks rising ahead on a clear day.
Morning
Land at Kedarnath, darshan
Short walk from the helipad2–3 hours
After landing, walk the short distance to the temple. Join the darshan queue for the Jyotirlinga and offer prayers in the stone hall that has stood here for centuries. The air is thin at 3,583 m, so move slowly and drink water.
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Midday
Bhairavnath and the Samadhi
1 hour
If time and breath allow, walk up to the Bhairavnath temple, guardian of the valley, or visit the Adi Shankaracharya Samadhi behind the main shrine. Many pilgrims simply sit by the temple and take in the amphitheatre of peaks. A light meal is available near the temple.
Afternoon
Fly back to Dehradun
FlightAfternoonNight: Tour ends
Return to the helipad in good time for the flight back. You land in Dehradun by late afternoon or evening, ready for a drive to Haridwar or Rishikesh, or an onward flight from Jolly Grant airport.
Mountain weather decides the timetable. If cloud stops the return flight, you stay overnight at the shrine and fly the next morning; the extra stay and any extra flying cost are not part of the same-day price.
The budget route: Kedarnath shuttle from the valley
If a charter is beyond your budget, the shuttle still saves you the 16 km climb. You travel by road to Guptkashi, Phata or Sersi, sleep near the helipad and take a short flight up. The Phata round trip was ₹6,500 per person in 2026; Sersi is about the same and Guptkashi about ₹8,500 (estimates).
Register for the yatra (free) on registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in or the Tourist Care Uttarakhand app.
Book seats on heliyatra.irctc.co.in when the booking phase opens.
A same-day Kedarnath charter from Dehradun starts at about ₹1,05,000 per person and Badrinath at about ₹95,000 (2027 estimates). The Kedarnath shuttle from Phata was ₹6,500 return in 2026, plus your road trip.
Do I need an IRCTC ticket for the charter?
No. IRCTC sells only the Kedarnath shuttle seats from the valley helipads. A charter from Dehradun is a private flight arranged directly.
How much time do I get at the temple?
Usually a few hours, enough for darshan and a short visit nearby, depending on the queue and the flight slot. Weather can shorten or extend the day.
Can I stay overnight at Kedarnath or Badrinath?
Yes. Many pilgrims add a night to attend the evening aarti and morning puja. Hotel and extra flying costs are added to the quote.
Which is better by helicopter, Kedarnath or Badrinath?
Kedarnath gains the most, because the helicopter replaces a 16 km trek. Badrinath is reachable by road, so the flight is mainly a time saver.
Is the same-day charter suitable for elderly pilgrims?
It is the least tiring option, but the shrines are above 3,000 m and you arrive without time to acclimatise. A medical check-up before booking is wise.
