Guptkashi to Kedarnath Helicopter Booking 2027

Flying from the town where you sleep

Guptkashi sits on a hillside above the Mandakini, facing the snow peaks of Chaukhamba. It has the widest choice of hotels in the Kedarnath valley, a busy market, and the old Vishwanath and Ardhanarishwar temples. Because it is about 30 km short of Sonprayag, it is also the natural night stop for road pilgrims before and after Kedarnath.

The Guptkashi helipad is the farthest of the three shuttle bases from Kedarnath, which is why its fare is higher than Phata or Sersi. What you gain is convenience: there is no need to drive further up the valley at dawn, and on peak days the road beyond Guptkashi can be slow with jeeps and buses heading for Sonprayag.

Guptkashi, Phata or Sersi?

Fares are announced each year and shown on heliyatra.irctc.co.in. We do not sell shuttle tickets.

In practice, most pilgrims open the portal on booking day and take whichever helipad still has seats for their date. Guptkashi is a sound choice if Phata and Sersi are full, or if someone in your group finds early hill drives uncomfortable. For a broader comparison of all routes up to Kedarnath, read the Kedarnath helicopter tickets guide.

How Guptkashi seats are booked

1. Register every traveller for the yatra on registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in or the Tourist Care Uttarakhand app. It is free.
2. Set up your IRCTC HeliYatra account in advance and keep your registration numbers handy.
3. On booking day, choose Guptkashi as the helipad, pick your date and select the sector.
4. Enter passenger details exactly as on the photo ID each person will carry, then pay online.
5. Download and print the ticket, and send a copy to us so the hotel and car match your flight date.

Making the most of Guptkashi

Because you fly from the same town you sleep in, a Guptkashi ticket leaves you with spare hours that road pilgrims rarely get. Use them well: the town has a long religious history, and the legend says Lord Shiva hid here from the Pandavas before taking refuge at Kedarnath, which is how Guptkashi, the "hidden Kashi", got its name.

• Vishwanath temple in the old part of town, with the Manikarnika Kund in front, where two streams are said to represent the Ganga and Yamuna.
• Ardhanarishwar temple beside it, dedicated to Shiva in his half-male, half-female form.
• Ukhimath across the valley, the winter seat of Lord Kedarnath at the Omkareshwar temple.
• Sunset over Chaukhamba from the hotel terraces on clear evenings in May and October.
• Local market for woollens, rudraksha and dry fruit before you head home.

If you are doing the wider Kedarnath and Badrinath circuit, Guptkashi is also where the road to Badrinath turns off via Ukhimath and Chopta. Our Do Dham package from Haridwar spends two nights here, and the shuttle flight fits neatly into it.

Four days from Haridwar with a Guptkashi flight

This plan uses our Kedarnath package from Haridwar, from about ₹8,500 per person by road. You buy the helicopter seat yourself on IRCTC; the rest is arranged by us.

1. Day
   1

   Haridwar to Guptkashi

   200 km7–8 hoursNight: Guptkashi

   Set off early from Haridwar along the Ganga, with tea at Devprayag where the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi meet. Lunch at Rudraprayag, then turn up the Mandakini valley. Check into your Guptkashi hotel and visit the Vishwanath temple in the evening.

2. Day
   2

   Fly to Kedarnath and back

   Short flight each wayNight: Guptkashi

   After a light breakfast, reach the Guptkashi helipad at the reporting time printed on your ticket. The flight follows the Mandakini gorge to Kedarnath, from where a short walk leads to the temple. After darshan and a visit to the Adi Shankaracharya Samadhi, take your return slot and spend the afternoon resting in Guptkashi.

3. Day
   3

   Ukhimath and spare day

   About 50 kmHalf dayNight: Rudraprayag / Srinagar

   This day is held in reserve in case weather pushes your flight back. If you have already flown, cross the valley to Ukhimath to see the Omkareshwar temple, where Lord Kedarnath is worshipped through the winter. In the afternoon drive down to Rudraprayag or Srinagar for the night.

4. Day
   4

   Return to Haridwar

   About 140–165 km5–6 hoursNight: Tour ends

   Drive down the Alaknanda past Devprayag and Rishikesh. You reach Haridwar by early afternoon, with time for the Ganga aarti or a train home.

Inclusions and exclusions of the road package

Hotels in Guptkashi

Rooms in Guptkashi and nearby Sitapur range from about ₹2,000 to ₹6,500 per night in season, from simple family-run hotels to comfortable valley-view properties. See Kedarnath yatra hotel booking for areas and room types.

Tips for the Guptkashi flight

• Morning slots are the most reliable; cloud often builds in the afternoon.
• Take only a small bag. The operator weighs passengers and luggage.
• Kedarnath is at 3,583 m; walk slowly and drink water even though you did not trek.
• Keep warm layers in your hand bag; it can be near freezing at the temple in May.
• Do not plan a long drive on the same afternoon as your flight in case of delays.
• Read things to carry before packing.

Guptkashi to Kedarnath helicopter: FAQ

Related pages