Vaishno Devi Helicopter Service: How It Works

The helicopter service connects the Katra helipad, at the foot of the Trikuta hills, with Sanjichhat, a ridge-top helipad about 3 km from the holy Bhawan. The flight up takes about six minutes and the flight back about four, compared with a 12–13 km uphill trek that most pilgrims take several hours to complete.

Small helicopters carrying around five or six passengers shuttle back and forth through the day, from early morning until late afternoon. The service is run by private helicopter operators approved for the route, and tickets are sold by date and time slot. Seats open on the 1st of every month.

At Sanjichhat, you leave bags and phones at Counter No. 4, then walk about 45 minutes on a gentle path to the Bhawan. Ponies and palkis are available for those who need them. After darshan, many families take the ropeway up to Bhairon Nath temple before heading back.

For complete trips with hotel and car, see our helicopter packages; for fares only, see the ticket price page.

Who Benefits Most

Senior citizens, families with small children, pilgrims with knee or breathing problems, and anyone short of time. It is also a good choice for travellers who want to reach the Bhawan fresh for darshan and return to Katra the same day.

Rules to Know

Tickets are in the passenger's name and cannot be transferred. Keep luggage light, as weight is limited and big bags are not allowed on board. Every passenger goes through a security check, and the operator may hold flights for weather or safety reasons.