🚁 Helicopter Booking Guide 2026 — Katra ↔ Sanjichhat

The helicopter reaches Sanjichhat (2.5 km before Bhawan) from Katra in 8 minutes. It saves the 13 km climb. Best for elders, knee/breathing patients, families with small kids and same-day darshan planners. Note — Sanjichhat to Bhawan (2.5 km) is still on foot or by palki/pitthu. Bhairav needs a separate ropeway. Heli is cancelled in bad weather, so keep 1 buffer day.

Book only on maavaishnodevi.org. In the Helicopter section choose date and slot (morning/afternoon). Fill name, age, weight and ID of each passenger. Pay only via site gateway. Keep ticket print + ID. Advance booking opens on the 1st of every month at 10 AM — for the complete month falling 60 days / two months later (e.g. May opens on 1 March). Hence Navratri fills within hours. Morning 8-9 AM slots fill fastest. A separate senior-citizen / specially-abled quota exists (see official portal).

Fare ₹2,320 one side, ₹4,640 round trip (revised w.e.f. 16 Oct 2025, source: SMVDSB fare order). Up and down can be booked separately or as round trip. Flights run ~8 AM to 5 PM subject to weather (approx — see current schedule on official site). Follow weight limits — above 85-90 kg or hand baggage over 5 kg may need an extra seat/surcharge. Infants below 2 years free in lap, 2 years and above pay full fare with own seat. Report at helipad 1 hour early. Aadhar + ticket compulsory. Late arrival can lose the seat.

Rain, fog and high wind often cancel/delay heli. Self-cancellation works only in online mode up to 02 days before travel — refund: 70% of ticket fare + full GST back, rest kept as processing charge (source: SMVDSB SOP Sector-I). Full-day bad weather means 100% auto-refund including GST, usually within 7 working days to the source account. For partial disruption, initiate refund in person at E&R Niharika / Serli / Durga Bhawan / Sanjichhat counters, or email Booking ID to refund@maavaishnodevi.net from your registered email within 03 days. No-show forfeits the full fare. Cancelled-flight passengers may get priority darshan slips at Bhawan (ask at counter). Never keep same-day train/flight depending on heli. Keep plan B (foot/palki/battery) ready. Carry warm clothes for Sanjichhat halt. For missing refunds contact helpline 01991-234460 with booking ID.

Flights generally run 07:00 to 18:00. 07:00–09:30 is the most-booked slot (flights every 15–20 min, long queues). 09:30–12:00 has better mid-week availability. 12:00–15:00 may pause for refuelling. 15:00–18:00 return flights peak after 17:00. For same-day darshan take a morning slot and keep a 3-hour buffer for return. The exact slot chart appears on the official portal at booking time.

Sanjichhat helipad is 2.5 km before Bhawan — ahead: walk 30–40 min (flat corridor), battery vehicle (barrier-free, confirm fare at official counter), pony, or palki. Katra helipad is ~2 km from base camp (Udhampur road) — keep margin to reach on time.

Katra helipad office holds a limited standby (tatkal) queue — reach by 6 AM, seats never guaranteed. Wheelchair assistance is available at both helipads (inform the helpline in advance if needed). Flight-mode selfies inside the cabin are allowed, but drones and external helipad photography are strictly banned. One cabin bag max 5 kg; sharp objects, gas lighters, full spray cans and large power banks are banned. Cloak-room facility exists at both helipads.

Fake heli sites appear above in Google ads — always check URL is maavaishnodevi.org. Any agent offering half-price heli on WhatsApp is 100% fraud. After payment verify booking ID and Shrine Board name in ticket PDF. Avoid touts promising instant heli for extra money. On doubt see /scam-alerts and report.