Kedarnath heli shuttle bookings sold out in 90 minutes; over 31,000 seats snapped up

Dehradun: Online booking for helicopter shuttle services to Kedarnath Temple witnessed an overwhelming response, with all 31,450 seats booked within just 90 minutes of opening, officials confirmed on Saturday.

The booking window, managed through the IRCTC portal, began at 6 pm on April 15 and concluded by 7:28 pm as the last ticket was issued. During this period, more than 10,800 tickets were successfully generated.

The helicopter shuttle service offers a faster alternative to the 16-km trek to the shrine, operating from key base locations such as Guptkashi, Phata, and Sirsi, making it especially popular among pilgrims seeking convenience.

Officials from the Uttarakhand Tourism Department monitored the booking process closely. A total of 565 random verification calls were made to ensure authenticity, with thousands of mobile numbers matching actual passengers.

Data analysis revealed that 51 per cent of bookings were made directly by pilgrims, while the remaining were processed through authorised agents and channels. The peak surge in bookings occurred within a 20-minute window shortly after the portal opened.

State-wise, Maharashtra recorded the highest number of bookings, followed by Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Telangana, Karnataka, and Gujarat.

To ensure fair access and prevent misuse, authorities imposed restrictions such as limiting users to two bookings and capping the number of seats per transaction. Additionally, limits were placed on the number of accounts linked to a single IP address.

Officials said some cancellations have already been recorded, but the streamlined system has helped maintain transparency and efficiency in the booking process.

The strong demand highlights the growing popularity of helicopter services for pilgrimage to Kedarnath, especially during the peak Char Dham travel season.