{"id":1045,"date":"2012-01-04T12:00:37","date_gmt":"2012-01-04T06:30:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/promarktravels.com\/blog\/?p=1045"},"modified":"2012-01-04T12:00:37","modified_gmt":"2012-01-04T06:30:37","slug":"helicopter-charter-chardham","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/promarktravels.com\/blog\/2012\/01\/helicopter-charter-chardham\/","title":{"rendered":"Helicopter Charter Chardham"},"content":{"rendered":"

We all gathered at Dehradun<\/strong> on a hot summer day, but\u00a0comparatively cooler than Delhi. Stayed\u00a0night at Hotel Pacific <\/strong>which is one of the best in this city. It was a nice Chinese dinner <\/strong>after a long time , we had to retire early as next day we were to be at helipad early in the morning.
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Helicopter at Yamunotri , Kharsali helipad\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 
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Senior Citizen pilgrims in Doli\/palki from Kharsali helipad to Yamunotri<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>
\nIt was a nice day with\u00a0a pleasant\u00a0weather at helipad\u00a0but little\u00a0haze in the mountains. With lots of excitement\u00a0we took off at 0800 hr. from Sahastradhara\u00a0helipad <\/strong>for Kharsali<\/strong> ,\u00a0hovering over the green steps\u00a0fields , small villages here and there.\u00a0\u00a0In about\u00a040 minutes we were at\u00a0Kharsali\u00a0helipad<\/strong>,\u00a0recevied by our local representative Mr. Rajpal Rana<\/strong>, he lives next to the helipad\u00a0and owns\u00a0a peice\u00a0land around and Janki Chatti<\/strong> it\u00a0is on the left bank of River Yamuna <\/strong>approach\u00a0is through a dirt road, the old bridge is closed\u00a0as main road\u00a0collasped and not yet repaired, a parallel small hanging bridge <\/strong>is being used to cross the river.
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Janki Chatti bus stand and foot over bridge at Yamuna from Kharsali<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 
\nWhen local people cross the river they pay their respect by bowing their head to the river. We had to hire the Palki <\/strong>or Doli, <\/strong>a light wodden chair <\/strong>carried by four men on their shoulders\u00a0\u00a0from the helipad I hired a mule <\/strong>for 6 km a steep climb of 800 meters from Janki Chatti\u00a0<\/strong> to Yamunotri <\/strong>trek\u00a0which is on the right bank of river\u00a0it is narrow\u00a0at many places the passage is cut through the rocks one is to take care of\u00a0head\u00a0due to low height of passage there are many tea and cold juice\u00a0vendors, on the way people from all age groups walking and chanting “Jai Yamuna Maiya\u00a0Ki”
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Senior Citizen pilgrims carried in a basket chair on way to Yamunotri<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Steep climb treak from Janki Chatti to Yamunotri after the bridge<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I could see the faith on their faces in spite\u00a0of tiredness\u00a0due to difficult \u00a0climb ,\u00a0it took us about 2 hr\u00a0to reach the main shrine the temple of Maa\u00a0Yamunotri\u00a0River<\/strong> which is on the left bank of\u00a0stream comming down from the Kalind mountain<\/strong><\/span> the Champasar Glacier<\/strong>. This temple is tall\u00a0 pyramid style structure painted yellow a strong contrast with surrounding, we performd the puja at Tapt\u00a0Shila <\/strong>\u00a0which is just over a hot water spring the floor where\u00a0we performed the puja was of white marble stone\u00a0we could sit comfortable on warm surface had a darshan of\u00a0Yamuna Maa<\/strong>\u00a0in the temple after the puja , the water at hot water spring was boiling hot and pilgrims<\/strong>\u00a0were cooking rice tied in a cloth\u00a0 dipping it in the hot water, there is one more hot water spring whose water is less hot and pilgrims<\/strong>\u00a0were taking bath before coming in for the puja at\u00a0Tapt\u00a0Shila<\/strong>.
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Yamuna decending down from Kalind mountain and Yamunotri Temple<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 
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Tapt Shila , before the Yamunotri temple poja is first performed here<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 
\nSoon after we started our journey back to\u00a0Janki Chatti<\/strong> to take our chopper flight<\/strong> to\u00a0Gangotri<\/strong>\u00a0, on our way back mid way it started drizzling\u00a0which is quite unpredictable, by the time we reached the helipad<\/strong> it started to pour we took shelter at Raj Singh’s house next to the\u00a0helipad\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0there I got a call from the control room that\u00a0 Choppers\u00a0are stuck up in bad weather at Phata<\/strong> and Dehradun<\/strong>\u00a0 there is no chance we were to be picked up from\u00a0Kharsali<\/strong> for our onward destination\u00a0\u00a0Harsil\u00a0helipad<\/strong>\u00a0, it started raining heavily\u00a0 at Janki Chatti<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0Promark\u00a0Travel<\/strong> representative Raj Singh arranged for two rooms with western toilets\u00a0 Raj Singh also\u00a0arranged the Doli\u00a0for the\u00a0us\u00a0 transported from helipad\u00a0to the guest house as it was pouring and the dirt road became slippery with out light it bacame\u00a0more dangrous\u00a0but the passage from Janki\u00a0Chatti to Yamunotry\u00a0we were told\u00a0is always illuminated with high-powered lamps.
\nWe spent our night in a small guest house called Modi\u00a0Bhavan\u00a0owned by one of the priest\u00a0at Yamunotri\u00a0temple , had our dinner just opposite the guest house it was pouring and cold but we enjoyed our hot simple dinner in candle\u00a0light as there was no power but the trek to Yamunotri\u00a0was well illuminated after the dinner we decided for next day to fly for Kedarnath<\/strong>\u00a0instead of Gangotri<\/strong>\u00a0if time allows we may do it after the Badrinath<\/strong>\u00a0visit, I informed the headquarters\u00a0about the change I was told the chopper will be there\u00a0 at 0600 hr. to pick us up , it poured the whole night but early morning the chirping of birds assured me of clear weather before I could\u00a0look out\u00a0from the\u00a0window.
\nWe had a hot water in\u00a0buckets for\u00a0bath got ready, our porters were waiting for us they loaded the luggage and picked up the three dolis\u00a0while I prefered\u00a0to walk up to the helipad , Captain\u00a0Ahluwalia was in time entered the valley and landed at the helipad<\/strong>\u00a0he didn’t\u00a0 switched off the engine and got us in the cabin and took off , we had a nice clear view of Bander Punch<\/strong> mountains and flew over the Tehri Dam<\/strong>\u00a0on the way we were informed that there is no parking place at Badrinath\u00a0helipad we may have to either wait at Gauchar\u00a0or Phata\u00a0helipad\u00a0.
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View of Bander Punch from the helicopter cockpit \u00a0<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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View of Bander Punch range from Helicopter<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We landed at Phata where we changed the helicopter and took off to Badrinath<\/strong>\u00a0after getting the clearance it took about an hour to reach there on the way had a beautiful view of Nanda Devi<\/strong> peak,\u00a0Hathi\u00a0Ghora\u00a0Palki<\/strong> , Chukhamba<\/strong>\u00a0peak , flew pass the\u00a0beautiful entrance to the Valley of Flowers.
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Mount Hathi Ghora Palki view from Helicopter on way to Sri Badrinath<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 
\nBefore landing at helipad the chopper took a circle of the\u00a0Sri Badrinath temple<\/strong>\u00a0the bright blue, red and golden painted\u00a0entrance\u00a0\u00a0more typical of a\u00a0Buddhist\u00a0temple is a contrast to the surrounding\u00a0, it was clear sky but at a height 3133 meters from sea level and surrounded by Nar and Narayan<\/strong> peaks with Neelkanth<\/strong>\u00a0peak in the back it was cold and windy out here\u00a0our local representative Vineet\u00a0was there to pick us up in a car to the main shrine which is about\u00a0a kilometer from the\u00a0helipad<\/strong>\u00a0, passing through the shops and restaurants we crossed the bridge over the river<\/strong> Alaknanda.<\/strong>
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Ariel View of Sri Badrinath temple on banks of Alaknanda<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 
\nOn the right bank of river is the\u00a0Brham\u00a0Kapal<\/strong> and the two hot water springs the Tapt\u00a0kund<\/strong>\u00a0where before entering\u00a0the temple pilgrims take bath, we had the arrangements for a priority darshan which is with a fee paid to the shrine board , within few minutes we were allowed to enter the temple seated in the enclosed just opposite the main black stone statue of\u00a0lord Badri\u00a0Vishal\u00a0<\/strong>representing lord Vishnu seated in a meditative pose along with Garuda<\/strong> and Godess\u00a0Mahalaxmi<\/strong>, a\u00a0ten minutes \u00a0puja with Sanskrit\u00a0shlokas<\/strong>\u00a0was performed by the priest who offered us the Prasad and the green\u00a0Tulsi leaves garland<\/strong> of\u00a0lord Badri\u00a0Vishal<\/strong>\u00a0as blessings, my heart was full of gratitude\u00a0we came out in the market and informed Capt Ahluwalia\u00a0to pick us up for our onward journey.
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The main entrance to the Sri Badrinath Temple<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We waited for about an hour at helipad finally\u00a0sighted the chopper\u00a0entering the valley it landed and we boarded the chopper within two minutes without switching off\u00a0the rotors again we took off for a 45 minutes flight to\u00a0Phata<\/strong> , we had to change to a six seat chopper for Kedarnath<\/strong> , it took off and within minutes we were in a narrow valley<\/strong> flying over the river\u00a0Mandakini<\/strong> I can never forget this 15 minute \u00a0flight as it gave me a feeling of a 3D movie show .
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Entering the narrow valley from Phata to Kedarnath flight over Mandakini<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>
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Flying in the narrow valley to Sri Kedarnath\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We landed at the height of 3384 meters from sea level\u00a0helipad<\/strong>\u00a0and wanted to walk up to the shrine but one of the lady felt breathless due to thin oxygen we waited and hired two porters to carry the old ladies on their back for a distance\u00a0of \u00a0800 meters , we showed the priority darshan slip<\/strong>\u00a0to the office just next to the main temple\u00a0 were escorted by a\u00a0 priest,\u00a0 lots of pilgrims were inside and it was almost free for all with no control over the crowd , facing the\u00a0 main entrance is the big statue of the Nandi the bull<\/strong>\u00a0, the main temple is made of big blocks of stone and one wonders as to how without facilities\u00a0this construction job would have been done without using any kind of mortar to grip the stones together 1000 years ago . we entered the first room where there are statues of the five Pandavas brothers<\/strong>\u00a0and the Dropdi ,after crossing the narrow door with stone foot steps \u00a0in the Garbh\u00a0Griha<\/strong> is the main\u00a0Sadashivam lord Shiva<\/strong> in a form of conical rock is worshiped<\/strong>\u00a0, we sat there for a while performed puja I offered almonds which I had carried with me from Delhi\u00a0, came out and took a\u00a0 parikarma of temple<\/strong>\u00a0, there were lots of sadhus\u00a0devoties\u00a0of lord Shiva each one a unique in appearance\u00a0bare foot nominal or no cloths on body , the weather was clear and warm but with chill in the air the small dhabahs\u00a0serving pakoras\u00a0and samaosa\u00a0tempted us to have it with tea while waiting at helipad\u00a0, we took off and flew\u00a0back to Phata\u00a0where our chopper\u00a0was waiting for us, we inquired from the captain\u00a0if he can take us to Gangotri , he informed that it was not the right time\u00a0as the weather can change any time in the afternoon there\u00a0.
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Sri Kedarnath temple view from the main street<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We decided to return to\u00a0Sahastradhara<\/strong> \/ Dehradun<\/strong> flying over the\u00a0Rudra Pryag<\/strong>,\u00a0Karan\u00a0Pryag<\/strong> , Srinagar<\/strong> watching the confluences<\/strong> of rivers\u00a0Alakhnanda<\/strong> and Bhagirathi<\/strong> \u00a0to form river Ganga<\/strong>\u00a0finally at Dev Prayag<\/strong>\u00a0, at Rishikesh\u00a0an hours flight we turned\u00a0right \u00a0in the direction of Dehradun leaving behind the river Ma Ganga<\/strong>\u00a0 landed at\u00a0Shastrdhara<\/strong>\u00a0helipad , we had to wait for some time for our car to pick us up to our hotel as roads were blocked due to felling of trees on the previous days hail storm, we had a nice diner at hotel slept with fond memories of a life time wish fulfilled.
\n <\/p>\n

About the Author<\/h2>\n

[author]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[author_image timthumb=’on’]wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/authors\/anil-rajput.jpg[\/author_image]<\/td>\nAnil Kumar Rajput<\/strong>\u00a0– Managing Director at Promark Travel, is\u00a0in the travel trade since 1980. For more Info Do Visit (promarktravels.com<\/a>) which caters all the travel needs of it’s clients. Connect with him on Facebook (htttp:\/\/www.facebook.com\/anil.k.rajput<\/a>) and Twitter (@PromarkTravels<\/a>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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We all gathered at Dehradun on a hot summer day, but\u00a0comparatively cooler than Delhi. Stayed\u00a0night at Hotel Pacific which is one of the best in this city. It was a nice Chinese dinner after a long time , we had to retire early as next day we were to be at helipad early in the … →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,5,7,10,11,19,21,23,24,26,28],"tags":[90,216,242,282,467,602,991,1079,1176,1328,1352,1653,1877,1966,1996,2146,2499,2678,2683,2689,3097,3102],"class_list":["post-1045","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-adventure","category-char-dham","category-gangotri","category-helicopter-charters","category-himalayas","category-pilgrimage","category-religious-belief","category-sri-badrinath","category-sri-kedarnath","category-uttarakhand","category-yamunotri","tag-alaknanda","tag-badrinath","tag-bander-punch","tag-bhagirathi","tag-champasar-glacier","tag-dehradun","tag-harsil","tag-hotel-pacific","tag-janki-chatti","tag-kedarnath","tag-kharsali","tag-ma-ganga","tag-mount-hathi-ghora-palki","tag-nanda-devi","tag-neelkanth","tag-phata","tag-senior-citizen","tag-sri-badrinath","tag-sri-badrinath-temple","tag-sri-kedarnath","tag-yamuna","tag-yamunotri"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/promarktravels.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1045","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/promarktravels.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/promarktravels.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/promarktravels.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/promarktravels.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1045"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/promarktravels.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1045\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/promarktravels.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1045"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/promarktravels.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1045"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/promarktravels.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1045"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}