Preparations are gathering pace in Uttarakhand for the second phase of the Kedarnath Yatra, with authorities stepping up arrangements for the return of helicopter services to the Himalayan shrine.
According to Rudraprayag District Magistrate Vishal Mishra, helicopter operations are scheduled to restart from September 15, following a safety inspection by a team from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The date for opening helicopter ticket bookings will be announced separately.
DGCA inspection before operations resume
Helicopter services were suspended during the monsoon because of challenging weather and safety conditions in the Himalayan region.
A DGCA team is expected to inspect the facilities in the first week of September before operations are allowed to resume. Authorities are also assessing infrastructure damage and carrying out necessary repairs and upgrades.
Officials have been directed to keep monitoring systems on high alert and ensure that all arrangements are completed before pilgrims begin arriving for the second phase.
Focus on safety in fragile Himalayan terrain
The Kedarnath region is considered particularly vulnerable because of its difficult terrain and history of extreme weather events.
Officials have stressed enhanced safety measures following recent weather-related incidents in the Himalayan region, including the devastating flash floods in neighbouring Nepal. The administration has maintained continuous surveillance of vulnerable areas since the catastrophic 2013 Kedarnath disaster.
The government is also working to strengthen helicopter-operation safety through improved monitoring, weather surveillance and air-traffic coordination. During the first phase of the 2026 Char Dham helicopter operations, authorities reported more than 12,000 shuttle departures, carrying over 67,000 pilgrims.
Kedarnath Temple to remain open until November
The second phase of the pilgrimage is expected to resume in September, while the Kedarnath Temple will remain open until November.
Kedarnath, located in Rudraprayag district, is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas and one of Uttarakhand's prominent Char Dham pilgrimage sites.
Despite the difficult monsoon season, the Char Dham Yatra has continued to attract large numbers of devotees. More than 5.22 lakh additional pilgrims have visited the four shrines compared with the same period last year, according to officials.
With helicopter services expected to return from September 15, thousands of pilgrims who prefer air connectivity for the difficult mountain journey are now awaiting further details on ticket bookings and operational schedules.
