Uttarakhand, Apr 2:
In a significant development for Hindu pilgrimage tourism, the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board
(UTDB) on Monday launched India’s inaugural helicopter yatra for Adi Kailash and Om Parvat. This
pioneering initiative breaks through the limitations posed by season and terrain, enabling a broader range
of devotees to access these revered pilgrimage sites for a greater number of days throughout the year.
Traditionally, reaching these sacred sites has been a challenging endeavour, involving either a lengthy
trek or a combination of car travel and walking, restricted to specific time frames between May and June
or September and October. Today, marking a milestone, 18 pilgrims embarked on the inaugural
helicopter flight, signalling a new era of accessibility championed by Trip to Temples.
Adi Kailash, situated in the magnificent Vyas Valley, holds great significance as the second abode of Lord
Shiva and Parvati. Om Parvat, bordering India, Nepal, and Tibet, stands as a natural wonder, sculpted
into a perfect “Om” symbol. Previously, the closest vantage point to view Om Parvat was Nabhidang,
located 11 km from the Old Lipu Lekh Pass, necessitating a challenging trek.
Trip to Temples, in collaboration with UTDB, has revolutionized the pilgrimage experience. Devotees can
now embark on a one-day aerial darshan of both sites, returning the same day which is launched today.
From April 15th, a five-day helicopter yatra will commence, with helicopters landing near the holy sites,
minimizing walking distances and departing conveniently from Pithoragarh.
