In Jammu and Kashmir, in order to facilitate the pilgrims desiring special darshan in a short duration, the Vaishno Devi Shrine Board will start the already announced Jammu to Sanjhi Chhat helicopter service, likely in June. The pilgrims availing the facility will be dropped off at Panchhi Helipad, 2.5 km short of Bhawan, and special darshan will also be provided to these pilgrims. The Shrine Board will be introducing two types of packages: ‘Same Day Return’ (SDR) for Rs 35,000 and ‘Next Day Return’ (NDR) for Rs 50,000 per person. In the same day format, pilgrims will be provided battery car service to Bhawan, a special darshan slip, ‘Prasad’, a priority ticket cable car to offer prayers at ‘Bhairon Temple’, and battery car service on return to reach Panchi Helipad and board the helicopter for Jammu Airport. In the Next Day Return package, rooms at Bhawan and ‘Atka Aarti’ are also included in the facilities.
Notably, helicopter service at present is available only between Katra and Sanjichhat, for which the one-way fare is 2 thousand one hundred rupees per person. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has already permitted helicopter service between Jammu and Bhawan, while the Shrine Board makes all arrangements and preparations before the start of the service for a hassle-free and smooth pilgrimage experience for the devotees.
