Himachal Pradesh Expands Helicopter Connectivity for Faster Access to Tourist Hotspots

Himachal Pradesh has significantly boosted its tourism infrastructure with the launch of new helicopter services, connecting Shimla to key destinations like Kullu, Kinnaur, and Chandigarh. This initiative not only offers tourists a quicker, safer, and more convenient mode of travel but also aims to enhance the overall accessibility of remote areas, benefiting both visitors and locals. With the region’s natural beauty and adventure tourism at the forefront, these new routes are set to transform the travel experience and contribute to the growth of the state’s tourism economy. To enhance air connectivity and support tourism growth, a new helicopter service has been launched from the Sanjauli heliport in Shimla. This service aims to significantly improve accessibility for tourists and locals, offering daily flights to Bhuntar in Kullu and the ITBP helipad in Reckong Peo, Kinnaur. In addition, helicopter flights between Chandigarh and Sanjauli will be available thrice a week—on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The newly introduced helicopter fares are set at Rs 3,500 per passenger for the Sanjauli-Kullu route, Rs 4,000 for Sanjauli-Reckong Peo, and Rs 3,169 for the Sanjauli-Chandigarh route. Plans are also in place to extend the helicopter service to other destinations, such as the Sanjauli-Rampur-Reckong Peo and Sanjauli-Manali routes. Proposals for these new routes have already been submitted to the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for approval of standard operating procedures (SOP).