The Uttarakhand government will, for the first time, begin heli services for aerial sightseeing of the renowned higher Himalayan Hindu pilgrimage centres Adi Kailash and Om Parvat to promote winter tourism in the state.

The decision has been taken by the Pushkar Singh Dhami Government as a follow-up of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Pithoragarh’s Adi Kailash point in October 2023 wherefrom he had a full view of snow-clad hilltop, also known as Chota Kailash.

Following this, the prime minister directed the Uttarakhand government to initiate action plans to attract more tourists to Adi Kailash and Om parvat without venturing into Chinese Tibet land. It’s significant that both the Hindu religious places are at more than 6,100 meters height in the Kumaon region.

According to the decision taken by the government on Monday, Heli Darshan Service for the two Himalayan pilgrimage centres will take off in April this year. First year will be a pilot project that will include a five-day comprehensive aerial sightseeing package for the tourists inclusive of food and stay to be provided by the state tourism department.

The pilot project will be of six months, between April 2024 and April 2025. The first month will last till May 10, 2024 with the project’s launch on April 10, 2024. Remaining five months of the aerial heli darshan pilot project will be from November 2024 to April 2025. These six months are part of the winter tourism period in Uttarakhand.

Secretary to the chief minister Shailesh Bangoli informed that the heli services to Adi Kailash and Om Parvat would help promote winter tourism and introduce the product to the tourists coming to Kumaon region Himalayan heights. “It will be a high value low volume tourism product adding a new module of visiting religious places. This unique tourism product will also create new business opportunities to the local hoteliers, home stay owners and youths engaged in trekking and other adventure tourism activities in winters” said Bagoli.

According to Bagoli, the heli sightseeing in the region would also enhance the tourism prospects and potential of 17 border villages included under the vibrant village program of the Central government.