Ayodhya Ram Mandir: Before the consecration of the Ram temple on January 22, the Uttar Pradesh government has announced to start helicopter services to Ayodhya from Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Agra and Mathura. .
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will inaugurate the helicopter service from Lucknow on Friday (January 19). The government has also fixed the fare for helicopter services. Plans are underway to extend this service to other districts of the state in future. Apart from this, the state government is also introducing aerial darshan of Ayodhya city and Ram temple for the devotees. The tourism department has been entrusted with the responsibility for this initiative.
Devotees wishing to have aerial darshan will have to make advance booking to avail the facility. Uttar Pradesh Principal Secretary Tourism Mukesh Meshram said that Chief Minister Yogi has given instructions to provide helicopter facilities to Ram devotees. Under this, helicopter service is being started from six districts of the state. This facility will be made available to devotees and tourists on operator model.
How much is the fare? (Ayodhya Helicopter Booking Price)
The helicopter ride will be from the helipad near the tourism guest house on the banks of river Saryu. Devotees will enjoy aerial tour of famous tourist places including Ram Temple, Hanumangarhi and Saryu Ghat. The duration of this air journey is fixed at a maximum of 15 minutes, the fare for which has been fixed at Rs 3,539 per devotee.
Each helicopter trip can accommodate a maximum of five devotees with a weight limit of 400 kg. Devotees will be allowed to carry a maximum of 5 kg of luggage. Apart from this, helicopter services will be available for the distance of 126 km from Gorakhpur to Ayodhya Dham, making the journey complete in 40 minutes. The fare for this service has been fixed at Rs 11,327 per devotee.
Director of Tourism Department, Prakhar Mishra said that in the coming time, the service will be expanded as per the demand. Mishra said devotees can use helicopter services from Namo Ghat in Varanasi, which covers the distance of 160 km in just 55 minutes. Its fare per devotee will be Rs 14,159. Additionally, services are also available from Ramabai in Lucknow, which covers the distance of 132 km in 45 minutes at the same fare.
Other details
Helicopter services are also available from the helipad near the tourist guest house in Prayagraj. Under this, each devotee will be able to cover a distance of 157 km in 50 minutes with a fare of Rs 14,159. Additionally, devotees can opt for helicopter services from the helipad near Govardhan Parikrama in Barsana in Mathura and the helipad near Agra Expressway in Agra. These long routes spanning 456 km and 440 km respectively take 135 minutes to complete. The fare for this is fixed at Rs 35,399 per devotee.
The fixed fare for helicopter services is one-way. Devotees traveling from Ayodhya Dham will have to pay the revised fare. The idol of Ram Lala which is to be consecrated will be placed on its pedestal in the sanctum sanctorum today i.e. Thursday (January 18). The idol of Ramlala was brought to the sanctum sanctorum of the grand Ram temple in Ayodhya on Wednesday (January 17) night.
