New Trimbakeshwar Heliport: Private Helicopter Flights From Mumbai, Pune, Surat and Other Cities May Start From 2 November, Says Collector
The Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority has built a heliport at Trimbakeshwar that can handle three helicopters at once, and flights by private operators could start as early as 2 November, Collector Ayush Prasad told the Times of India on 22 October. He named Mumbai, Pune, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalgaon, Dhule, Surat and Valsad as likely origins, with darshan and return possible within about three hours. Operators could bundle ground transport and the official ₹2,500 paid darshan pass into fares; no operator, schedule or fare has been announced yet.
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A new way to reach Trimbakeshwar is being opened up ahead of the Simhastha. We missed this when it was first reported on 22 October, so we are adding it now. REPORTED: the details below are the Collector's statements as carried by the Times of India (22 October) and Webdunia Marathi (24 October). No public notice, operator list or booking link has been published yet.
What has been announced
- Heliport: built by the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority at Trimbakeshwar. It can handle three helicopters at the same time. The land has been requisitioned and stays with the authority until the Kumbh ends.
- Start: flights by private operators could begin as early as 2 November, Collector Ayush Prasad said.
- Where from: Mumbai, Pune, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalgaon, Dhule, Surat and Valsad. Surat, Valsad, Mumbai and Pune are about 40 minutes away by air, according to TOI.
- Round trip: fly in, have darshan of the Jyotirlinga and return within about three hours, the Collector said.
- Packages: operators could include local ground transport and the official ₹2,500 paid darshan pass in the fare. Chartered and shared flights are both possible, and the Collector said flights could also run on crowded parva snan days.
- Clearances: Additional District Magistrate Rohit Rajput is the single-window officer for helicopter operators.
What is not known yet
- Which operators will fly, from which helipads, and at what fares.
- Whether the 2 November start will hold. It is a "could commence" date, not a confirmed schedule.
What this means for you
- If you are short on time, this may become an option for a same-day Trimbakeshwar darshan. Do not pay anyone for a "helicopter darshan package" until an operator and fares are officially announced.
- For most pilgrims, road and rail remain the way in. See how to reach Nashik and Trimbak and our Trimbakeshwar Kumbh 2027 guide.
- Note that the Nashik to Trimbak road is closed from 8 AM on 30 October to 8 PM on 31 October for the flag hoisting.
