The new Trimbakeshwar heliport in Nashik district has opened to enable direct helicopter services for pilgrims travelling from Mumbai, Pune, Surat, Valsad and other regional centres, with private operators potentially starting flights as early as November 2, according to Nashik collector Ayush Prasad.
Constructed by the Nashik Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority, the facility can accommodate three helicopters simultaneously. The administration expects it to improve air connectivity to Trimbakeshwar, home to one of India’s 12 Jyotirlingas, for visitors seeking shorter pilgrimage trips.
Prasad said devotees from Mumbai, Pune, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalgaon, Dhule, Surat and Valsad could reach Trimbakeshwar in about 40 minutes by air. He said the service could allow pilgrims to complete darshan and return home within three hours, subject to flight availability and operator schedules.
The proposed services are expected to include both chartered flights and shared commuter operations, with the format determined by passenger demand. The administration also sees an opportunity for operators to create package services for visitors staying at premium hotels in nearby cities.
The heliport could also be used for pilgrimage services during heavily crowded parva snan days. According to Prasad, operators may combine helicopter travel with local ground transport and the official Rs 2,500 paid darshan pass to offer an end-to-end service. The statement did not specify the proposed fare for helicopter travel or the number of daily flights.
The land for the heliport has been requisitioned by the administration and will remain in the possession of the Nashik Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority until the conclusion of the grand event. The arrangement links the facility to the authority’s preparations for managing large-scale pilgrimage movement around Trimbakeshwar.
The administration has appointed additional district magistrate Rohit Rajput as the dedicated officer for helicopter operations. He will provide single-window clearances to operators seeking to run services from the facility.
In addition to pilgrimage flights, the administration said helicopter operators could use the facility for scenic aerial joyrides around Nashik, depending on tourist demand. The start of services will depend on operators completing the required clearances and finalising their schedules.
