Get set for ‘aerial tourism’ in Uttar Pradesh as the state government, in a one-of-its-kind move, is going to launch helicopter services to connect its prime tourist destinations.
Officials with the UP tourism department said initially, the service will be launched for Mathura and Agra but, in the days to come, it will cover other tourist destinations such as Ayodhya, Lucknow, Prayagraj, Kapilavastu, Varanasi and Naimisharanya among others.
Jaiveer Singh, UP’s tourism and culture minister, said: “Adding yet another flavour to UP tourism, we are set to introduce helicopter services in Agra and Mathura. The project, which will run in the Public Private Partnership mode, will be inaugurated on the birth anniversary of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on December 25.”
Officials with the tourism department said the services will give a boost to the two districts apart from providing a new experience to pilgrims.
A tourism officer, while sharing the plan, said three types of services would be initially launched in Mathura. “One would be the ‘parikrama’ of Govardhan Parvat, second would be an aerial tour of the entire town and third is the connectivity tour,” they said. The department recently conducted a trial ride in which the entire 21km circum-navigation of Govardhan Parvat was completed in just seven minutes, the official added.
Initially, seven-seater helicopters — carrying six pilgrims — will be pressed into service. However, depending on the response, the number of aircraft will be increased, officials added.
Similarly, the department has planned ‘Agra air safari’ for tourists that will enable them to capture the aerial view of the Taj Mahal and other heritage structures in Agra and Fatehpur. The department has also launched connectivity services through which helicopters can ferry tourists from Agra to Delhi on demand. In addition, a hot air balloon safari has also been launched in Agra.
Commandant Manish Saini, an ex-Army officer from Dehradun who completed his schooling from Ghaziabad, is one of the owners of Rajas Aerosports and Adventures Private Limited which has entered into an agreement with the UP government for the helicopter services.
Saini said the project is not just a concept but a well-planned initiative to connect all major pilgrimage sites in UP and Uttarakhand, including Ayodhya, Prayagraj, Mathura, Naimisharanya, Gorakhpur, Haridwar, Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri.
“This initiative aims to revolutionise pilgrimage tourism, attracting tourists to UP from Haridwar and the Char Dhams, thereby boosting regional tourism and economic development. Our commitment is further strengthened by a proposed investment of Rs 5,000 crore and an MoU with UP tourism,” added Saini.
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