Dehradun, May 29: Devotees heading for the sacred annual Char Dham Yatra will have to shell out more money from their pockets this year. The annual yatra this year will get costlier as helicopter rides to the destinations -Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath will now cost about 20% more than before.

According to a report by TOI, this summer the Uttarakhand state government is hiking charges for chopper operators and levying royalties on pilgrims. As per details by the charter operators, the popular spiritual circuit of Dehradun (Sahastradhara) - Yamnotri - Gangotri - Kedarnath - Badrinath - Dehradun earlier came to about Rs 1.6-1.7 lakh per person but this year, the cost may soar up to Rs 1.8-1.9 lakh.

According to a TOI report, the hike comes as Uttarakhand hiked charges for night parking of choppers from May 14, operating them from the base Sahastradhara. The hike comes right in the middle of the pilgrim and tourist season.

The report further states that as choppers are used for regional connectivity within the state, the Business Aircraft Operators’ Association (BAOA) is opposing the sudden hike in charges. The BAOA has also raised the issue with both the state and the aviation ministry.

On April 29, thousands of devotees braved early morning chill to flock to Kedarnath as portals of the Himalayan shrine were thrown open today after the six-month winter break.  To recall, Uttarakhand Governor K K Paul and Speaker Premchand Aggarwal were among the first to offer prayers at the shrine as its gates were opened by Rawal Bhimashankar Ling at 6.15 AM in the presence of administrative and temple committee officials amid elaborate rituals and chants of vedic hymns.

Each year, over than 2,50,000 pilgrims visit Chardham from different parts of India and abroad. The Chardham Yatra comprises the Himalayan shrines of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri and are one of the most revered sites for the Hindus in India. Portals of the four famous Himalayan shrines of Uttarakhand are closed every year with the onset of winter as they become snowbound and reopened with the start of summer.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 29, 2018 11:43 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).