MACHAIL MATA YATRA

The Machail Mata temple is located at a high altitude of 9,705 ft. Being at such a high altitude involves exposure to extreme cold, low humidity, increased ultra violet radiations and reduced air pressure and oxygen.

Since you will only be there for a couple of hours, the body cannot get enough time to acclimatize and adjust to the low oxygen levels, therefore you must not exert yourself, go slow and always catch your breath. If anyone exerts themselves too much too quickly, depending on individual fitness levels, some of the common high-altitude sicknesses and their symptoms are listed below:


1. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS): AMS is the most common form of mountain sickness and may occur after you ascend to altitudes above 2,500m.
Symptoms: Breathing problems, headache, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, weakness, dizziness and difficulty in sleeping.

2. High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE): HACE is a severe form of AMS and occurs due to swelling of the brain tissue which may eventually impair the brain. The illness often manifests itself at night and may result in coma/ death within hours.
Symptoms: Breathing problems, headache, fatigue, visual impairment, bladder dysfunction, bowel dysfunction, disorientation and partial paralysis.

3. High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE): HAPE results in respiratory failure due to accumulation of fluid in the lungs. HAPE manifests itself at night (typically the second night of climbing in high altitude areas), progresses rapidly and may lead to fatality within hours.
Symptoms: Shortness of breath even when resting, persistent dry cough, bright red stained sputum, weakness, fatigue, drowsiness, chest tightness, congestion and increased heart rate. Younger people are held to be more susceptible to this ailment as, in exuberance, they are inclined to over exert while trekking

Do’s

1. Increase your fitness. Start at least a month prior to the Yatra at least a 4-5km Morning/Evening walk. For Improving the oxygen efficiency of your body.

2. Take Palkis/Horses instead of trekking to avoid high altitude sickness.

3. Take short breaks to catch your breath when tired.

4. Notice any symptoms such as extreme tiredness, headache, nausea, loss of appetite or vomiting.

5. Saree is NOT a suitable dress for the Yatra. Salwar Kameez, pant-shirt or a track suit will be better. Ladies who are more than 6 week pregnant shall not be allowed to undertake the pilgrimage.

6. Keep spare clothes and eatables in a suitable water proof bag.

7. Carry some cold cream/Vaseline/sunscreen to protect your hands /face against sunburn etc.

8. Keep in your pocket your yatra Permit or any other identity card, incase of an emergency.

Don’ts

1. Don’t stop at places which are marked by warning notices.

2. Don’t exert yourself too much and get out of breath.

3. Don’t ignore any symptoms such as extreme tiredness, headache, nausea, loss of appetite or vomiting.

4. Don’t use slippers because there are steep rises and falls on the route to the Holy Cave. Only wear trekking shoes with laces.

5. Don’t attempt any short cuts on the route as doing so would be dangerous.

6. Don’t trek alone. Always stay together as a group. Your mobile network may not work at Machail, only postpaid mobile connections have limited connectivity at Gulabgarh.

Q.1: Where is the Helipad?
Ans : The Helipad is in Gulabgarh Village block Paddar, District- Kistwar, J&K

Q.2: Can I buy one-way tickets?
Ans : Yes, it can be booked from the current counter at Kishtwar, Gulabgarh & Machail helipad

Q.3: Mobile Networks and Connectivity?
Ans : At Gulabgarh there is a limited connectivity of postpaid connections. However, data services may or may not work.

At Machail there is limited network connectivity.

• During Aug/Sep, temperatures remain pleasant during the day. However, they drop to around 10-20 degrees at night.

• At Machail, temperatures may abruptly fall below 10 degrees at night. Therefore, it is advisable to carry clothes for cold weather during these months.

To obtain reporting time, it is mandatory for passengers to contact the mobile numbers of our crew mentioned above, only after 6:30 pm one day prior to your travel date.

The carriage is subject to Himalayan Heli Services regulations relating to the conditions of Non-International Carriage (Passenger and Baggage) framed in accordance with The Carriage by Air Act, 1972 and Notification regarding application of the carriage which is non-international. The liability of the company for damage sustaed in the event of the death or wounding of a passenger or any other bodily injuiry suffered by passenger or by his registered baggage during the course of carriage by air will be governed by the provisions of sections 4,5,6 and the rules contained in the second Schedule of Carriage by Air Act 1972 with certain exceptions, adaptations, modifications etc as notified in the Govt. of India, Ministry of Civil Aviation Notification and as amended from time to time.

Helicopter services will be operational subject to grant of permission by DGCA and Local Authorities in favour of HHSPL, failing which 100% refund shall be made to holders of this ticket.

In respect to COVID-19, all necessary measures issued by the Central and State Governments would have to be adhered by the passengers if applicable. Without adhering to the prescribed measures/requirements, boarding would be denied without any refunds.

Reporting time is not to be confused with boarding time. Boarding will take place up to 2 hours after check-in at the helipad, subject to weather conditions.

In case of cancellation due to technical reason/bad weather or other unforeseen reasons beyond our control, full refund of the ticket will be given, HHSPL bears no other liability to the passenger. No accommodation, meals, or cost of land/air transport or any other travel expenditure would be paid, reimbursed, or compensated.

Any inconvenience/physical stress undergone by the passengers at Gulabgarh/Kishtwar helipad on account of heavy rush or bad weather period, is not the liability of HHSPL. Passengers are solely responsible to take care of themselves in such scenarios.

Tickets cancelled due to bad weather will not be revalidated to the next date under any circumstance.

HHSPL reserves the right to cancel passengers, who are unruly, abusive, intoxicated, sick, mentally unbalanced or anyone else whom we deem to be unfit/unsafe to fly. Full refund shall be issued to such passengers.

2 Hours’ time will be allowed for same day return passengers for having darshan at Machail Temple and report back to Machail Helipad. Passengers reporting later than 3 hours may have no chance of getting the flight back to Gulabgarh same day. Such passengers will have to put up with the inconvenience of a night halt at their own cost.

All passengers departing from Gulabgarh Helipad after 12 pm due to any reason, will by default be converted to Next Day Return passengers, as it will not be possible for them to report back to Machail helipad by the cut-off time of 3:00 pm

Passengers as listed on one ticket may not be carried in the same helicopter, as a matter of regrouping based on weight of the passengers due to the load carrying limitations of the helicopter.

At Machail Helipad, boarding for the return flight to Gulabgarh will be done on first come first serve basis. After reporting back to the Helipad, there will be a waiting time of 2 hours at the helipad, subject to the weather conditions

In case passengers holding this ticket, do not reach Gulabgarh helipad as per their reporting time, they may be cancelled for the day. However, if possible, depending on the yatri rush at Gulabgarh, HHSPL shall try to accommodate the passengers to the best of their capacity.

Machail Mata temple is at a high altitude, so passengers must beware of high-altitude sickness. Therefore, medical check-ups must be done prior to undertaking this yatra

Due to high altitude locations, passengers are advised to carry warm clothes with them on their journey.

HHSPL will not be responsible for any medical emergency of the passengers anywhere and at any time during their journey.

Aerial Photography from Helicopter is illegal and punishable by law and photography at the helipad is strictly prohibited.

Passengers are permitted to carry only one piece of luggage up to 5 kg. Any additional/overweight baggage is strictly not allowed.

Children below the age of 02 years are allowed to fly free of charge.

All passengers must present valid photo ID and Yatra registration (if mandatory by the local authorities) at the time of check-in.

Disputes (if any) as to the legality, interpretation, application, or performance of this service or any of its terms and conditions shall be governed by the laws of Delhi Jurisdiction.