Patna: Bihar is set to offer residents and tourists a bird’s-eye view of the state capital as the Chief Minister Bihar Heli Tourism and Air Tourism Service Scheme 2026 begins operations on Saturday. Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary will inaugurate the service at 3 pm from the State Hangar in Patna.
On the inaugural day, 20 passengers will experience the Patna helicopter joy ride. Officials said around 80 tourists have already booked seats for the air tourism services. Initially, the services will operate only on weekends. Bookings for helicopter rides to Rajgir, Valmikinagar and Kaimur are yet to begin.
10-Minute Helicopter Joy Ride Over Patna
The newly launched helicopter joy ride will allow visitors to enjoy a 10-minute aerial tour of Patna for Rs 2,100 per person. Passengers will get panoramic views of major landmarks, including the Ganga River, JP Ganga Path, Takht Sri Harimandir Sahib, and other prominent locations across the city.
The joy rides will operate every Saturday and Sunday from Patna Airport, with flights starting after 3 pm. Four rides are scheduled at 30-minute intervals each day, and each helicopter can accommodate up to five passengers.
Air Connectivity to Three Tourist Destinations
The scheme also connects Patna with three major tourist destinations—Valmikinagar in West Champaran, Rajgir in Nalanda district, and the renowned Maa Mundeshwari Temple in Kaimur district.
Valmikinagar will be served by a state aircraft, while Rajgir and Kaimur will be connected through hired 6+2-seater helicopters. Up to five seats per trip will be reserved for tourists.
Flight Schedule and Fares
The Patna–Valmikinagar–Patna service will operate every Saturday and Sunday. The first flight will depart Patna at 10 am, with the return journey from Valmikinagar at 11 am. A second flight will leave Patna at 3 pm, returning from Valmikinagar at 4:30 pm. The one-way fare has been fixed at Rs 5,000 per passenger, with a weekly capacity of 20 seats in each direction.
Helicopter services to Rajgir and Kaimur will also operate on weekends. The Rajgir flight will depart Patna Airport at 9:30 am and return at 10:30 am, while the Kaimur service will leave at 11 am and return at 12:45 pm. The fare is Rs 4,000 per person for Rajgir and Rs 6,000 for Kaimur. Passengers will be allowed to carry up to 4–5 kg of baggage. Each route has a weekly capacity of 10 seats.
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Free Tourist Guide Facility
The services will operate from the vicinity of Patna Airport every Saturday and Sunday. While tourists will only pay the airfare, the state government will provide tourist guide services free of cost. However, visitors will have to arrange their own accommodation, meals, and local transport.
All bookings will be made online through the Bihar Tourism Department and the Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation portals.
Boosting Bihar Tourism
The Chief Minister Bihar Heli Tourism and Air Tourism Service Scheme 2026 aims to promote Bihar’s religious, heritage, and eco-tourism destinations, attract more domestic and international visitors, generate local employment in tourism hubs such as Valmikinagar, Rajgir, and Kaimur, increase tourism revenue, and establish Bihar as a recognised heli-tourism and air-tourism destination in India.
