People travelling between Shimla and Rampur will soon have a faster option. A helicopter service between Sanjauli and Rampur will begin on October 21, 2026, a government spokesperson said on Monday. The service will also extend to Reckong Peo, giving remote areas of Himachal Pradesh a direct air link.
The service will not run every day. It will operate three days a week — Monday, Friday and Saturday. That means residents and travellers will have to plan their trips around these fixed days.
Shimla-Rampur Helicopter Service Schedule and Timings
The spokesperson shared the full timetable for the day. The helicopter will leave Sanjauli at 9:55 am and reach Rampur at 10:30 am. From there, it will take off for Reckong Peo at 10:50 am and land at 11:25 am.
The return trip starts soon after. The helicopter will leave Reckong Peo for Rampur at 11:30 am and arrive at 12:05 pm. The last leg, from Rampur to Sanjauli, will depart at 12:10 pm and reach Sanjauli at 12:45 pm.
- Sanjauli to Rampur: departs 9:55 am, arrives 10:30 am
- Rampur to Reckong Peo: departs 10:50 am, arrives 11:25 am
- Reckong Peo to Rampur: departs 11:30 am, arrives 12:05 pm
- Rampur to Sanjauli: departs 12:10 pm, arrives 12:45 pm
Why the Reckong Peo Helicopter Link Matters
The government says the initiative aims to strengthen air connectivity and provide convenient transportation to residents of remote and inaccessible areas. Reckong Peo is the headquarters of Kinnaur district, and road travel to the region is long and often difficult. A helicopter link cuts that journey down to under two hours from Sanjauli, including the stop at Rampur.
To put it plainly, this is a small but useful step. The service does not run daily, so it will not replace road travel for most people. But for those who need to reach Kinnaur quickly — for work, medical reasons or family — the option now exists on three days of the week.
Our Take: A Practical Start, But Frequency Is the Real Test
In our view, the Shimla-Rampur-Reckong Peo helicopter service is a sensible move. It connects two hard-to-reach points with the state capital region in a single morning trip. The timings are tight and well-planned, with the whole circuit finishing before 1 pm.
The catch is the three-day schedule. Monday, Friday and Saturday cover the start and end of the week, which suits office-goers and weekend travellers. But anyone who needs to fly mid-week will still depend on roads. If demand picks up, the government should look at adding more days.
For now, the message for readers is simple: if you plan to use this service, check the day first. The helicopter will not be available on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Sunday. Plan your trip around the Monday, Friday and Saturday slots, and keep the morning timings in mind, since the entire round trip wraps up by 12:45 pm.
This service is a welcome addition to Himachal Pradesh's air connectivity. Whether it grows into a regular, reliable link for Kinnaur depends on how well it is used — and whether the government is willing to expand the schedule when people start relying on it.