Flying private to India's big events
Six events from the Pushkar Fair in November to the Nashik Kumbh bathing days of August and September 2027. The airports nearest most of them are small, so plan parking and the last leg early.
- Pushkar Fair
- 17 to 24 Nov 2026
- Hornbill
- 1 to 10 Dec 2026
- Sunburn, Mumbai
- 18 to 19 Dec 2026
- Jaipur Lit Fest
- 14 to 18 Jan 2027
How event travel works in India
A jet or turboprop lands at the airport nearest the event, often a small regional airport such as Nashik (Ozar), Kishangarh or Dimapur, and a car or, where a site is approved, a helicopter finishes the trip. In cities such as Mumbai, Jaipur and Ahmedabad, the main airport is the gateway.
India's big events sit far apart: a pilgrimage on the Godavari, a literature festival in Jaipur, a cricket final in Ahmedabad, a camel fair in the Rajasthan desert, a dance festival in Mumbai and a tribal festival in the Naga hills.
Several of these events rely on regional airports with small aprons. Parking for your aircraft, the road time from the airport and any permits are what decide the plan, so each event page sets out the airports, the last leg and the rules we could confirm.
Every flight is operated by a DGCA-permitted non-scheduled operator named on your quote; see what NSOP means. If your dates are flexible, check empty legs around the event dates.
Sources:NewsBytes, 15 October 2026: the 2026 Pushkar Camel Fair runs from 17 to 24 NovemberDD News, 14 October 2026: 27th Hornbill Festival, 1 to 10 December 2026, Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, about 12 km south of Kohima; opens on Nagaland Statehood DaySunburn, event page read 19 October 2026: 18 December 4 pm to 19 December 2026 10 pm, Mahalaxmi Race Course (RWITC), Mumbai; second Mumbai editionUNI, 9 October 2026: 20th Jaipur Literature Festival, 14 to 18 January 2027, Hotel Clarks Amer, JaipurPTI via The Week, 1 June 2025: CM Devendra Fadnavis announces the Simhastha schedule; flag hoisting 31 October 2026; Amrit Snan 2 August, 31 August and 11 September 2027 in Nashik and 12 September 2027 in Trimbakeshwar; flag lowered 24 July 2028Jeppesen ACUKWIK, read 19 October 2026: Nashik/Ozar (VAOZ), joint civil and military; runway 09/27, 9,843 x 148 ft; hours Monday to Saturday 0230 to 0900 UTC, other times on request; customs availableJeppesen ACUKWIK, read 19 October 2026: Kishangarh (VIKG), runway 05/23, 6,562 x 148 ft; hours Monday to Friday 0400 to 1230 UTC; VOR/DME approaches only; no customs; jet fuelJeppesen ACUKWIK, read 19 October 2026: Dimapur (VEMR), runway 12/30, 7,513 x 148 ft; hours Monday to Friday 0930 to 1800 local, other times 24 hours prior notice; jet fuel only; no customs
The event calendar
| Event | Dates | How people fly in |
|---|---|---|
| Pushkar Camel Fair | 17 to 24 November 2026, ending on Kartik Purnima | Jet to Jaipur, or a smaller aircraft to Kishangarh, then car |
| Hornbill Festival | 1 to 10 December 2026 | Jet to Dimapur, then road to Kisama near Kohima |
| Sunburn Festival | 18 to 19 December 2026, Mumbai | Jet to Mumbai; helicopters use Juhu |
| Jaipur Literature Festival | 14 to 18 January 2027, Hotel Clarks Amer | Jet to Jaipur, then car |
| IPL 2027 | Not announced yet; BCCI aims for 10 March to 15 May | Jet to each host city; the 2026 final was in Ahmedabad |
| Nashik Kumbh Mela | Opens 31 October 2026; Amrit Snan 2 August, 31 August and 11 September 2027 (12 September at Trimbakeshwar) | Jet to Nashik (Ozar) or Mumbai, then car |
Checked on 19 October 2026. The Pushkar dates are from a news report, as Rajasthan Tourism had not posted them; the IPL window is the BCCI's stated aim, not a fixture list.
Sources:NewsBytes, 15 October 2026: the 2026 Pushkar Camel Fair runs from 17 to 24 NovemberDrik Panchang, read 19 October 2026: Pushkara Snana (Kartik Purnima) on Tuesday 24 November 2026Rajasthan Tourism, read 19 October 2026: Pushkar Fair, an annual five-day camel and livestock fair between October and November; no 2026 dates on the pageDD News, 14 October 2026: 27th Hornbill Festival, 1 to 10 December 2026, Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, about 12 km south of Kohima; opens on Nagaland Statehood DayNagaland Tourism, read 19 October 2026: Hornbill Festival, ten-day annual event; next event 1 to 10 December 2026Sunburn, event page read 19 October 2026: 18 December 4 pm to 19 December 2026 10 pm, Mahalaxmi Race Course (RWITC), Mumbai; second Mumbai editionUNI, 9 October 2026: 20th Jaipur Literature Festival, 14 to 18 January 2027, Hotel Clarks Amer, JaipurThe Telegraph t2, 9 October 2026: JLF 2027 at Hotel Clarks Amer, Jaipur, 14 to 18 JanuaryWisden, 18 June 2026: BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia aims to start IPL 2027 by 10 March and finish by 15 May, not yet fixed; 74 matches; the 2026 season ran 28 March to 31 MayIANS, 6 May 2026: 2026 final moved from Bengaluru to Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on 31 May; Qualifier 1 in Dharamshala, Eliminator and Qualifier 2 in New ChandigarhPTI via The Week, 1 June 2025: CM Devendra Fadnavis announces the Simhastha schedule; flag hoisting 31 October 2026; Amrit Snan 2 August, 31 August and 11 September 2027 in Nashik and 12 September 2027 in Trimbakeshwar; flag lowered 24 July 2028Free Press Journal, 20 September 2026: flag hoisting at Ramkund 12:02 pm on 31 October 2026, ceremonies at Kushavart Tirtha, Trimbakeshwar; bathing dates 2 August, 31 August, 11 September (Nashik) and 12 September 2027 (Trimbakeshwar)
Tell us the dates and passengers. A specialist replies with aircraft options and an all-in price, around the clock.
Landing a helicopter near an event
A helicopter can land outside an aerodrome only at a prepared site, with the landowner's consent and notice from the operator to the district administration at least four days before. The district can refuse on law and order or safety grounds, which matters at crowded festivals.
Helicopter charter is billed by the flying hour from the operator's base, at about ₹1.21 lakh to ₹2.48 lakh per hour, plus 18% GST. See our helicopter rent page for how billing works.
Sources:Ministry of Civil Aviation: Heli-Disha guide for district administrations (landing sites outside aerodromes)CBIC Circular 234/28/2024-GST: 18% on helicopter charter, 5% on seat-share passenger services
Aircraft for Indian event trips
Light and midsize jets for the city airports, turboprops for short regional runways, helicopters for approved landing sites.
Questions, answered
Still deciding? A charter specialist will talk you through aircraft, airports and price, with no obligation.
Ask a specialistHow early should I book for a big event?+
As soon as your dates are fixed. Regional airports such as Ozar, Kishangarh and Dimapur have small aprons and limited published hours, and parking goes first.
Can a helicopter land at the event?+
Only at a prepared site with the landowner's consent and notice to the district at least four days before. At crowded events the district can refuse on law and order or safety grounds.
What does a light jet cost in India?+
Light jets charter at about ₹2.48 lakh to ₹3.52 lakh per flight hour for the whole aircraft, before GST, airport and parking charges.
Who operates the flights?+
DGCA-permitted non-scheduled operators (NSOP holders), named on your quote.
Fares, dates and rules on this page were checked on 19 October 2026. Official fares and schedules change every season; the operator or authority named in each source has the final word.
- 1.NewsBytes, 15 October 2026: the 2026 Pushkar Camel Fair runs from 17 to 24 November
- 2.DD News, 14 October 2026: 27th Hornbill Festival, 1 to 10 December 2026, Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, about 12 km south of Kohima; opens on Nagaland Statehood Day
- 3.Sunburn, event page read 19 October 2026: 18 December 4 pm to 19 December 2026 10 pm, Mahalaxmi Race Course (RWITC), Mumbai; second Mumbai edition
- 4.UNI, 9 October 2026: 20th Jaipur Literature Festival, 14 to 18 January 2027, Hotel Clarks Amer, Jaipur
- 5.PTI via The Week, 1 June 2025: CM Devendra Fadnavis announces the Simhastha schedule; flag hoisting 31 October 2026; Amrit Snan 2 August, 31 August and 11 September 2027 in Nashik and 12 September 2027 in Trimbakeshwar; flag lowered 24 July 2028
- 6.Jeppesen ACUKWIK, read 19 October 2026: Nashik/Ozar (VAOZ), joint civil and military; runway 09/27, 9,843 x 148 ft; hours Monday to Saturday 0230 to 0900 UTC, other times on request; customs available
- 7.Jeppesen ACUKWIK, read 19 October 2026: Kishangarh (VIKG), runway 05/23, 6,562 x 148 ft; hours Monday to Friday 0400 to 1230 UTC; VOR/DME approaches only; no customs; jet fuel
- 8.Jeppesen ACUKWIK, read 19 October 2026: Dimapur (VEMR), runway 12/30, 7,513 x 148 ft; hours Monday to Friday 0930 to 1800 local, other times 24 hours prior notice; jet fuel only; no customs
- 9.Drik Panchang, read 19 October 2026: Pushkara Snana (Kartik Purnima) on Tuesday 24 November 2026
- 10.Rajasthan Tourism, read 19 October 2026: Pushkar Fair, an annual five-day camel and livestock fair between October and November; no 2026 dates on the page
- 11.Nagaland Tourism, read 19 October 2026: Hornbill Festival, ten-day annual event; next event 1 to 10 December 2026
- 12.The Telegraph t2, 9 October 2026: JLF 2027 at Hotel Clarks Amer, Jaipur, 14 to 18 January
- 13.Wisden, 18 June 2026: BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia aims to start IPL 2027 by 10 March and finish by 15 May, not yet fixed; 74 matches; the 2026 season ran 28 March to 31 May
- 14.IANS, 6 May 2026: 2026 final moved from Bengaluru to Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on 31 May; Qualifier 1 in Dharamshala, Eliminator and Qualifier 2 in New Chandigarh
- 15.Free Press Journal, 20 September 2026: flag hoisting at Ramkund 12:02 pm on 31 October 2026, ceremonies at Kushavart Tirtha, Trimbakeshwar; bathing dates 2 August, 31 August, 11 September (Nashik) and 12 September 2027 (Trimbakeshwar)
- 16.Ministry of Civil Aviation: Heli-Disha guide for district administrations (landing sites outside aerodromes)
- 17.CBIC Circular 234/28/2024-GST: 18% on helicopter charter, 5% on seat-share passenger services
Arrive before the crowds.
A specialist replies around the clock with aircraft options, the operator's name and an all-in price.