Are you planning a vacation to Bir Billing? The charming tiny rural town in Himachal Pradesh is a renowned Paragliding destination. Many people believe that Bir Billing is the best site to enjoy paragliding following Lake Como in Italy. Indeed, the skies littered with skydivers are among the first things you see as you approach Bir.
To be precise, Bir is a hamlet in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district. So Bir has become popular with paragliding that the word “Billing” (the area of the paragliding site) has been associated with it. However, Bir Billing is more than simply paragliding. Bir has a lot to offer in activities and exploration, ranging from hiking and climbing to mountain biking.
- About Bir Billing
Bir is a tiny village hidden in the highlands of Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, and Billing is about 14 kilometres away. But, for a simple reason, both of these communities are frequently referred to as one. They comprise India’s top and Asia’s second-best paragliding sites.
Even though they are now popular worldwide, they are still unspoiled gems of alpine glory. So, if you want to travel to a calmer and more serene Himachal hill station, Bir Billing is the place to go. Besides paragliding, this location is also recognized for its Tibetan origins and is an excellent opportunity to learn about Tibetan heritage.
You may visit the monasteries and discover much more about monks’ lives while enjoying some delectable Tibetan delicacies such as Thukpas, Sha Phalay, Momos, etc.
- How to Reach?
Pathankot, in Punjab, is around 140 kilometres distant and has the closest train station to Bir. There are daily local buses from Pathankot to Bir. You may also take the toy train via Pathankot to Ahju, Bir’s closest toy train station.
Bir’s closest airport is Gaggal, also renowned as Kangra Airport or Dharamshala Airport, around 65 km far. Buses do not run often from Gaggal to Bir, but cabs are frequently accessible and cost approximately 1,500 rupees.
Bir’s nearest villages are Baijnath (15 kilometres distant), Joginder Nagar (17 kilometres far), and Palampur (30 kilometres away). Bus services from the Bir Road bus terminal link these areas to Bir.
Places to visit in and around:
Bir and Billing are both tiny places, yet there is much to see and do here that will easily accommodate 4 to 5 days of your time. Here are some sites to know if you plan a trip to this beautiful hamlet:
- Palpung Sherabling Monastery
Palpung Sherabling Monastery is one of Bir’s significant monasteries, and it is around 3 kilometres from the Tibetan Colony Marketplace. This monastery, also recognized as the Bhattu monastery, is nestled in a little town named Bhattu and gives a great background in the style of the Dhauladhar hills.
Kenting Tai Situpa invented and established this location, using contemporary resources to construct Tibetan architectural style. Because this location is still isolated from the adjacent town, it is relatively serene and quiet here, and visitors may discover more about the Palpung heritage.
- Gunehar River Pool
This unusual site, which many people overlook in Bir, is among the city’s hidden jewels. Gunehar is a little town 1.5 kilometers from Bir that is frequently viewed on the route to the waterfalls and different day hikes from Bir.
- Deer Park Institute
Deer Park Institute is the other famous attraction in Bir that can be explored in about 30 minutes. This institute teaches Buddhist traditions and Indian literature, technology, and crafts.
There are also various classes available for anybody to attend, as well as a monastery in which you might spend lots of time meditating.
