Bir - Billing

Adventure activities like paragliding have transformed Bir from a sleepy little town to a tourist destination that is worth visiting. Click here to see the list of popular attractions to visit in Bir Billing.

1. Bir Landing Site - It offers soul-stirring views of the sunset.
2. Chokling Monastery - This magnificent monastery is painted in white and is adorned with other bright colours.
3. Deer Park Institute - It is one of the most reputed centres for the study of classical Indian wisdom.
4. Chowgan Tea Gardens - Situated in lower Bir hat has many verdant tea plantations with many different types of teas grown.
5. Dharmalaya Institute - Eco-campus in that stresses on the importance of compassionate and green living.

- You can travel to Bir by bus, train, taxi, or flight. You can take a flight to the Dharamshala’s Gaggal airport, and take a bus or taxi from there to reach Bir.

- You can take walking tours within Bir to get anywhere. You can hire a taxi or take a bus if you are going up or down the hill, and commuting longer distances.

- You need not buy bottle water in Bir. The water in Bir is considered to be clean and safer than bottled water; so get it filtered or boiled before drinking.

- You can get an accommodation at the homestays, guesthouses, hotels, or resorts in the nearby villages like Chowgan and Upper Bir.

- Most of the resort stay is budgeted and you will find basic amenities in most of the resorts and guesthouses.

- If you are extending your stay, you will also find cottages that are available for long term rentals at Ghornala.

- Avoid non-veg food in any of the places in Bir as they do not meet hygiene standards for cooking meat. You can make your own food when living in a guesthouse by buying veggies and other items in the Tibetan colony, and other nearby villages.

- Many food joints for snacks, cafes, and restaurants are available throughout Bir.

- There are many institutes spread across Bir that teach meditation and yoga.

- Zostel Bir:
Giving you the eye-feasting view of the countryside and majestic Himalayas, this hostel features bunk beds, en suite bathrooms, lockers, a common room, a garden, mixed-gender and only-female dorms, a cafe and a rooftop terrace. You can also avail private rooms here.

- The Hosteller:
Lying close to the bus stand, market, and paragliding base, this resort is one of the most popular stays in Bir. This Instagrammable resort has all the basic as well as modern amenities including an in-house cafe, giving you amazing pictures and memories to take back.

- Karyashaala:
A fantastic stay as well as a coworking space, this resort is perfect for working people and travellers. Boasting of its great food, this place you make fall in love with Bir more with its tasty food that you entice around the bonfire.

- Bir Nest:
Offering palatable American and continental breakfast along with the picturesque view of the surreal surroundings, this hostel offers a shared lounge, rooms with private bathrooms, free WiFi, and a restaurant. You can also indulge in the popular activities including cycling and bicycle rental here.

- Colonels Resort:
A popular choice among the visitors, this hotel lies in the close proximity of the Deer Park Institute, around 600 metres, offering all the basic amenities including free breakfast and a flat-screen TV in the rooms adding more appeal to this resort.

With not much public transport available in Bir, you must come prepared in this pristine land. You can either use your own vehicle to commute around Bir Billing or avail a bike on rent to wander around the place. You can also book with tour companies which render packages along with cab facilities.

Bir Billing is perched at an elevation of around 5,000 feet and hence experience chilling winters. You can witness the formidable 4-5 inch snow covering all the land which was once green. The temperature in the winter season dropdown below zero degrees, therefore it is not a considerable season for paragliding. You can visit the place in winters by keeping paragliding off the list.

Bir Billing is a famous adventure hub to head including activities like hardcore camping, paragliding, trekking, and mountain biking. Also rich in Tibetan culture, Bir Billings is famous for the wondrous temples and monasteries, bringing you closer to the local traditions. This place has amazing cafes offering local as well as Indian and international cuisines that you can enjoy.

No, Bir and Billing are not the same. Billing is the starting point for the paragliding while Bir is the landing spot for this aero-sport flight. Bir, known as the paragliding capital of India, is located at a distance of around 14 Km from Billing.

Bir-Billing is a hill station and because of this the temperature stays cold throughout the year. The monsoons seasons are best to be avoided to visit Bir-Billing. Because of light to heavy rainfall, there is always a chance of landslide. Here is a season wise weather breakdown:

Summer

March to June is the perfect period to visit Bir-Billing. The temperature stays between 11 degree Celsius and 25 degree Celsius. The weather remains perfect for paragliding, which is why the highest number of visitors ends up in Bir-Billing during summer.

Monsoon

July to September is when the crowd is least in Bir-Billing, and that’s for a good reason. The cloudy weather and rain make it impossible to paraglide.

Winter

November to the end of January is not a good time to visit Bir-Billing. The temperature drops below 0 degree Celsius. The snow can cause roadblocks too.

There are a few ways to reach Bir-Billing, but they are all via Delhi. Hence, wherever you are coming from, your first destination has to be Delhi. Once there, you have the following options:

Train

You need to book a seat on any train from Delhi to Pathankot, which takes about 15 hours. From there, you can ride on a narrow gauge Toy Train, which will take you to Baijnath. You can take a bus or a hired car to Bir-Billing from there. The toy train journey is very beautiful because of the view.

Bus

There are frequent buses from Delhi to Mandi. You can either take a luxury bus or a general bus from Kashmere Gate. It is fairly easy to find a bus from Mandi to Palampur. The Bir Chowk bus stop comes before Palampur.

Car

Hiring a car to Bir-Billing is a good option for you too. The best route is the Delhi- Ambala- Rupnagar- Anandpur Sahib- Una- Amb- Kangra- Palampur- Baijnath- Bir Chowk way. This is a beautiful route and less congested.

As Bir-Billing is the best place to paraglide in India, it’s of course is the main thing to do when you are visiting Bir-Billing. Other than that, there are multiple outdoor activities you can take part in and feel the thrill.

Paragliding

If you aren’t paragliding then you probably shouldn’t even consider making a trip to Bir-Billing. Paragliding to Bir-Billing is what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris. So, make sure you don’t miss your chance to fly over the green valleys. There are two ways to do it:

• You join a paragliding training course in Bir-Billing and get a certificate to fly on your own.

• You hire a pilot who will control the glider while you can sit back and enjoy the view and the thrill.

Paragliding will cost you about Rs. 2000-4000, depending on how much time you want to spend flying.

Trek

Bir-Billing is a trekking paradise. There are mountains, forest, and tea gardens to lead you to the most beautiful of sights. There are more than one trekking routes in Bir-Billing and all of them are charming in their own way.

Relax

Yes, that’s an option and a great one. Pick a spot on the mountain and just sit there for hours. Bring some food and water with you, relax, and soak in all the beauty.

There are many sightseeing attractions in Bir-Billing. With the great blue sky and a view of the green mountain, Bir-Billing is a comfort for your eyes and your soul. In addition to that, there are a few places that you should visit during your stay there.

• Deer Park Institute- a monastery where you can relax, practice meditation, and enjoy some great vegetable food. Visit it in evening to enhance your experience.
• Arya Marga Yoga Institute- if you are visiting Bir-Billing for a longer period of time then this yoga institute is the place to visit. You can learn here to meditate. It will change your life.
• Bir Tea Factory- a visit to this place is a must if you are interested in knowing how the entire tea-business works. You will get a tour of the tea factory and have the chance to taste some good tea.
• Tibetan Colony- this place is famous for authentic Tibetan food and handicrafts.
• Bir Road Market- a very colorful market area where you can buy clothing and mementos.

Bir Billing has a variety of accommodation options for you. The rates are little on the higher side during the peak seasons. This is completely understandable as Bir Billing doesn’t get many tourists during monsoons and end-winters.

• Garden View Hotel- this hotel is right beside the paragliding landing site. It will also offer you a great view from its rooftop.

• Zostel- a very cozy place with good services. It offers you everything you need to relax and have a good time.

Bir Billing mostly has mountain ways that lead to the most prominent tourist attractions. If you are a trekker then rely on your walking skills. You can also hire a mountain bike and ride it around.

Bir Billing is a good place to shop for souvenirs and decorations. You can try these markets out:

• Bir Bazaar
• Kotli
• Tibetan Colony
• Bir Road
• Baijnath

Bir Billing has a great number of Tibetans living in there. You can clearly notice the influence in Bir Billing’s culture and religion. There are beautiful monasteries and stupas in the area which you should visit. There are local temples too.

Billing is the launching area for paragliding. From there you can glide up to Bir, where the flight ends.

The two main trekking trails in Bir-Billing are: 

• Tatta Pani Trek- a 2.5 km trek from the hydro-electricity power station to the hot spring.

• Hanumangarh Trek- this is a longer trek and offers the view of the mountain. Starts from Billing and walk up to Hanumangarh.