A Mountain Home Amidst Tea Gardens in Bir Billing

Landing Site in Bir is also known as Sunset Point as it offers soul-stirring views of the sunset. Every evening, the local mob and tourists flock to this place to enjoy the beautiful sunset. There are also a number of cafes and restaurants making the Landing Site, one of the most enthralling places to see in Bir Billing.As the name suggests, Landing Site is used by the paraglider pilots as the official site for landing and hence, one can enjoy the views of paragliders gracefully descending here.Location: Bir Colony Road, Himachal PradeshTiming: Always open

Located in the middle of the Tibetan Colony, Chokling Monastery is one of the most popular Tibetan monasteries in Bir. This magnificent monastery is painted in white and is adorned with other bright colours; making it look stunning. It has a statue of Padmasambhava and a stupa.The monastery offers unobstructed views of the surrounding mountains and as the monastery is situated just 1 km away from Bir Landing Site, one can also enjoy the beautiful sight of paragliders gliding through the skies.The lush lawns in front of the meditation center, the peaceful atmosphere, and the colorful flags fluttering in the air make this one of the most cherishable Places to visit in Bir Billing.Location: Bir Billing Rd, Bir Colony, Chaugan, Himachal Pradesh 176077Timings: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm

Dharmalaya Institute is an eco-campus that stresses on the importance of compassionate and green living. One can register or volunteer to work with the institute. It holds many classes, workshops, courses, internships, and many others on topics like green building, organic farming, sustainable village development, etc.Apart from classes on sustainable living, the Dharmalaya Institute also conducts yoga and meditation classes to help one integrate the work-life and spiritual longings.Location: Dhanaari, Keori, Himachal Pradesh 176125Timing: The institute is open only to registered participants. However, on prior registration, it also offers guided tours and Q&A sessions only once per week. This is usually on Saturdays at noon but subject to change.

The main prayer hall of the monastery has a stunning two-storey golden Maitreya statue. Built across a sprawling 3 acres of land, the Sherabling monastery is situated within the Bhatu forest in the foothills of the Himalayan ranges. The path leading to the monastery is full of pine trees on either side and the colorful prayer flags welcome everyone all through the way.The monastery is pretty huge and its complex includes beautiful Buddhist temples, gompas, and stupas. Inside the monastery, the sound of Buddhist monks reciting their prayers creates a spiritual aura. If you are spiritually inclined, make sure you visit this monastery on priority amongst other places to visit in Bir Billing.Location: Sansal - Palpung Sherabling Monastery Rd, Keori, Himachal Pradesh 176125Timing: The main hall is open from 8.30 AM - 4.30 PM on all days. The monastery is open until 6.00 PM and is closed after that.

Bir has a pleasant climate that is ideal for growing tea, so tea gardens and tea plantations are found in plenty around here. Naturally, there are tea factories here and The Bir Co-operative Tea Factory Ltd near the Bir Bazaar is the biggest and most popular one.One can find lots of women working here. The factory also allows tourists to enjoy an educational trip inside their premises and gives them an insight into the tea making process. One can also shop for freshly packed tea leaves and tea bags at these tea gardens.Location: The Bir Co-operative Tea Factory Ltd, Bir, Himachal Pradesh 175001, IndiaTiming: Always open

The Deer Park Institute is one of the most reputed centres for the study of classical Indian wisdom. The institute hosts several programmes on meditation, philosophy, art, culture, yoga, healing arts, Buddhism and many more.The duration of these programmes is diverse from day-long classes to month-long ones. The institute is built in pagoda style that is classic architecture of monasteries and is decked up with beautiful paintings and carvings depicting the rich Buddhist and Tibetan culture. The list of places to visit in Bir Billing is never complete without the Deer Park Institute.Location: Bir Colony, Bir, Himachal Pradesh 176077Timing: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM & 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM Monday - Saturday

The Drukpa Kagyu monastery in Bir was established by the 8th Khamtrul Rinpoche near Palampur in Tashi Jong. It started with about 140 monks living there. The monastery has inscriptions and stone sculptures that portray the various sects and subsects of Tibetan culture.The placid environment of the monastery set in a spectacular backdrop makes it a great place to meditate and seek one’s inner self.Location: Tashi JongTiming: Always Open

Chowgan is a densely populated suburb in Lower Bir that has many verdant tea plantations with many different types of teas grown. The climatic conditions of Bir are ideal for growing tea and these tea estates look magnificent with hills and misty clouds in the background.A stroll here is extremely pleasurable and these Chowgan Tea Gardens are the most refreshing places to see in Bir Billing. There are lots of women labourers working in these tea gardens with baskets in their back to collect the freshly plucked tea leaves. Some of them are friendly enough to click a picture with tourists.Location: South of Lower BirTiming: Always open