My best birthday ever was in Bir Biling, since then that place is my personal favourite. It’s a small town with numerous astonishing things, kehte hain na chota packet bada dhamaka!!
Bir is full of surprises, views, landscapes, sunsets, rains out of nowhere, lovely and quaint people who are always ready to help you with the best they can do. One can get immense peace at this place and will fall in love with its uniqueness within a day.
Let me tell you if you are planning to visit the place in weekend then you will miss a lot, one would need at least a week to explore the place fully and dig out the hidden gems of Bir.
About Bir Billing
Bir Billing is World’s 2nd largest para gliding site and hosts international competitions and events periodically. Bir is a very small village nestled in the valleys of Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, also known as landing site. Just above Bir at a distance of 14 km is Billing also known as Take-off site. However, despite of recognized internationally the place is more of secluded place which is the proof of its divine mountain beauty.
Great! Now when you plan for an escape from the hassle of metropolitan to somewhere peaceful and soothing go for Bir Billing. Bir is home to Tibetan refugee settlement with several Buddhist monasteries and a large stupa. The place is also known for its Tibetan roots, spiritual studies, and meditation and is the best place to experience the Tibetan culture along with paragliding.
If you are fond of monasteries, go ahead with this place on top of your list and learn more on the lifestyle of monks living there. Well don’t forget to try some delicious Tibetan cuisines like Chebureki , Thukpas, Sha Phalay, Khapsey, Tsampa, Gundain and so many others to try.
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Reaching Bir Billing (From Delhi)
Bir can be reached via many means including long journey, break journey, short one, or on a toy train but remember any one you go with you will get to see most of its beauty on your way.
Reaching Bir Via Flight:
A bit expensive, but one can reach Bir via flight as well. Gaggal Airport, Dharamshala is the nearest airport at a distance of about 68km from Bir with limited flights. Bir is an hour drive from Dharamsala.
Reaching Bir Via Bus:
There are multiple direct Volvo buses from Delhi ISBT (Kashmiri Gate) to Bir. Buses will stop at the Tibetan Colony in Chougan Village just 1 km walk to Bir landing site. Going with this options would be a smart choice as you will directly reach Bir without any break journey. Bus fares are somewhere between 900-1500 INR depending on your choice of the bus and buses will leave Delhi at around 7:30 PM and will take approximately 12 hours to reach Bir.
Reaching Bir Via Train:
Train –> Toy Train –> Bus or Taxi
One of the cheapest means comes with a long journey, you can prefer this option if you have longer holidays with you. This journey would be in parts, let me tell you with more details.
First, board a train to Pathankot and from there take a toy train till Baijnath staion. From Baijnath take a taxi till Bir directly that is 13 km from there and will take half an hour or you can also board a bus (every half an hour) that will drop you at Chougan Village bus stand and walk till Bir that is 1 km ahead. Here, train from Delhi to Pathankot will take approximately 7 hours and toy train from Pathankot till Baijnath will take 7 hours. So, in total you would be reaching in almost 15 hours.
Now comes the fare, train ticket from Delhi to Pathankot for general class would cost 180 INR, AC class would cost 900 INR. Toy train ticket would cost you 50-60 INR and if you take taxi it will cost you somewhere around 250-300 INR, buses will take not more than 20-30 INR.
So, in total you can reach Bir from Delhi in 15 hours costing from 400-1300 INR depending on your preference.
Train –> Bus –> Bus or Taxi
If you are short of holidays and don’t wanna sit for 7 hours in a toy train then take a bus or a taxi from Pathankot. Bus will cost you not more than 150 INR and drop you till Baijnath in 3-4 hours, take another bus or taxi from there as per your preference.
Train –> Taxi
Group of people can also take a taxi from Pathankot to Bir which will cost around 3000 – 4000 INR and will take 2-3 hours to reach. Else, be-friend with the common travelers going towards Bir or on the way till Baijnath and share the cost.
Reaching Bir Via Road:
One can also reach Bir by road if willing to drive for 10 hours, roads are smooth and views are amazing. As soon as you cross Chintpurni you start experiencing the views and notice the white Dhauladhar ranges thereafter.
Best Time to Visit Bir Billing
Bir Billing is a year-round tourist destination. It totally depends on your personal choice pertaining to the activities you are planning to experience here. I would segregate the whole year in a bunch of months along with few details about what can be expected in Bir.
April-July
This would be the best time to visit Bir if you are from a metropolitan city to escape the heat. Starting April the weather becomes pleasant and cool, one can go paragliding, camping, trekking and nature walking during this time. This season is best for relaxing and experience adventure activities.
July-September and Post Monsoon
This option best suits to the people who enjoy less crowded places being April-July is the tourist months in Bir. Rain lovers would enjoy the monsoon of Bir Billing and can plan few of the hiking places to nearby waterfalls. Due to rain the whole of Billing valley becomes fragrant, fresh and green that soothes the nature lovers but along with heavy rainfall that somewhat restricts you from going out and do paragliding.
Since monsoon in Bir begins from 15 – 30 July and lasts till mid-September, the post monsoon that is mid-September to mid-October would come out to be best for paragliding experience when you will be in air along with rain drops around you. One can also enjoy waterfalls/paragliding/trekking etc as the crowd will be less post monsoon as well.
October-February
These are the months who can bear the cold and are keen to learn and enjoy paragliding in snow. October to December comes out to be smooth when there will be goof flying conditions for long and short both the flights.
But starting 20th December due to snowfall in Billing, there will be a trek of 3-4 km in snow till you reach the take-off site. Never the less, this trek would result in breath-taking view while flying over the snow covered mountains.
Places to Visit In and Around Bir Billing
Despite of being a small villages Bir and Billing have ample of things to show you which can be covered in at least a weeks’ time. To make your trip easy on your pockets take a mountain bike or scooty on rent which would cost around 500-600 per day. I will be jotting down best places to visit on your trip to Bir Billing.
Landing Site: The best place for me was the landing site or sunset point in Bir. The landing site is located about 600-700 meters ahead of Tibetan Colony. In the evening the place gathers both locals and tourists to showcase the sunset. Many paragliders can be seen here whole day practising and landing from Billing.
Chokling Monastery: Most popular monasteries in Bir is Chokling Monastery located in the Tibetan Colony, there is a huge stupa along with the statue of Padmasambhava.
The monks here are more interested in sharing their lifestyle and are good at training to meditate. Always visit the Monastery in the evening at the prayer time of monks, you would love the silence and serenity and the way they pray.
Bangoru Waterfall: Bangoru waterfall is located at a distance of 4.5 km from the Tibetan Colony. Take a straight path from Gunehar Village to reach Bangoru waterfall. Do check with the locals and chaiwalas in mid of the path if you are lost.
Gunehar River Pool: One of a gem in Bir is Gunehar River Pool located in the Gunehar village at a distance of 1.5 km from Bir. To reach the place we have to hike to the village, the experience would be really refreshing when you will find yourself surrounded by mountains and greenery resulting in an amazing place for photographs.
Palpung Sherabling Monastery: Largest monastery in Bir is Palpung Sherabling Monastery, located about 3 km from the Tibetan Colony in a small village called Bhattu with amazing view of Dhauladhar ranges. Kenting Tai Situpa built this monastery with Tibetan traditional architecture.
Dharmalaya Institute: Next to Palpung Sherabling Monastery is the Dharmalaya Institute located at a distance of 4 km from Tibetan Colony. The institute is a learning platform for sustainable living and occasionally organises trainings, workshops, retreats and shares the ideas for safe and sustainable home to stay.
Baijnath Mandir: You can visit Lord Shiva temple called Baijnath Mandir located at a distance of 13 km from Bir. The Mandir was built in 1204 AD with Nagara infra. Walls inside and outside the temple are scripted and carved in Sharada, local Pahadi and Takri as mentioned by the locals there.
Rajgundha Valley: This place is the most mesmerizing one, you can see the Dhauladhar Ranges very clearly from Rajgundha Valley. The place can be reached from the take-off site or Billing village. Being located at a secluded place you won’t find camping facility here. It would be best if you take your own tents and stay overnight. Be cautious while staying at night or trekking as chances are you will meet bears, jackals, leopards, wild pigs and few breeds of snakes.
Deer Park Institute: Deer Park Institute focuses on teaching the tradition of Buddhism, Indian Philosophy, Science and Art. You can even enrol for workshops organized by the institute and learn their traditions and culture.
Tsering Jong Monastery: Tsering Jong Monastery is at a 10 minutes’ walk from Tibetan Market. The place is decorated with trees, flowers, flags, and traditional stupas. You can find rabbits and call ducks. You can even rest and try special cuisines in a cafe inside the premises.
Billing Take Off Site: Billing is also called the take-off site, the place offers the camping facility as well. Entire Bir village and its surrounding villages can be seen from here. Rajgundha trek starts from here towards the upper part of the area. It’s horrifying to see people jumping off the cliff and flying in the sky. But trust me just when you start flying you will get the best feeling and the views, the 20 min journey would feel like it passed in just 10 minutes.
Others: You can also visit Dzongsar Khyentse Chokyi Lodro Instiute.
Things to Do in Bir Billing
Bir Billing is a place where we don’t have to think what to do next, still you can prefer few things that will result in a lifetime experience.
Paragliding: Bir Billing is India’s best paragliding site. In Bir, you can glide alone as well as with an instructor. If you are a trained glider then no issue for you else you will have to go with the instructor and you just enjoy the 20 minutes fly. Paragliding would cost you 2500 INR for a single person.
Trekking: Go trekking to the waterfalls, river pools, hot water springs and rivers in nearby villages. These treks would take almost 4 hours with beautiful views and landscapes. Be sure to avoid treks to these places in monsoon season to avoid insects and be in a group of 2-3 people.
Don’t forget to go on Rajgundha Valley trek and plan it in a way that you have time of couple of days. There are chances to spot few of the closure planets, sky full of stars and even the Milky Way. This is the best place for photographers interested in Astro world.
Watch the Paragliders: Trust me you would enjoy this as well. Just pick a corner in the landing site and keep watching the gliders and their activities in the sky. How they go inside the clouds and come with 360 degree twists are amazing.
Tibetan Cuisine: Don’t forget to try Tibetan cuisine in Bir. Almost all the restaurants serve Chebureki , Thukpas, Sha Phalay, Khapsey, Tsampa, Gundain and many more different dishes.
Monastic Tour: Bir have numbers of monasteries, just hire a scooty or bike and visit the famous ones like Tsering Jo Monastery, Chokling Monastery, Paplung Sherabling Monastery, Nyingyang Monastery, and Dharmalaya Institute.
Sunsets: The sunsets can be seen from the landing site. You would feel everyday new and won’t get bored seeing the sunset. It would seem every day the sunsets are different and more gorgeous.
Stay in Bir Billing
Being an international tourist places the stay in Bir is not cheap but still you find some of the hostels, hotels, guesthouses, etc.
Zostel Bir or GoStops
Zostel is an affordable option and new friends can be met here. You can choose from 6 bed female only to 4 bed (co) dormitory costing 399 and 449 INR respectively. Here you can also get a room in 1200 INR where booking needs to be done in advance because of high demand.
GoStops just like Zostel, Gostops is a hostel but a bit costlier than Zostel since the charge is inclusive breakfast. Here a 6-bed female dormitory would cost 749 INR and a co one would cost around 500 INR.
The two mentioned above are the best one that I experienced but there are many other hostels you can try in Bir.
Hotels
Fearless Cloud, Pink Park Hotel, Bir High are few of the hotels that are affordable and near to the Tibetan Colony.
Eateries in Bir Billing
I believe Bir is best in foods among all the mountains. You can find many restaurants and cafes in Bir, in Tibetan Colony/Market. Few of them are Garden Cafe, Zim Zim Cafe, Musafir, The 4 Tables, Ara Cafe, Vairagi Cafe, Ticksy, and what I found best was the ILAKA Cafe.
MOST IMPORTANT POINTS
- ATM
Please plan Bir journey on whole cash only or take enough cash with you (approximately 10,000) because there is only one ATM in Bir inside the Tibetan Market. All the shops, hostels, homestays, restaurants, paragliders, almost everyone accepts only cash here. You may find 2-3 ATMs located at around 4-5 km from the Tibetan Colony, on the Bir Manali highway that too the ATM keeps going out of cash.
- Mobile Network
Bir and Biling have network connections of almost all the service providers like Vi, Airtel, BSNL and Jio unless you are on your Rajgundha trek then only Vi and Jio would work fine.
- Prices
Please recheck the prices before planning your trip to Bir and always keep your negotiation button on.
My Experience in Bir Billing
Now I would like to share lil bit of my experience in Bir Billing. I visited Bir Billing on my birthday and I must say the trip was best one till date of my travelling experience. Me and couple of my friends reached Bir in the morning of 30th October. Since my birthday was on 31st, we decided to explore Bir and nearby places on 30th and go for paragliding on 31st. We started visiting Monasteries, Tibetan Market and the Landing site and in the evening enjoyed cuisines of Bir. And yes, since Bir is a tourist place you won’t find a proper cake over there 🙂 still my friends and the helpful bakery store tried their very best to find a solution. Then comes the most amazing part of the trip, the paragliding!
For paragliding we had to reach Billing that is 14 Km from Bir and this 14 km was also amazing as you go till the top in an open Jeep with narrow roads. Believe me the way to Billing is as amazing as the whole Bir, we literally went under the woods and the roads had steep turns, kudos to the driving skill of the driver. Then came the take-off site and the instructor asked us to jump off the cliff LOL. The most amazing part was when we went inside the clouds, chilled cold winds over my face and in the middle of the sky it started raining. You can see the whole Bir from sky, all greenery, mountains, woods and roads. It felt like 20 minute ride got completed in 10 minutes and would want to try it again. After landing, we sat and relaxed there for a while and decided to go to waterfalls and hot water spring.
Next day we planned to trek to Rajgundha Valley along with an overnight stay. We started the trek in the morning itself and by the afternoon we reached there, somehow we found a small dhaba over there that helped us get our energy back. After staying there for a night, next day we came back to Bir, explored few more places. Finally, next day trip to Bir came to the end and we headed towards Dharamshala and Mcleodganj (Soon there will be a blog for this as well).
Hope you enjoy your trip to Bir too as I did 🙂 🙂 🙂
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