Bir Billing is a scenic village in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra District. Located in the west of Joginder Nagar Valley, Bir Billing is also known as the ‘Paragliding Capital of India.’ One of the most popular adventure destinations in Himachal Pradesh, Bir is not just known for adventure activities. Still, it is also a center of ecotourism and spirituality. Bir has been the home to a Tibetan refugee settlement, and it has several Buddhist monasteries. The names Bir and Billing are taken together, but Bir is the main village. Billing is the paragliding site. 

Located in the heart of Himachal Pradesh, Bir Billing is globally famous as a paragliding destination. Located at an altitude of 5,000 meters above sea level, Bir is surrounded by snow-capped mountains. A heaven for adventure lovers, Bir is not just another holiday destination. It is a visual treat. From trekking to paragliding and from mountain biking to hand gliding, there are a lot of things to do in Bir. Whether you are a nature lover or an adventure junkie, Bir offers the best of both worlds. 

Bir Billing

The summer season is one of the best times to visit Bir Billing. The weather is pleasant, the scenes are jaw-dropping, and the local Tibetan delights add to the charm of the place. There are several quirky cafes in the main local market where you can enjoy tasty delicacies as well as traditional Tibetan dishes. 

The winters are really cold, with the temperature dropping down to sub-zero between December and March. The upper regions of the village are covered in 5-6 feet ice sheets. It provides a perfect opportunity for winter trekkers to fulfill their desires.

How to reach?

By Road: Bir Billing is just 50 km from Dharamshala. This beautiful Himalayan city is also known as the land of the Dalai Lama. Dharamshala is well connected to other major cities in the state, and it can be easily reached from Dehradun or Chandigarh. Another stopover could be Manali. Bir is just 180 km from Manali and closes to 200 km from Shima. From Delhi, the village is 500 km. You can travel in your own vehicle, but the cheapest way is to travel in government-run HRTC buses. 

Bir Billing

By Train: For people traveling from other parts of the country, traveling by train is the safest and most economical option. You can reach Baijnath Paprola Railway Station, which is connected to Kangra district. It is a narrow-gauge rail line that is well connected with other key districts like Pathankot, Palampur.

By Air: The nearest airport to Bir Billing is Gaggal Airport. It is located just 68 km from Palampur. There are direct flights between Delhi and Gaggal. You can hire a taxi from the airport to reach Bir.

Also Read, Kinnaur: Things to and Places to Go, deep in Himachal Pradesh

Where to stay? 

There are a lot of budgets stay options in Bir. You can stay at backpacker hostels like Zostel, goStops, Bir Nest, or book private homestays from Airbnb. If traveling in groups, you can also stay in camps.

Bir Billing

Another option is to stay in Baijnath as there is a possibility of finding cheaper accommodation there.

When traveling to Bir Billing, your trip should be 3-4 days long in order to explore the entire place and enjoy activities like paragliding and trekking. If you have more time in your hands, you can also club this trip with a visit to Mcleodganj, which is just 50 km from Bir. 

Paragliding

Bir Billing paragliding

Paragliding is the main reason most people visit Bir. What makes Bir special is the variety of adventure activities it has to offer. There are a lot of places in Himachal where one can go camping in a place surrounded by snow-capped mountains. And Paragliding is simply the best of them.

Paragliding packages generally come in two forms. Short paragliding fly and Long paragliding fly. The difference is in the timing. Short paragliding means the duration will be 15-20 minutes, whereas, for long paragliding, the duration goes up to 30 minutes.

A short paragliding fly will cost you somewhere between Rs. 1,200 and Rs. 2,000 whereas the Long one will cost you somewhere between Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 4,000. The prices may vary depending on the crowd and season. Rest all depends on your bargaining skills.

You can also go for camping+paragliding packages that cost somewhere between Rs. 3,500 and Rs. 5,000. In these packages, meals are generally included.

Renting a Bicycle:

Bir is a mountainous region, and there’s a limit to how much one can walk. Renting a bicycle is one of the best and the cheapest ways to explore Bir and surrounding areas. You can rent a bicycle for as cheap as Rs. 100 per day. You can also go for mountain biking packages if you want to take the adventure to the next level.