- From
- Rs. 19,499*
- Nights
- 9
- Open dates
- 14
Field guide · Himachal Pradesh
Bir Billing travel guide
A Tibetan settlement and tea-garden village under the Dhauladhars, with one of the best-known paragliding sites in the world on the ridge above.
- About 1,525 mBir
- About 2,400 mBilling launch
- 15 July to 15 SeptemberNo flying
Photo: A paraglider with an orange and blue wing flying above the green Kangra valley near Bir Billing
Bir is the village, at about 1,525 m. Billing is the launch meadow, about 14 km up the hill at roughly 2,400 m. Pilots take off from Billing, ride the thermals along the Dhauladhar range and land in the fields at Chowgan, on the edge of Bir.
Most people come for a twenty-minute tandem flight and leave the same day. That misses most of it. Bir has been a Tibetan refugee settlement since the 1960s, with monasteries of several schools, and the lanes between them are some of the calmest in Himachal.
Overview
A village under a launch pad
Bir lies in the Kangra valley, about 50 km from Dharamshala. It has three parts: Upper Bir, the original Himachali village among tea gardens; the Tibetan Colony, with its monasteries and market; and Chowgan, around the landing site, where most cafes and hostels are.
The Tibetan Colony was set up in the early 1960s for refugees who followed the Dalai Lama into exile. The third Neten Chokling Rinpoche brought his family here in 1966 and founded the monastery that bears his name.
Why pilots come
Billing faces south over a wide valley with a long mountain wall behind it, which gives reliable lift. Bir Billing hosted India's first Paragliding World Cup in October 2015, with over 130 pilots from about 40 countries, and competitions still come in the autumn.
The closed season
Authorities ban paragliding here every year from 15 July to 15 September for the monsoon. If flying is the reason for your trip, do not book those weeks.
Things to do
Fly, then stay
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A tandem paragliding flight
You are driven up to Billing, clipped in front of a pilot, and you run off the hill. Guides in 2026 quote roughly Rs 2,500 to 3,500 for a standard flight, with video extra. Fly only with a licensed pilot through a registered operator, ask to see the licence, and do not fly if the pilot seems unsure about the weather. People have died here.
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Chokling monastery
The best-known monastery in Bir, with a large stupa and a lawn in front of the main hall. Walk clockwise, speak quietly, and ask before photographing monks.
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Palpung Sherabling
A large monastic seat set in forest at Bhattu. The walk in under the pines, lined with prayer flags, is as good as the monastery.
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Sunset at the landing site
Sit on the grass and watch gliders come in against the evening light. Half of Bir does the same.
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Tea gardens and Upper Bir
Paths wind between tea bushes and old slate-roofed houses above the colony. No ticket, no plan needed.
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Billing on foot
A forest trail links Bir and Billing. Walking down from the launch after watching the take-offs is an easy way to do it.
Practical info
Before you go
Best time
March to June, October to November
Flying is best from March to June and from late September to November. October and November are described as the calmest months and are when competitions are held. No flying from 15 July to 15 September. Some pilots fly on clear winter days, when it is cold aloft.
Getting there
Bus, or train to Pathankot
Direct overnight buses run from Delhi, about 520 km. Guides give Pathankot, about 140 km away, as the main railhead, with a narrow-gauge train on to Ahju near Bir, and Kangra airport at Gaggal, about 65 km, for flights.
Altitude
Low
Bir at 1,525 m and Billing at about 2,400 m pose no altitude problem. It is cold at the launch even on a warm day.
Cash, fuel, phone
Come prepared
Guides report the ATM in Bir is often out of service, the nearest petrol pump is at Chauntra, and Jio and Airtel signal is good in the village.
What to pack
For the flight
Closed shoes with grip, a windproof jacket, sunglasses and a strap for them. Empty your pockets before take-off. The weather turns quickly, so keep a rain layer handy.
Build your packing list
Tell the builder where and when you are going and it gives you a list you can tick off.
Open the Packing List BuilderGo with Charkadam
Bir, with a group
Bir is on our Himachal circuit through Kasol, Manali, Bir and Dharamshala. The trip page has the current day-by-day plan and says what is included and what is paid on the spot.
* Indicative starting price. The trip page shows the price for each date.
Questions
Bir, answered
Paragliding is banned every year from 15 July to 15 September for the monsoon. The main flying seasons are March to June and late September to November.
Guides published in 2026 quote roughly Rs 2,500 to 3,500 for a standard tandem flight of 15 to 30 minutes. Prices vary by season and operator, so confirm locally.
It carries real risk and there have been fatal accidents. Fly only with a licensed tandem pilot through a registered operator, in good weather, and follow the pilot's instructions at take-off.
Bir is the village at about 1,525 m where you stay and land. Billing is the take-off meadow about 14 km up the hill at roughly 2,400 m.
Keep reading
Guides nearby
-
Little Lhasa
Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj
The Dalai Lama's temple, Tibetan kitchens, and the walk up to Triund.
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Beas valley base
Manali
Old Manali, Hadimba's cedar forest, Solang's snow and the tunnel to Lahaul.
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Parvati valley base
Kasol
A riverside village, the walks around it and the hot springs up the road.
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The Golden Temple city
Amritsar
Harmandir Sahib at dawn and at night, kulcha for breakfast, and the border at sunset.
