Destinations / Himachal Pradesh
Paragliding village in Kangra with Tibetan monasteries, tea gardens and Dhauladhar views.
FamousAdventureVillageHill-station
Bir is the landing village and Billing is the take-off ridge of what the Kangra district administration calls the paragliding capital of India. Besides tandem flights, it has a Tibetan colony with monasteries, meditation and study centres, tea gardens and easy walks. It suits first-time flyers, backpackers and people who want a slow few days in a small hill village.
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Photos from Wikimedia Commons. Select a photo for its author and licence.
| When | What to expect |
|---|---|
| March to June | Mild and mostly clear, and one of the two main flying seasons. April to June is pleasant for walks and monastery visits. |
| July to early September | Monsoon. Paragliding is closed because flying conditions are unsafe. Tap water is also less reliable in these months. |
| September to November | The other main season. October and November have the strongest thermals and paragliding competitions are usually held then. |
| December to February | Off-season and cold, with temperatures that can fall below freezing. Flying depends on the weather on the day. |
The ridge at about 2,400 m from where paragliders launch. Tandem flights last about 15 to 20 minutes and land in Bir.
A wide open field where the gliders come down, with cafes around it. People gather here in the evening to watch landings and the sunset.
A Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the Tibetan colony, set up in the 1960s, with a large stupa and a statue of Padmasambhava.
A large monastery and Buddhist study centre in forest near Keori, which also runs meditation courses.
A study centre for classical Indian philosophy that runs programmes on meditation, philosophy, art and yoga.
A working tea factory near Bir bazaar where visitors can see how tea is processed and packed.
A stone Shiva temple dated to 1204 CE, where Shiva is worshipped as Vaidyanath, the lord of physicians.
A waterfall of roughly 100 feet reached by a short walk from Gunehar village.
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| Budget level | Type | Price per night |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Hostel dorm or simple homestay room | ₹550 to ₹1,000 |
| Mid-range | Guesthouse or 3-star hotel room | ₹1,000 to ₹2,500 |
| Luxury | Resort or 4-star hotel room with mountain view | ₹5,500 to ₹7,500 |
Most people eat at small cafes in the Tibetan colony and around the landing site, which serve Tibetan food along with other cuisines.
Vegetarian dishes such as dal, chapati and vegetable momos are common.
| Budget level | Stay per room | Food per person | Local transport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | ₹800 | ₹400 | ₹100 per person |
| Mid-range | ₹2,000 | ₹800 | ₹1,200 per vehicle |
| Luxury | ₹6,500 | ₹1,500 | ₹2,000 per vehicle |
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No permit for Indian visitors was found. One source says foreigners who want to stay overnight in the Bir Tibetan Colony need a Protected Area Permit obtained before arrival; check this before booking. Paragliding passengers pay a government insurance charge of about 75 rupees on site.
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Kangra, Himachal Pradesh
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Hill town under the Dhauladhar range, home of the Dalai Lama and a large Tibetan community.
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