Bir is a little settlement in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district. In addition to being a renowned paragliding and meditation location, Bir Billing is situated in the Joginder Nagar valley. Due to the Tibetan community’s residence in this town, Tibetan culture has an influence.

One of the top paragliding locations in the world is Bir. The whole altitude shift is approximately 800 metres between the takeoff and landing locations, Billing and Bir. The area is filled with charming cafes that provide delectable food. Another option is to spend the day at the tea gardens, go on short treks, visit monasteries, ride the nearby Jogindernagar-Pathankot Narrow Gauge Train, or go for a visit.

Things to do

Gunehar Village

The main draw of the Gunehar village in Himachal Pradesh, which is hidden away on a hillside about 1.5 kilometres from Bir, is the Gunehar Waterfalls. A short hike from the village will take you to the stunning waterfall, which is 100 feet high. It will undoubtedly be one of the most exhilarating and rewarding experiences of your life.

Chokling Monastery

One of Bir’s most well-known monasteries, it is home to a magnificent stupa and a captivating statue of Padmasambhava. The Tibetan settlement of Bir is where this monastery is located.

Dharamalya Institute

The university is an eco-campus where volunteers can participate in a variety of environmental initiatives like organic farming, sustainable village development, green building, etc., in addition to a variety of leisure activities like yoga and meditation.

Bir Road

A streetside market featuring a number of restaurants and businesses is called Bir Market. While tourists spend most of their time shopping for souvenirs, locals and residents of the adjacent areas come for necessities like food, clothing, and other goods. On the route to Bir town, there is a market known as Bir Market that is also known as the Bir Road Bazaar or just Bir Road. Please be advised that this is not the major Bir Road.

Bajinath Temple

One of Himachal Pradesh’s most well-known temples is the Baijnath Temple, where Lord Shiva is revered as the “God of Healing.” The great Lord Shiva takes the form of Baijnath or Vaidyanath, and in this form, the great lord frees his followers from all suffering. As a result, this temple is of utmost importance to all followers of Lord Shiva and is regarded as being exceedingly sacred. In fact, it is thought that the water of this temple has therapeutic value and the ability to treat a variety of ailments and disorders. Every year, this attracts thousands of devotees from throughout the world.

How to reach

Bir cannot be reached by rail or air directly. Taking a private overnight bus from Delhi to Bir is the best method to get there. Although Pathankot, which is 142.2 kilometres away from Bir, has the closest wide gauge railroad station, Ahju is the closest, being only 3 km away. The closest airport, located 67.6 kilometres away in Gaggal, Dharamshala, is Kangra airport. The country’s largest cities are connected to the Pathankot railway station. Pathankot to Bir transportation options include taxi and bus. There are more airports close to Bir in Chandigarh (290 km), Amritsar (260 km), and New Delhi (520 km).

Best time to visit

Bir can be visited twice a year, from late September to early November and from March to May. The finest months to go paragliding in Bir are those mentioned above.

The months of April to June experience mild summers. In terms of weather, this is also the ideal time to visit Bir. Winters are hard with temperatures dropping below zero, and the monsoons provide mild to moderate rainfall and may be prone to landslides. Bir Billing, one of the most beautiful locations in the north, is situated at a height of 5000 feet and almost reaches the clouds.

Food

Bir, being the well-known tourist site that it is, gives guests a variety of options, including dishes from various cuisines. Here, you can have both Indian and Western meals for a price that won’t break the bank. Tibetan cuisine also has an influence on the local cuisine, and dishes like momos are practically standard fare.

Chapati, Dals, vegetable sauce, and curd are the key ingredients of classic Himachali cuisine, which is quite straightforward. The dishes here are always complemented by a tantalising selection of pickles. There may also be certain regional specialties here that are more or less unique to the state. Among these are Sidu (a wheat-based preparation), Patande (a regional take on pancakes), Chouk, Bhagjery, Chutney of “Til,” Aloo palda, and Auriya Kadoo (a sweet).