Bir and Billing are two nearby villages in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh state of India, famous for their community-based Ecotourism, Aero-tourism, and Spiritual activities.
Eco-tourism activities at Bir village and surrounding areas are intended to preserve the ecology of the area and to support the livelihood of local people. The Ecotourism Society of Himachal Pradesh, EcoSoC, is a Government agency working on this task.
The International Paragliding Pre-World Cup has been held yearly at these villages for over a decade. These nearby towns, at 14 kilometers of distance, are said to be one of the finest Para Gliding and Aero sports sites in the world. Take-off starts at Billing, and landing is at Bir.
Bir Paragliding World Cup 2018 was held from October 27th to November 3rd, 2018, at Bir-Billing, at around 2290 meters. The capacity of the Para-gliding site is planned to be increased to 100 simultaneous paragliders from 30 to 40.
Fields and mountains near Bir-Tibetan colony
The Bir is a Buddhist town known for its spiritual and meditation activities. There is a Buddhist stupa here. Dharamshala, Central Tibetan Administration HQ, is 50 kilometers from this town. Chowan town, where a Tibetan colony was established in 1966, is on the outskirts of the town. There are several Buddhist monasteries in the southwestern part of the Town of Chowan.
How Do I Go to the Bir-Billing Paragliding site?
Gaggal airport in Himachal Pradesh is the nearest airport at around 150 kilometers distance. Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) in Delhi is around 550 kilometers from this town. Billing is at a distance of 14 kilometers from Bir town on your way to Thamsar Pass..
Ahju, a narrow-gauge railway station on the Kangra Valley Railway route (on the 164-kilometre Pathankot – Joginder Nagar Narrow Guage Railway Line) is the nearest railway station to this paragliding town. Pathankot Junction, with station code ‘PTK’, is the nearest major railway station, which is well connected to other parts of the country.
There are regular bus services from New Delhi to Baijnath, a town at around 30 kilometers distance from Bir town. You may hire a taxi or go by local bus from Baijnath.
Bir Road, off NH 20, connects Pathankot in Punjab state to Mandi in Himachal Pradesh state and is the nearest National Highway to this paragliding town.