Bir is a small town located in the state of Himachal Pradesh in northern India. Bir Billing is quite famous as a city of adventure sports like paragliding, treks and meditation.
Bir is considered one of the best places in the world for paragliding and the city also hosts the World Paragliding Championship every year.
Here the take-off site for paragliding is called Billing and the landing site is Bir with a total elevation change of about 800 meters.
Apart from paragliding, the city of Bir is also an important center for spiritual studies and meditation.
It is mainly inhabited by the Tibetan community and for this reason the culture of Bir is heavily influenced by the Tibetan culture.
Bir is a center for paragliding and other adventure-sports activities and there are many paragliders here.
This place is one of the most picturesque routes in Himachal Pradesh, so tourists can also go for trekking here.
Paragliding in Bir Billing
Bir-Billing is mainly famous for paragliding which attracts a large number of tourists every year. Being an ideal place for paragliding, thousands of tourists come here for paragliding in the months of March to November.
The beautiful mountains, greenery, weather of this place along with the calm environment is conducive for paragliding. Bir is the take-off site for paragliding and Billing, located at a distance of about 14 km, is the landing site.
If you are fond of paragliding then definitely visit this place. The Paragliding World Cup was held in India for the first time in the year 2015 at Bir-Billing.
Bir-Billing is equally famous for its paragliding experiences with the people of the country as well as with the foreigners.
How much does Paragliding Cost in Bir Billing?
2,500 per person for a 30-minute paragliding flight in Bir Billing and is one of the cheapest places for paragliding in India. Paragliding is offered at many places here, charging 1,500 to 2,000 for a 10-15 minute flight.
Famous Restaurants and Local Food in Bir Billing
Bir, being a popular tourist destination, offers a number of food options to its tourists. In this city, you can relish both Indian and continental food, which is not too heavy on your pocket. The area is also a major Tibetan settlement.
Hence, the food here is also influenced by Tibetan cuisine and popular items like momos are easily available here. Himachali food is quite simple and ordinary but has some special dishes, which are available almost everywhere in the state.
The staple food of Himachal includes chapatti, daal, vegetable gravy and curd. The traditional dishes here include Bhature, Patrodu, Vada, Sattu, Jattu (red rice) etc.
What is the Best Time to Visit Bir Billing
The best time to visit Bir Billing is during the months of April to June i.e. summers. It receives heavy rainfall during the monsoon season and can be prone to landslides and winters with temperatures falling below zero.
October and November are autumn and March to May are ideal months for paragliding. March to June and late September to November are the best times to visit Bir.
How To Reach Bir Billing
How to Reach Bir Billing by Flight
If you want to go to Bir Billing by air, then tell that its nearest airport is Gaggal Airport. Which is located at a distance of 67.6 km from Bir city. Gaggal Airport is well-connected with most of the airports in the country.
One can take autorickshaws, buses, and taxis to reach Bir from the airport. It will take you around 3 hours to cover the distance from Gaggal to Bir by road.
How to Reach Bir Billing by train
For those tourists who want to travel by train, there is no direct rail connectivity to Bir. The nearest broad gauge station is at Pathankot, situated 112.4 km away while the nearest narrow gauge station is at Ahju, situated barely 3 km from Bir. A toy train runs from Pathankot to Ajju.
How to Reach Bir Billing by road
Regular bus services are easily available to the city of Bir. You can also take a bus or taxi to Bir from places like Shimla, Dharamshala, etc. day or night.