Bir Billing
India's Paragliding Capital
Overview
Bir Billing is a twin destination in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, India, regarded as the country's premier paragliding site. Pilots launch from Billing, a meadow at roughly 2,400 m on a Dhauladhar spur, and glide down to land at Bir, a village and Tibetan settlement in the valley below. Bir Billing hosted the Paragliding World Cup in 2015. Beyond flying, Bir is a centre of Tibetan Buddhism, with monasteries such as Chokling and the nearby Palpung Sherabling, the Deer Park Institute, tea gardens, and a lively café scene. MyTripMyTravel runs it as an adventure-and-serenity break, a tandem flight with vetted operators, monastery visits, and slow days among the tea.
Bir Billing is really two places working together. Billing, a high meadow at about 2,400 m on the flanks of the Dhauladhar, is the launch point; Bir, in the valley below, is where pilots land, and where most visitors stay. Between them lies one of the most reliable stretches of ridge-lift in the Himalaya, which is why Bir Billing is widely called the paragliding capital of India and hosted the Paragliding World Cup in 2015.
But flying is only half the appeal. Bir grew around a Tibetan refugee settlement, and it carries that heritage openly, colourful monasteries such as Chokling in the Tibetan colony, the large Palpung Sherabling monastery a short drive away, and the Deer Park Institute, a centre for classical Indian and Buddhist study. Tea gardens edge the village, and a cluster of cafés and roasteries has given Bir an easy, slow, almost bohemian rhythm between flights.
MyTripMyTravel runs Bir Billing for both temperaments, the guest who wants the tandem flight and the one who wants the monasteries and mountain air. We work with experienced, safety-vetted pilots and time flights to the calmer morning window; we also build in monastery visits, tea-garden walks, and café mornings. The chauffeured leg from Kangra or Dharamshala is short, so it slots neatly into a wider Himachal circuit.
At a glance
Bir Billing in brief
When to visit
October to November, March to May
The prime paragliding seasons are autumn (roughly mid-October to November) and spring (March to May), when skies are clear and thermals stable; autumn is generally considered the finest for flying. Winter (December to February) is cold and flying is often suspended, though the monasteries and tea gardens remain lovely. The monsoon (July to September) grounds most flights and brings heavy rain, but greens the valley beautifully. Flights are weather-dependent and always at the pilot's discretion, which we make clear when scheduling.
Things to do
Experiences in Bir Billing
Tandem paragliding flight
The signature experience, a tandem glide from Billing to Bir with an experienced, safety-vetted pilot in the calm morning window.
Chokling Monastery and the Tibetan colony
The vivid gompa and stupa at the heart of Bir's Tibetan settlement, walkable and welcoming to respectful visitors.
Palpung Sherabling Monastery
A large, richly decorated Kagyu monastery set in forest a short drive from Bir.
Deer Park Institute
A serene centre for the study of classical Indian and Buddhist thought, with talks, courses, and a quiet campus.
Tea garden and village walk
An easy escorted walk through Bir's tea gardens and lanes, ending at one of the village's well-known cafés.
Bir café and roastery trail
A relaxed morning through Bir's distinctive café scene, specialty coffee, bakeries, and Tibetan kitchens.
Getting there
How to reach Bir Billing
The nearest airport is Kangra (Gaggal, DHM), about 65 to 70 km away with limited service; Chandigarh (IXC) and Amritsar (ATQ) are the larger fallback airports, with a chauffeured onward drive.
The narrow-gauge Kangra Valley Railway stops at Ahju and Baijnath Paprola nearby; most guests instead railhead at Pathankot and continue by our fleet.
Bir sits just off the Mandi-Pathankot highway near Baijnath; the drive from Dharamshala (≈ 70 km) or Palampur (≈ 30 km) is a short chauffeured leg.
Our GPS-tracked, orthopedic-grade vehicles handle transfers and the winding climb up to the Billing take-off for those flying.
Where to stay
Design-led lodges and cottages among Bir's tea gardens, with mountain views and calm, unhurried grounds.
Comfortable stays within or near the Tibetan settlement, close to the monasteries and café strip.
Seasonal premium camps near the landing field, popular with guests focused on the flying.
Where to eat
The village's celebrated specialty-coffee cafés and bakeries, wood-fired pizzas, fresh bread, and mountain-view terraces.
Momos, thukpa, and tingmo in the Tibetan colony, cooked by the settlement's own families.
Hearty local thalis and North Indian menus at the lodges and roadside kitchens around Bir and Baijnath.
Good to know
Bir Billing, your questions
Is paragliding at Bir Billing safe?
Tandem paragliding here is well established, Bir Billing is India's leading site and has hosted a Paragliding World Cup. Safety depends on the pilot and the weather, so we book only experienced, vetted operators and fly in the calm morning window. Flights are always at the pilot's discretion and can be cancelled for conditions.
Do I need experience to fly?
No. Tandem flights are flown by a licensed pilot who handles take-off, flight, and landing while you sit in a front harness; no experience is required. We can also arrange longer or acro flights for those who want them, conditions permitting.
What if the weather grounds flights?
It happens, especially in winter and monsoon. We build the itinerary so a grounded day is still rich, monasteries, the Deer Park Institute, tea-garden walks, and the café scene, and, where the schedule allows, keep a buffer day for a second flying attempt.
Is Bir Billing only about paragliding?
Not at all. Many guests come purely for the Tibetan monasteries, the Deer Park Institute, the tea gardens, and Bir's relaxed café culture. It works equally well as a serene mountain retreat as it does as an adventure base.
Plan with us
Design a private journey through Bir Billing.
Tell us your dates and what you love. Our travel desk builds a private, chauffeured itinerary around Bir Billing and the wider North India, with handpicked hotels and a transparent quote, usually within a few hours.
Related journeys
Plan your trip
Plan your Bir Billing trip
Free, no obligation quote. Your details stay private.