Himachal’s Bir Billing is Asia’s best Paragliding sites and it also stands amongst the top list of paragliding sites in the world. This cosy village, a noted centre for eco-tourism, meditation and spiritual studies resides away from the hustle-bustle of big cities and other tourist destinations. Bir, located in the west of Joginder Nagar Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India, is a village famous for its scenic beauty and is also one of those less famous adventure destinations around the globe that offers holistic peace of mind to adventurers as well as travellers.
Bir and Billing are two different places where Bir, the home to a Tibetan refugee settlement with several Buddhist monasteries and large stupa, is the landing point and Billing. On the top of the mountains, is the takeoff site for paragliding. Collectively the place is known as “Bir Billing“.
A host of the Paragliding World Cup in 2015, Bir is now referred as ‘Paragliding Capital of India’ and is fast becoming a mecca for paragliding enthusiasts and adventure sports lovers across the world.
Where is Bir Billing?
Nestling in the west of Joginder Nagar Valley, Bir-Billing is located in the foothills of Dhauladhar ranges of the Himalaya’s. Billing is the launch site in the meadow which is approximately 14 km north of Bir. Billing, the take off point, is situated at 8000 feet from sea level and offers a great flight. The landing site is on the southern edge of Bir and is approximately 4500 feet from sea level. The scenic beauty and the height from sea level offer amazing weather conditions throughout the year.
Best time to visit Bir Billing for Paragliding
Paragliding at Bir-Billing is popular on the national as well as an international platform among paraglider pilots, amateurs and adventure sports lovers. The enthusiasts throng the place from every nook and cranny of the globe to witness, explore and enjoy the thrill of jumping off a mountain cliff. Gradually establishing itself as a hub for paragliding, the village continues to host periodic competitions and events at national as well as international repute and attracts a large number of Indian as well as foreign enthusiasts.
This amazing place with an abundance of flora and fauna coupled with panoramic views can be visited any time of the year but, it can be easily divided into parts wherein June is preferred for long flights and September-October are considered the best season for the memorable Paragliding experience. Except paragliding and parasailing, some of the travelers choose this place during the December-January period for camping in Bir-Billing valley.
So technically, the ‘flying season’ is from September to October, though some people continue the flights till the month of November as well.
There are No flights (Paragliding) from 1 July till 15 September due to the rainy season.
How to reach Bir-Billing
One can easily reach Bir Billing via roadways and airways. If travelling by bus the nearest bus stand to reach Bir-Billing is at Baijnath which is 12 km from Bir and from there local buses can ferry you to the spot. Those who love driving, the route best suited in terms of roads is the way from Kangra and the route from Chandigarh is
Chandigarh – Ropar– Una – Amb- Nehriyan- Paragpur – Dehra – Kangra – Paraur- Palampur – Bir -Billing
One can also opt for a hired cab from Chandigarh for easy, safe, comfortable and convenient travel. The Other option is taking a flight to the nearest airport which is at Gaggal in Kangra district and is approximate 68kms from Bir-Billing.
Cost for Paragliding at Bir Billing
The paragliding experience at Bir Billing has been divided into three different flying options — the Short flying, the Medium flying and the Long flying. The price for all these flights are fixed but the flight timing depends a lot on the wind, pressure and climatic conditions. Price and the approximate timing for all these flights is as follows:
- Short fling is priced at Rs 2500 that offers a flight time of 15-20 min.
- Medium flying is priced at Rs 3500 that offers a flight time of 30-40 min.
- Long flying is priced at Rs 5000 that offers a flight time of approximately 60 minutes.
A trained pilot assists the passenger while flying that offers safety and enhances the flight experience and thrill. So, if you are one of the adventurer souls, it is always a good idea to try the best paragliding site in India, Bir Billing.
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