“Collect Adventures, Not Things!”
Experience the push of wind while soaring through the clear skies of Bir Billing – known to be the paragliding capital of India. It attracts adventurers from different cultures and ages and offers an opportunity to glide over the Dhauladhar ranges, lush green fields, gorgeous water streams, and nature’s bounty. Get a breathtaking view of rocky hilltops while hovering within the blue- safe and secure in the harness.
Bir Billing – A small village on the foothills of the Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh, India is one of the best flying sites in the world. This place has been pretty crucial because it’s such an amazing place to fly. The people of Bir live with a common, however, a very strong thought. People here do not walk on land, but generally take a stroll in the sky. A small kid, a young man or an elderly man, everyone has touched the sky once in their life.
Paragliding in Bir Billing started early in the year 2007. In those days there was nothing here, but the hang-gliding guys used to come. So the locals were paid to bring their hang gliders to the top. Once hang gliding closed down, Bruce mills started paragliding here.
In April 2015, Kubo Beno and Andre Durana set the record for the longest flight in the Dhauladhar range. They are amongst the few in the world and fewer in the Himalayas to fly over 200 km air distance on a paraglider in a day. They covered 241 kilometres in a 9-hour long flight, breaking their previous record of 230 kilometres.
In October 2015 the Paragliding world cup was organised at Bir Billing. Many pilots from all around the world participated
If you wish for a break to a calmer and quiet slope station in Himachal then Bir Billing is the place you should make a plan. Aside from being known for paragliding, this spot is additionally known for its Tibetan roots and is an incredible way to encounter Tibetan culture.
Here, one can know about their culture and get familiar with the life of the priests while attempting some delicious Tibetan cooking styles like momos, Thukpas, Sha Phaley & so on.
ABOUT THE ACTIVITY
BEST TIME TO VISIT BIR BILLING
Just like the case with most slope stations, Bir Billing is an all-year objective and can be visited any time you need. Notwithstanding, the best and ideal opportunity to visit Bir Billing mostly relies upon the activities that you are planning to do here.
There are four seasons to visit Bir Billing and below is a brief of what you can expect in each season.
Summer Season
If you are hoping to get away from the warmth of the summertime, April to July is an ideal time to visit Bir Billing. The climate is lovely and cool here and you can likewise try tandem paragliding, small hikes and try various cuisines at cafes during this time.
The summer season is extraordinary for unwinding and doing adventure activities in Bir and will have something to fascinate every individual who visits here.
Monsoon Season
If you don’t mind rainfall and would like to avoid the crowds here then the monsoon is a great time to visit Bir Billing. During this time, one can go on a short climb to the nearby cascades and waterway pools and benefit as much as possible from this time. Likewise, the whole of Billing valley looks new and lavish green at this time which is soothing. The monsoon generally begins here between the 15th to 30th of July till mid-September.
Post-Monsoon Season
While monsoon is an ideal opportunity to see the slope station turn green, it probably won’t be an ideal chance to visit as you won’t have the option to go out a lot. So, if you want to experience the advantages of the monsoon season while being able to enjoy paragliding here then mid-September to mid-October is the best time to visit.
During this period, the crowd will be less and you would, in any case, have the option to appreciate cascades, paragliding, and other journeying experiences.
Winter Season
For individuals who wouldn’t fret the cold and are interested in learning or doing Paragliding, the winter months from October to February is the best time to visit. From October to December, one will have great flying conditions for long trips too. Before the finish of December, it may snow at Billing so one should travel in the snow for 2-3 km before you arrive at the take-off site. In any case, flying when the mountains are secured with snow is by and large an alternate encounter.
PLACES TO VISIT IN AND AROUND BIR BILLING
THINGS TO DO IN BIR BILLING
MUST HAVE CAFE IN BIR BILLING
Avva’s Cafe – Authentic flavours of Southern India, This place offers authentic south Indian food that’s made from scratch, right from the spices used to the delicious dish. Outdoor, indoor and roof seatings are available as per preference. The owners are the sweetest and the whole ambience of the place gives you a homely feeling. One gets a wonderful view of the Billing takeoff site from the cafe.
Garden Café And Restaurant – One of the best cafes in Bir Billing. Everything is freshly made here. Fresh juices and pancakes are a must-try thing here. The ambience is also very nice and peaceful. They have a variety of options on the menu.
Café Cloud Door – Cafe with a peaceful Ambience and cosy atmosphere. Serves mint honey lemonade, smoked chicken pizza and peanut cookies. Pizzas loaded with cheese and a decent amount of toppings with a thin crust. Lemonade here is refreshing.
Vairagi Cafe – Located just before the landing site in Tibetan Market, this handcrafted cafe offers you a lot of chill ambiences, last long tasteful coffee with fresh available snacks. One can spend a good time here whether you’re travelling solo or in a group.
Glider’s Pizzeria – This place is all about the breezy vibe and delicious pizza. Sit outside, at the swing maybe, under those bright stars with a splatter of fairy lights behind you. Order yourself some ginger lemon honey tea or maybe a chocolate shake, and watch your mouth against that drooling puddle that’ll form when the pizza arrives.
Northern Cafe: If you want to spend more time away from the hustle watching paragliders descending the sky while eating your favourite dish. Then you must visit this cafe. After walking for 10 to 15 minutes you will reach this old theme mud house cafe.
Bir Billing is located in the Mandi District of Himachal Pradesh. The place is famous for paragliding due to its terrain.
Put in simple terms, paragliding is an adventurous sport, where one will glide through the air and enjoy flying in the sky, just like a bird. Paragliders are attached to parachutes that resemble a canopy.
Bir Billing is a valley designed for paragliding. Gliding here is a beautiful sensation. It gives you a feeling of freedom. It is magical
Billing; take-off site is 14 km away from Bir; the landing site. Transportation from Bir to billing is included in the package.
Billing is at an altitude of 2400 m above sea level whereas Bir is at an altitude of 1500 m above sea level.
Bir billing is approximately 550 kilometres away from Delhi. There are direct buses from Delhi which will take you to Bir via Chandigarh-Una-Kangra-Palampur-Baijnath.
Paragliding is a safe adventure activity as long as the factors are taken care of. The major factors to be taken care of are an experienced instructor, wind speed, haziness, etc. As long as you are going with the pilots’ instructions and following them, it should be safe. Paragliding has lower accident records than other adventure activities but the accidents can be fatal so take proper guidance and precautions beforehand.
Bir is situated 65 km southeast of Dharamshala and this distance can be covered in 2 hours by car if you tend to take a bus, it will take approximately 3 hours.
Himachal Pradesh is considered very apt for paragliding considering the appropriate air currents and climatic conditions. There are many places where you can try your hands out on paragliding in Himachal Pradesh but here are the top 5 for your ease and better experience- Bir-Billing, Solang Valley, Khajjiar, Dalhousie and Kullu. These are the top picks where the views are breathtaking and paragliding is safe but Bir-Billing tops the list as it has the best-supporting factors such as wind flow, climate, view and a safe landing site.
Paragliding in Bir Billing will cost around Rs 2500 without videography and 3000 with videography. The videos recorded can be transferred directly to the mobile just after landing at Billing.
Yes, paragliding has been opened for the tourists now. You can now enjoy a trip to Bir-Billing and experience the adrenaline rush by paragliding.
There are three major ways to reach Bir apart from having your own vehicle;
If you want to reach Bir from Delhi by bus, You have three options, 1) There are few direct buses from Delhi to Bir which is the easiest option. 2) You can take a bus from Delhi to Baijnath and then from Baijnath to Bir or 3) Delhi to Dharamshala then Dharamshala to Baijnath and then from there to Bir (This might sound like a long route but this is a way more appealing one, the journey from Dharamshala to Bir is very scenic to keep you happily engaged.)You can also book a cab from Dharamshala to Bir directly. If you are travelling to Bir from Manali and then you can take a bus towards Baijnath or Dharamshala and tell the conductor to stop the bus for you at Bir.
Another option is by train –You can take a train from Delhi to Pathankot, then from Pathankot to Baijnath you will have to take a bus and then from Baijnath to Bir.
The last option and the easiest one is to travel from Delhi to Dharamshala by air and then from Dharamshala to Baijnath by bus and from Baijnath to Bir by taking a local bus or booking a cab from Dharamshala to Bir directly.
Interestingly, Bir (landing site) doesn’t get snowfall but Billing (take off-site) does. Bir remains cold during monsoon and winters but Billing is covered with heavy snow during winters. You can experience snowfall in Billing between November and March easily.
Bir is situated 65 km southeast of Dharamshala and this distance can be covered in 2 hours by car if you tend to take a bus, it will take approximately 3 hours.
Yes, there is a weight limit on paragliding in Bir-Billing. On average you need to be between 30 to 90 kgs to take the flight between April-June and 15 to 90 kgs between October to Feb. If you weigh above 90kgs and below 115kg then you might have a chance but that depends upon the fitness and climate at that time and also you can be charged extra for safety reasons.
Tandem paragliding is exactly the flying technique that you will experience in most tourist places if you are a non-professional. It means two people flying on the same paraglider where one is a skilled instructor pilot and the other is the passenger to ensure the latter’s safety.
Cross country flying is a form of paragliding where the pilot stays up in the air for many hours to cover a very long distance using only natural resources like sun and wind. It doesn’t mean that you cross countries during such flights but it is a way to represent long distances. To do cross country flying/paragliding one needs to be a professional with proper training and skills.
The pilot will copy the video to your smartphone just after landing at Bir.
Sportswear is more than enough. No special accessories are required.
Yes, it is the best place for paragliding in India. If you are into paragliding sooner or later you will come here for a flight. And once you come here you will keep coming here.
A good state of health is necessary but there are no specific age limits, for the weight the instructor will assess the situation at the moment; It could be possible. However, let us know when you contact us so that we can get an answer.
The months of October and November are the best time of the year for paragliding. It’s this time of the year when the winds remain calm and one could feel a little warm almost every day. December can also be considered to be a good time to do paragliding.
Safety mostly depends on us. If you’re prepared for the sport and possess a good knowledge of paragliding, then you’re good to go. If not, don’t push yourself.
Paragliding is self-regulated. So there’s no need for a license. But again, getting a paragliding licence depends on the kind of location you choose to paraglide at.
In Bir, paragliders take off from a spectacular height of 2430 meters above sea level. The concept of landing is mostly subjected to wind speed and direction. If the wind is light, then landing can be done by gradually touching the ground and by mildly running
It’s always good to wear layers of warm clothes on, a pair of warm slack and fitting trousers. Waterproof outfits are suggested to be dry and escape from any sudden downpour.
There’s no age limit as such for paragliding. But if you’re below 18 and want to do this activity, it’s always advised to get your parent’s permission. The paraglider weight should be between 25kg to 90kg. More or less this category is considered to be risky.
Before you land random photographers will click your pictures. They will approach you when you land. You can copy those pictures by paying them Rs 200 to Rs 300.
The pilot always carries a bag while paragliding. You can deposit all your luggage in the bag. You cannot leave them at the take-off spot since you will land at a different place and you won’t go back to the take-off spot again.
Female pilots are not available for Tandem Flying
Athletic footwear like sneakers or hiking boots is always a good option to wear while paragliding. Flying barefoot isn’t recommended since you may land on uneven surfaces.
Paragliding in Bir is always a safer option. You will be assured of safety at all costs. But in case of emergency, we are always ready to help you out.
Vertigo has got nothing to do with paragliding. It’s an off-balance sensation caused during the contact of your feet with the ground. Hence, it’s safe for people with vertigo to paraglide.
Vertigo has got nothing to do with paragliding. It’s an off-balance sensation caused during the contact of your feet with the ground. Hence, it’s safe for people with vertigo to paraglide.
You can stay up for hours during paragliding. In the package, the time is 15 to 20 minutes but you can pay extra if you want to fly longer. People also choose country flying in which they travel from one place to another. You can ask us if you want to customise it.
Paragliding in Bir Billing costs INR 2500 with a GoPro camera.
Following are the things you should keep in mind while Paragliding
It will be a Tandem flight in which the pilot will be there with you flying the glider. Children above 10 years of age can easily fit into the harness and do paragliding.
You can book your slot for paragliding in Bir Billing from the following link:
Paragliding is open in all seasons except monsoon and during snowfall. Moreover, you won’t be able to paraglide if it’s raining or the weather is bad.
Summer is the best time of the year to visit Bir Billing and to have a nerve chilling experience of paragliding.
Bir Billing in Kangra Valley and Solang Nala in Manali is the best options to experience paragliding. Few other spots include Rohtang Pass near Manali, Bandla Ridge in Bilaspur and Kothi below Rohtang Pass.
The best time of the day to paraglide in April is between 9 am to 1 pm. The wind current is better during this time when compared with any other time of the day.
Due to the extreme weather conditions during December, Bir billing is considered to be risky. One can see ample amounts of layers of snow and roadblocks which makes this activity just not possible.
There are numerous beautiful destinations for paragliding in India. These places include Bir, Manali, Vagamon, Gangtok, Dharamsala and so on.
During paragliding at Bir Billing, you will take off from an altitude of 2350 metres. While flying you will attain an altitude between 2500 to 3000 metres.
If you want to go higher and further, you can contact us to book cross country package.
Yes, you can carry your own camera or GoPro during the flight. Just make sure you attach it properly with the harness using a strap or it might fall off your hands while taking off or during the flight.
Paragliding is an adventure activity so some risk is always involved. However, the injury rate of paragliding is found to be much lower than in other adventure activities. The pilots who fly the glider are well trained and take flights almost every day due to which they have lots of experience. If you follow the instructions given by them properly; it will be much safer.
Paragliding will be closed during monsoons. Bad weather and rainfall are not suitable for take-off using a glider.
Bir Billing Paragliding package will cost you between 1500 to 2000 per person.
Yes, Bir billing paragliding is open throughout the year except during the monsoon season and heavy snowfall during winters.
Billing is at an altitude/height of 800 feet from sea level.
From Shimla, you have to book a Himachal roadways bus (ordinary) to Baijnath. After reaching Baijnath you will easily get a local bus to Bir during the daytime. Keep in Mind that from Shimla to Baijnath you can book the buses in advance, However from Baijnath to Bir you have to book local buses on the spot.
From Mcleodganj you will get direct buses to Baijnath and from Baijnath you can either book a cab or board a local bus for Bir. Also From Mcleodganj, the frequency of buses towards Baijnath is very less, alternatively, you can first board a bus to Dharamshala and then from Dharamshala to Baijnath
The first option to reach Bir from Manali is the direct Bus. But you will find only a few buses for this route. A better option is to take a Direct bus to Baijnath from Manali and then take a local bus or cab from Baijnath to Bir
The first option to reach Bir from Manali is the direct Bus. But you will find only a few buses for this route. A better option is to take a Direct bus to Baijnath from Manali and then take a local bus or cab from Baijnath to Bir
From Bangalore, you can take a direct flight to Delhi. And then from Delhi book a Volvo AC bus for Bir.
From Chandigarh to Bir you can book a direct bus to Bir. The only problem is most of these Volvo AC private buses start from Delhi and pick you up on the way to Chandigarh at midnight. But there is an advantage that you will reach Bir in the morning. If you want to travel in the daytime you can board roadways buses from Chandigarh Bus Stand (ISBT Sector 43)
Delhi – Dharamshala (1N) – Triund (1N) – Bir Billing (1N) – Delhi
Uncia Trails Pvt. Ltd. Dharamshala
Mon - Sat 09.00 - 20.00 Sunday CLOSED