Bir Billing Travel Guide (2026): Paragliding, Monasteries, Waterfalls & Where to Stay
Updated: Oct 8
Updated October 2026
Bir Billing is two places in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, joined by one famous flight path. Billing is the paragliding take-off meadow, high on the ridge at about 2,400 m.
Bir is the village and Tibetan settlement below it at about 1,400 m, where the gliders land. Between the two you'll find tea gardens, Buddhist monasteries, forest waterfalls and a relaxed café scene. It's why people come for a weekend and stay a week.
We live here, so this guide is the version we give our own friends.
Bir Billing at a glance
Where: Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, about 500 km from Delhi and 270 km from Chandigarh
Known for: paragliding (Bir hosted the Paragliding World Cup in 2015), Tibetan monasteries, tea gardens, treks
Flying season: roughly mid-September to June; paragliding stops for the monsoon from July to mid-September
Best months overall: October–November and March–May
Nearest airport: Gaggal (Kangra), about 65–70 km
How long to stay: 3 days covers the highlights, 5 or more lets you trek and slow down
Paragliding in Bir Billing
You take off from Billing and drift down over pine forest and tea gardens to the landing site in Bir. On a good thermal day, experienced pilots fly cross-country along the Dhauladhar range for hours.
That's why pilots from around the world come here every autumn. For most visitors it's a tandem flight: you're strapped in with a licensed pilot and need no experience.
Rough 2026 prices:
Short flight (10–15 minutes): about ₹2,500–3,500
Longer flight (20–30 minutes): about ₹3,500–4,500
Cross-country (45–60+ minutes): about ₹5,000–6,500
Prices change with the season and the operator. Mornings are usually calmer, and afternoons bring the thermals that long flights need.
If you'd rather watch, the landing site in Bir is a lovely place to spend a late afternoon as gliders come in one after another.
If you'd like a flight arranged around your stay, talk to our team and get access to the best pilots and flying experiences.
Even if you don’t fly, simply watching the gliders descend into Bir’s lush landing field is unforgettable.
People land with the same expression every time — “That changed something in me.”
If you plan to fly, book with reputed pilots. (We help our guests get priority bookings with trusted instructors.)
Things to do in Bir beyond paragliding
Visit the monasteries
Bir has one of the larger Tibetan settlements in Himachal, built up since the 1960s, and its monasteries are its quiet heart. Start at Chokling Monastery in the Tibetan Colony, with its big white stupa, then go out to the forest setting of Sherabling Monastery near Bhattu.
Smaller monasteries like Nyingyang Monastery are right in the middle of town, in the heart of the Tibetan Colony. If you're interested in Buddhist studies, Deer Park Institute runs courses and talks. Bir's monasteries are even more special to visit during Losar season (Tibetan New Year).
Chase a waterfall or two
Two waterfalls are within easy reach of the village. The trail to Gunehar's hidden waterfall is a gentle walk past fields and a river pool, so it suits families(though its only available during and close to Monsoon season).
Bangoru waterfall is wilder, with a proper forest trek. Both are at their best just after the monsoon, in September and October
Trek and camp above Billing
From the take-off point, a trail runs over the ridge and down into Rajgundha valley, one of the best overnight treks from Bir. Campers who want to go further can carry on to the campsite at Plachak. For something easier, a forest walk to the hot springs at Tatwani ends with warm water at the bottom.
Drink the tea where it's grown
Kangra tea grows right around Bir. A visit to the Bir tea factory shows you how the leaves are withered, rolled and dried, and the gardens around Chowgan are lovely for a slow walk. We also curate custom routes for our guests based on weather and season.
Take a day trip
Barot valley is a 2–3 hour drive away and full of river and forest. Closer still is the 13th-century Baijnath temple, one of the finest old stone temples in the Kangra valley.
Café-hop (slowly)
The cafés are part of Bir's charm: wood-fired pizza, Tibetan momos, good coffee and long mountain-facing decks. Most are around the Tibetan Colony and the landing site. They open and close with the seasons, so ask us which ones are good this month.
Best time to visit Bir Billing
October–November: clear skies, the best flying of the year, golden light. The busiest season, so book early.
December–February: cold, crisp and quiet. Days are often sunny and good for flying, nights are cold, and the ridges above Billing get snow. Bir itself rarely does (but it did last year!).
March–May: spring flowers and warm days, another good flying window.
June: warm and green. Pre-monsoon weather can turn quickly.
July–mid-September: monsoon. Paragliding is closed and trails are slippery, but the waterfalls are at their fullest and the valley is very green.
Is Bir Billing crowded?
It depends on when you come and where you stay. Long weekends, Diwali, Christmas and New Year bring crowds to the Tibetan Colony, the landing site and the road up to Billing. Outside those weeks, and away from the colony, Bir is quiet.
Stay in one of the surrounding villages, fly early, and walk to Gunehar or the tea gardens in the afternoon, and you'll find it calm even in peak season.
How to reach Bir Billing
By air: Gaggal (Kangra) airport has flights from Delhi and is about 65–70 km from Bir, around 2 hours by taxi.
By road from Delhi: about 500 km. Overnight Volvo buses run to Bir from Delhi, both HRTC and private. Driving takes 10–12 hours.
From Chandigarh: about 270 km, 5–6 hours by road.
By train: the nearest broad-gauge station is Pathankot, about 4 hours away by road. The narrow-gauge Kangra Valley line stops close to Bir, but services have been disrupted in recent years, so check the timetable before you plan around it.
Once you're here, you'll need a scooter, taxi or your own car to get between Bir, Billing and the waterfalls. The road up to Billing is about 14 km and steep.
Where to stay in Bir Billing
Bir has everything from backpacker hostels to campsites to private villas. The main choice is location:
Tibetan Colony and landing site: walk to cafés and monasteries, but it's the busiest and noisiest part of Bir in season.
Surrounding villages (Kotli, Chowgan, Gunehar and others): quieter, greener and closer to the tea gardens and waterfalls. You'll need a short ride into the colony.
Billing and Rajgundha: camps and basic stays, cold at night, for people who want to be on the ridge.
If you're not sure which part of Bir is which, our [local's guide to every village and colony around Bir] will help.
We built Moonshine Villa for travellers who want the quiet-village side of Bir with real comfort: a restored heritage villa in Kotli, a hot tub and pool with mountain views, a yoga hall and plenty of space for pets.
You can look around our rooms or, if you're coming as a group, see what's planned on our latest retreats.
And yes — we are one of the only villas in Bir with a heated pool, perfect after paragliding or a cold mountain evening.
Ask a local before you go
We've helped a lot of guests plan their days here, and we're happy to do the same for you, whether or not you're staying with us. Message us about:
which flight operators we trust this season
whether the Rajgundha trail or Bangoru is in good condition after rain
which cafés are open and good right now
scooters and taxis for getting around
WhatsApp or call: +91 98992 32692. We're here in Bir, and we would love to host you.
Comments