Chokling Monastery — Bir Billing’s Spiritual Heartbeat (A Complete Guide)

Bir Billing is known around the world for paragliding.

But ask anyone who has spent more than just a weekend here, and they’ll tell you: Bir is not a destination — it’s an awakening.

And that awakening begins at Chokling Monastery, a serene Tibetan Buddhist monastery located in the Bir Tibetan Colony.

For travelers who crave depth, silence, art, and culture, this is one of the most meaningful places to visit in Bir.

✅ Quick Facts

Feature	Details
Official name	Pema Ewam Chögar Gyurme Ling Monastery
Location	Bir Tibetan Colony, Bir Billing, Himachal Pradesh
Known for	Giant Padmasambhava statue, prayer hall, stupa, monastic rituals
Founded by	Neten Chokling Pema Gyurme (1960s)
Present lineage head	Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche
Experience level	Perfect for both seekers and curious travelers

History — A Legacy That Traveled Across Borders

After the annexation of Tibet, thousands of monks sought refuge in the Himalayas, with several coming to Bir, including the nearby Sherabling monastery.

Among them was Neten Chokling Pema Gyurme, who founded this monastery in the 1960s.

The monastery was later developed under the guidance of his son, the revered Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche, continuing an unbroken spiritual lineage.

This monastery isn't just a building.It’s a living preservation of Tibetan culture, wisdom, and tradition.

Architecture & Art — Every Corner Speaks

The monastery is a visual and emotional experience.

✨ Highlights:

• A majestic statue of Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche), the master who introduced Buddhism to Tibet in the 8th century.

• A massive stupa visible from a distance.

• Intricate murals and Tibetan iconography.

• A peaceful prayer hall where monks chant twice daily.

The interior is richly decorated with reds, golds, and blues — symbolic of compassion, wisdom, and divine protection.

Even if you’re not spiritual, the stillness does something to you.

Visitor Experience — What Happens Inside

• You can sit quietly and meditate.

• Join monks during prayer sessions (depending on timing).

• Witness traditional ritual dances on special Tibetan festival days.

• Explore the courtyard, stupa, and monks' learning center.

No entry ticket.No rush.No chaos.

Just quiet energy and mountain wind.

Best Time to Visit

• Morning (for the chants)

• Golden hour / sunset (for photography)

Respectful clothing is recommended.

Travel Tips

✅ Silence your phone

✅ Avoid recording during prayer without permission

✅ Walk around the stupa clockwise — it is a gesture of respect

Where Luxury Meets Serenity — Stay Near the Monastery

For travelers who want to stay in nature, close to Bir’s spiritual and adventure circuit, there is a hidden gem:

✨ Moonshine Villa — Bir’s luxury heritage stay

• Stay among forests and mountain views

• Relax in the heated hot-tub pool

• Lounge by the swimming pool overlooking nature

• Close to other famous Buddhist monasteries like Nyingyang Monastery.

• Yoga & meditation decks for personal practice

• Concierge-style guidance for monasteries, treks & paragliding

We've lived in Bir for more than a decade — we don’t just give directions, we curate experiences.

👉 If Chokling Monastery is the soul of Bir, Moonshine Villa is the sanctuary you return to afterward.

People come to Bir to fly.But they leave transformed — often because of places like Chokling Monastery.

Come with curiosity.Leave with peace.