A hidden gem nestled in the Himalayas, Bir is a dream destination for any adventure lover. A unique place offering a unique sport, here are 11 reasons why paragliding in Bir is a must-try experience!
1. The feel of flying in the world’s 2nd highest site
2. Long solo flights of 15-20 min
3. Easy access to Bir from Dharamshala airport
4. One of the best cross country sites in the world
5. International culture and best-in-class pilots
6. Easy access to take-off site
7. Plenty of cafes and hotels
8. Tibetan food & monasteries
9. Beautiful hikes and cycling trails around
10. Affordable paragliding
11. Magical sunsets
1. The feel of flying in the world’s 2nd highest site
Flying is thrilling enough. But flying at eye level with snow-capped Himalayas just takes it to another level! At 8000 feet above sea level, flying in Bir is as dreamy as it sounds!
2. Long solo flights of 15-20 min
Due to the elevation difference between Billing (take-off site) and Bir (landing site), one can enjoy solo flights of up to 20min long even in the beginner’s course.
This gives one enough time to absorb the feeling of being air-borne and enter Zen mode for a long time.
3. Easy access to Bir from Dharamshala airport
From Dharamshala airport, Bir is just a 2 hour drive away. There are also overnight Volvo buses running from Delhi/ Chandigarh to Bir.
4. One of the best cross country sites in the world
Very few paragliding sites give a 100km flying range on either side of the take off. Pilots from across the world come to Bir for this very reason. Explore back country Himalayas from a bird’s eye view. Seasoned pilots do flights lasting 3-5 hours.
5. International culture and best-in-class pilots
Due to the highly favourable flying conditions and the sheer beauty of flying among the Himalayan snow peaks, Bir has become a hub for international pilots. Bir also held the Paragliding World Cup in 2015.
Seeing the best pilots in the world fly gives tremendous learning to budding pilots learning in Bir. Also conversations with them open up a whole new world of what paragliding is!
6. Easy access to take-off site
A smooth road runs from Bir to the take-off site at Billing. All one has to do is sit in a car and drive up. What more, one can enjoy a hot cup of tea and maggi while waiting for the right winds.
Very few sites in the world have such an easy access made to the take-off point.
7. Plenty of cafes and hotels
Bir is fast growing as a tourist hub. The town is filled with cafes with nice rooftops, garden pizzerias, live-music cafes, little coffee bars. The town also has lots of hostels and hotels, something to suit every kind of traveler. Zostel has two very scenic properties for the backpacker.
8. Tibetan food & monasteries
The charm of Bir is in the local Tibetan community who live there. Steaming hot momos and thukpa can be found at every nook and corner. There are also many monasteries in and around Bir for those who want a taste of some Buddhist chanting. Deer Park Institute runs a variety of workshops and daily meditation sessions for the seeking souls.
9. Beautiful hikes and cycling trails around
Bir also has beautiful nature all around. It is easy to rent a cycle for the day and bike around. Or set out on a day hike to the nearby waterfalls. There are options for overnight treks too that go up to snow-clad places. Tatta Pani hot springs is also a fun day trip that feels heavenly if visiting in the colder months.
10. Affordable paragliding
Since Bir is such a hub, paragliding also comes at an affordable price here. The same course would cost twice as much if done in other paragliding sites in India.
11. Magical sunsets
The rolling hills surrounding Bir makes the sunset view truly magical. After the sun goes down, the sky turns a fiery pink. Most pilots can be found lounging around in the landing site and enjoying the magical colours in the sky. Others go to nearby cafés to sip some ginger lemon honey under an orange sky.
How to go? AdventurePlay runs beginner paragliding courses in Bir. Check out dates for upcoming batches. Once you get a taste of flight, you will look at the world very differently!
About Author-
Nitisha Sethia is an outdoor sport practitioner and founder of Adventure Play. Ex-McKinsey & Co. and IIM Ahmedabad, Nitisha left her corporate job to follow her passion in the outdoors.
Adventure Play is a one-stop platform to discover & learn new outdoor sports.
www.adventureplay.asia | Instagram- @adventureplay.asia