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Bir from the air, with terraced fields, the village and a paraglider over the valley
Day planFirst visitClassicrelaxed

One day in Bir — Billing, Chokling Monastery and the Tibetan Colony

A one-day Bir plan: the Billing launch meadow in the morning, then Chokling Monastery and the Tibetan Colony in the afternoon. Free, copyable.
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Photo: Wojciech Kocot · CC BY-SA 4.0

A single day in Bir: Billing, the launch meadow above the village, then Chokling Monastery and the Bir Tibetan Colony once the morning flying is over.

It leaves out Baijnath and the ruins at Ahju; the two-day plan adds them.

Photos: Wojciech Kocot (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Original: PanWoyteczekDerivative work: UnpetitproleX (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.

Who this is for

Anyone with a single day in Bir, especially in the September to November flying season.

Day by day

Day 1

The launch ridge, then the monasteries

Billing first, while the air is clear; the monasteries after, when the cloud comes in.

  1. 09:00
    Billing
    viewpoint · 32 min from Bir · about 1 h 30 min there
    The launch meadow at 2,400 m, 32 minutes up the hill. Watch the first pilots go off, and fly if the wind allows.
  2. ↓ 39 min by road · 16 km
    13:00
    Chokling Monastery
    temple · 6 min from Bir · about 45 min there
    The red-and-gold Nyingma monastery with its large stupa, 6 minutes from the centre of Bir.
  3. ↓ a short walk
    15:00
    Bir Tibetan Colony
    town · 6 min from Bir · about 1 h 30 min there
    Walk the lanes between the smaller monasteries and the handicraft centre before the light goes.

Getting there

Bir is about 29 km from Palampur, roughly 55 minutes by car or bus. See the hub guide for the full arrival table.

Where to stay

Stay in Bir itself. The launch meadow is 32 minutes up the hill; everything else is a short ride or walk.

Know before you go

  • Go up to Billing in the morning; the air is clearer, and the wind decides whether anyone flies.
  • Keep the monasteries for the afternoon, so the day still works if the wind says no at the launch.

Places on this route

Bir Tibetan Colony
Bir Tibetan Colony
town · 6 min from Bir
Billing paragliding site, Bir
Billing paragliding site, Bir
viewpoint · 32 min from Bir
Chokling Monastery, Bir
Chokling Monastery, Bir
temple · 6 min from Bir

Other ways to do it

All Bir itineraries →
Two days in Bir — the colony, Baijnath Temple and the Ahju ruins
1 night · 2 days · First visitTemples & heritage
Two days in Bir — the colony, Baijnath Temple and the Ahju ruins
A two-day Bir plan for any month: the Tibetan Colony and Chokling Monastery on day one, then Baijnath Temple and the Ahju ruins. Free, copyable.
Best Mar–Jun · Sep–Nov
See the plan →

Questions people ask

Can you see Bir in one day?

Yes. Billing, the paragliding launch, is 32 minutes up the hill, and Chokling Monastery and the Tibetan Colony are about 6 minutes from the centre of Bir. A morning at the launch and an afternoon among the monasteries is a full, easy day.

Do you have to fly to enjoy Billing?

No. The meadow is a place to watch pilots take off and to look over the valley. Flying runs in the September to November season, and the wind decides each day, so the plan keeps the monasteries for the afternoon as a second half that works either way.

Do you need a car for this plan?

A car or taxi for Billing, because the road up is 13 km and 32 minutes. The monasteries are 2 km apart and the colony itself is best on foot, so you only need the car to get up and down the hill.