Bir Tibetan Colony
town · 3.8 km away
viewpoint32 min from Bir
Billing paragliding site, Bir
Billing is the paragliding launch meadow above Bir, at 2,400 m and 32 minutes by road. The flying season is September and October; pilots land at Chowgan.
What it is
Billing is the meadow above Bir where paragliders launch, at 2,400 m. Pilots glide down to Chowgan, also spelt Chaugan, on the southern edge of the village. Together the two are known as Bir Billing, which has made Bir known as the paragliding capital of India.
Photos: PulkitPithvaWiki (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Tanvi.sharmaaa (CC BY 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
Getting there
By road Billing is 13 km from Bir and takes 32 minutes by car. The road climbs steadily, so the drive up is slower than the glide down.
The visit
The flying season is September and October, with some flying in November. Outside it you can still drive up for the meadow and the view, but there will be little in the air. Whether anyone flies on a given day depends on wind and cloud, and local pilots decide it on the morning.
When to go
September to November for flying. Prices for tandem flights are quoted on the day and change by season, so we give none here; ask at the landing ground before you commit. See when to visit Bir.
Around it
Chokling Monastery and the Bir Tibetan Colony are below, at the landing end of the village. The one-day plan puts Billing first and the monasteries after.
Plans that include this
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Questions people ask
How high is the launch at Billing?
The launch meadow at Billing is at 2,400 m, about 13 km from Bir and 32 minutes by road. Pilots take off here and land at Chowgan, on the southern edge of Bir, where most of the village's accommodation also stands.
When can you fly at Bir Billing?
The flying season is September and October, with some flying in November, per the village's own article. The launch is a meadow, so wind and cloud decide each day, and outside those months the site is quiet. Check conditions with a local pilot on the day.
Is Billing the same as Bir?
No. Bir is the village at 1,525 m where you stay and where pilots land. Billing is the launch meadow 13 km up the road. People say Bir Billing for the whole site, which is why both names appear on maps and in searches.