Activities to do and visit while exploring Bir Billing Valley in Himachal Pradesh

Adventure based activities in Bir and around.

1. Paragliding session- 16 Km drive.

activities for which Bir Billing is famous for Paragliding is best adventure sport to experience Bir eye view from sky. Bir is among top destination for paragliding in world.
Different paragliding session here as per weather condition.

Different paragliding sessions and operational months

15 to 30 min paragliding session open from: – 15 Sept to 30 June  ₹ 3000/-

30 to 45 min paragliding session open from: – 5 Oct to 10 June  ₹ 5000/-

45 to 60 min paragliding session open from: – 15 Oct to 15 May-  ₹ 6500/-

60 to 120 min paragliding session open from: – 15 Oct to 25 Dec and 15 Feb to 15 April- Mail us – ₹ 12000/

2. Mountain Biking / Cycling activities.

– ₹ 550/-
Most popular cycling session is 3-4 hrs paragliding session, which is cycling to Palpung Sherabling Monastery – 6 km on way, which considered easy to moderate and sort cycling session in Tibetan colony area. If you are looking for mountain biking in Off road which is towards Camp Oak View.

3. Luxury Machaan Tent Camping, Wooden Machaan Cottages and Family cottages.

Depend upon experience, you can choose different camping options here at Bir Billing.
Machaan Camping in wilderness with all facilities and proper experience of Machaan Camp at Camp Oak View, Bir. Fixed camps.
Basic camps – dome tents are cheap options.
Camping at Billing is in dome tents are outdoor experience with basic facilities (dry pit toilets, no electricity)

Trekking routes in Bir and around.

4.Tribal village trek at Thathi village.- 6 km Trek

Village is not accessible via road, there are two options to reach Thathi village, One can drive via Sansal village and reach till small bridge near stream and trek for 2-3 km to village and 2nd option is to trek to Ghodnala village and start trek from Camp Oak View, Trail passing through Oak forest to village and return which is total 16 km round trip to cover all three villages sub villages of Thathi village there – Chougan Thathi, kryon Thathi, Kothar Thathi. Village have old fassioned houses, culture, trails, dresses, homemade drinks and organic farms.

5. Hot water Spring at Tatani – 12 km drive and 5 km trek.

Hot water spring Tatani is 12 km drive and 5 km trek away from Bir. Tatani is connected with road till hydro-project (road open throughout the year and half part of it is un-metaled or bit off-roading) and 5 km Trek from hydro-project considered as easy to moderate.

Natural hot water spring near Bir is at Tatani. Hot water spring has as small man-made pool not well maintained, one can take a dip here as no pollution nearby as its in wilderness and no human settlement. Temple here is dedicated to lord shiva, one can see old temple or main temple at cliff on other side of stream with small flags. Take dip in hot water spring provide relief, cure skin diseases, joint pains,
Trek is open throughout the year and this is day trek. Start in morning from Bir to reach and back on time, not suggested to start late as all trek part is in wilderness.

hot water spring, tatwani

6. Tribal village trek to Raj-gundha village – 16 Km drive and 12 km Trek

Raj gundha is Tribal village has months inhabitants and called as semi nomadic village as villages live here for 7 months during summer and monsoon and do farming. Village is 12 km. 5 hrs trek from Billing. One of the most beautifull palaces in Himachal Pradesh. Best place to  experience nature and Pahari culture.

7. Hanuman Garh Trek – 16 Km trek and 7 km Trek.

Hanuman Garh is highest point and best View point of Bir Billing valley at 3200 mts from sea level with all round view. One side Dhouladhar range with snow covered peals and other side green Kangra valley. Most of the time you see clouds under you. One can see snow in trek from Dec to Mid April. Trek is considered moderate and 2 hrs tough stretch one way with steep uphill to top. But one can forgot tiredness once reach at Top. At the Top there is Roudra Rup of Lord Hanumana facing valley and old fortress of Bhangal king on other hill top.

View from Hanuman Garh trek

8. Saptwadini Devi Temple– 16 Km drive and 6 km Trek.

Trek to Saptwadini Devi Temple is 12 km round trip from Billing and 16 km drive till Billing. Deity at temple is worshiped via villagers of Bir and Barot valley. Tourists are not allowed to go close to temple area. People have faith on deity can visit, Temple is not a tourist place. Temple is located at dense forest of brown Oak and devdara. Trees around temple are multiple braches from ground.
One side of temple is Kangra valley and other side is Raj gundha valley.

9. Bir to Billing Trek – 8 km Trek.

Bir to Billing trek is passing through pahari villages and mountain stream and few small waterfall. After trekking 4-5 hrs. you reach at Billing, which is paragliding takeoff point at the altitude of 2430 meters from sea level.

Trek Bir to Billing

10. Trekking for 12 Days from Bir to Manali via Bara Bhangal valley from Bir.

Bir to Bada Bhangal to Manali Trek.
Trek is 12 days start from bir and camp at various camping area.

Bir – Billing – Raj Gundha(night stay) – Plachak (night stay) – Panihartu (night stay) – Bhedpal – Thamsar pass at 4820 mts – Lakes – Udhg (night stay) – Madhi – Bada Bhangal village (night)- Dal Madhi (night stay)- Devi ki Madhi (night stay) – Kali Hani base (night stay) –Kali hani pass (4850 mts) – Sangoor Thach/ Riali (night stay) – Lam Dugh (night stay) – Manali .

Trek passes through three villages – Raj Gundha – Kukur Gundha and Bada Bhangal villages.
Trek passes through waterfall before Panihartu.
Snow bridge over Uahl at Panihartu at many points,
Snow near Thamsar lake on both side, Snow at Kali Hani pass.
Lakes at Thamsar pass on both sides.
River crossing at Plachak – over bridge (wood logs), panihartu – over snow bridges, Bada bhangal over bridge. Stream crossing before Dal Madhi, Crossing near Devi ki Madi – no bridge (high current, very chilled water).
There are so many Shephard settlements during treks, almost every mountain has shephards.

11. Snow Trek from Dec to March.

12. Sunset point Trek Ghodnala village near Camp Oak.

Trekking from Bir to Ghodnala is the tiniest of villages, comprising of all but three houses surrounded by lush oak and rhododendron forests. The villagers are mostly shepherds. The best way to reach Ghodnala is to start walking from Bir village, passing through Dhanli village in between. The place is a paradise for naturalists and bird watching. Tired from trudging up the mountain slopes, Camp Oak View welcomes you with piping hot snacks and meals (and the cool shade of a tent if one so desires). The meals are not ala carte but offer the best of the local fare. All the ingredients are procured locally and prepared in the traditional flavours. One can opt to spend the night at the camp, or after spending a couple of hours exploring the camp and its verdant surroundings, walk back to the landing site for paragliders at Bir, a 3 km. walk, to see the sunset. One can also visit Kinno Devi’s house at the end of Ghodnala and buy some Rajmah (kidney beans) and hand knitted woollens. She is well versed with guests from the camp, and is known for her warm hospitality. The house also offers beautiful views of the sunset, and one can also stay back to observe the same and drive back to Bir, a 15 min. ride by taxi.

Trek route is well defined and used by local villages of Bari, Dhonali and Ghodnala. Trek is passing through forest area. Trek start from the bridge near forest guest house, Bir. Trek end point is house of Kinno devi from where you have a view of whole valley in front with winter line. Local house is at hill with amazing view of valley the forest down and Kangra valley.

13. Short waterfall Trek near Bir River.

14. Bheem Pather Waterfall near Gunnaid village.

Bhim Pathar waterfall in Bir near Gunnaid village, which is huge waterfall. Trek has nit proper trail to reach, a small trail with tough and risky for tourists not habbitual of walking in mountain and water. Need to trek downhill from rock, walk in cold water and boulders to reach Bhim Pathar waterfall.

15. Bird watching in Oak forest.

Places to visit around Bir and options of sightseeing.

16. Cafe’s street near paragliding landing area.

Colony area of Bir is covering 1.5 km from Hotel Paul Manor to Paragliding landing area, Tibetan colony area has many café;s with various food option
Aviva’s, Himalayan pizza, Varagi café, Silver line, Garden Café, Restaurant at Hotel Paul Manor for Homely food.

17.Swami Shri Shri 1008 vishudhanand saraswati ji – aged 140 years at Dakshina Kali Ashram Bir.

There is Mahatama ji, local people call him Guru ji have seat in upper Bir villag. Place is known as kuthiya of guru ji. This place is calm, peaceful and starting point of Bir to Billing trek. Guru ji considered as 140 years. Guru ji not speaking much now and offer prasad to everyone by himself every day and meet two time a day with devotee’s. This ashram is known as Dakshina Kali Ashram.

18. Dinner at Camp Oak View around Bonfire in wilderness of Oak forest.

Experience night bonfire and food is best experience at Camp Oak View, if you staying at Camp Oak them amazing night experience there, but you staying at Hotel in Bir and want to experience then book your dinner @ ₹ 350 buffet and ₹ 100 bonfire per person. Camp is 5 km from paragliding landing area in Oak forest with bit of off-roading and 5 min trek.

19. Tea Tour at Wah Tea estate at Deogarn Palmpur – 30 km.

Tea Estate at Wah organizes tastings and tea tours all days except Monday from Tuesday until Sunday. Tea tour provides all information about tea plant growth to plucking of tea leaves to packing and till you taste it and check various flavors.
Briefing about Tea plant growth, plucking, processing and tasting. Walk to tea garden trails to enjoy the garden views with Dhauladhar mountain range in the back drop.
Visit factory to see rolling, fermenting, drying, shorting process and also have some time to interact with workers also see its old way to make it in Kadhaies.
Later visit Tea factory for Tea tasting, where all flavor of raw tea, prepared tea placed, you can taster all of them to enjoy all of them and check your suited flavor.
Timing: 0900 to 1700 hrs.
Duration: 45 minutes to 60 minutes.
Charges: ₹ 150 per Guest.

20. Tea Factory at Bir.

Tea Factory at Bir is located at Bir village main bus stop, 2 km from mail tourist spot.Local plucked leaves from bIR TEA Gardens.

21. Palpung Sherabling Monastery, Bhattu which is 6 km from Bir.

One can reach by cycle/ mountain bike or cabs
Present 12th Kenting Tai Situpa’s disciples from Derge and Nangchen region who settled in Bir, Himachal Pardesh Northern India, donated a protected pine forested land located in the foothills of the Himalayas in 1975.
Monastery can accommodate 500 monks (almost 250 monks quators ). Monastery has three shrine halls, six shrine rooms, and all of the traditional and modern monastic features..

Bir Bhattu monastery, Palpung Sherabliding

22. Astrology and palmology with Dr. Pamdit lekh Raj ji – President awardee.

Dr. Pamdit lekh Raj ji – President award, International astrology award, International rotary award, International astrology honor letter, Indian award, Himachal ratna, Meerut ratna and Varahmihir award.
Pandit ji is very famous among Army officers, Bollywood celebrities and politicians. Pandit ji is only astrologist who can calculate date and time of Birth of any person with hand lines. Pandit ji also tell person’s parents 1st initial letter and spouse 1st initial letter with kid’s details.
He provide all information of life. Pandit ji completed his PhD from Banaras Hindu University in some hidden sastra to know all these calculations depend upon planter movement. Pandit ji was in army as Dharam guru.
Prior appointment required to meet Pandit ji. Pandit ji lives 12 km from Bir and his office at Jogindernagar. Pandit ji also has office at Meerut. Prominent actress – Kangna Rannout visiting him quite offen. He charges fee of ₹ 4000/- for one person consultation.

23. Tibetan Colony area.

24. Monasteries at Colony Area.

25. Monasteries at Chountra village – 3 km.

                                                                                                                                                                        26. 9th Century Shiva temple at Baijnath – 12 Km.

Baijnath Shiva Temple is a Nagara style Hindu temple. Temple is located in town of Baijnath near bus stand. Temple is dedicated to Shiva as Vaidyanath was built in 1204 A.D. by two local merchants named Ahuka and Manyuka.

9th century old temple Shiva Temple at Bainath

27. Mukutnath Temple at Sansal – Oldest Tulsi plant – 8 km.

28. Pottery at Andretta village – 24 Km.

India’s oldest pottery work studio at Andreta village somewhere 25 km from Bir. Slip design technique used for handmade pottery. This technique is an art of getting colors from clay used for pottery work. Pottery products made here are microwave and oven proof. One can do 3 months residential courses and 15 min session to try hands with guided tour.

29. Barot valley – Day excursion – 50 km.

Barot is 50 km/ 2 hrs away from Bir and best day trip option from Bir. Bir is known for Trout fish production and hydro project reservoir. Kangra valley railway is to built till Barot to construct hydroproject here. 1st part is normal railway till Jogindernagar and then trolley rail with pulley system till Winch camp and then flat rail route to pull trolley manually till Head-gear, rail rout post head-gear is again pulley based and steep. Route post winch camp is abundan as of now and not operational, one can trek from Barot to head gear and then to winch Camp to see the amazing route and views. For trekking need to stay a night here in Barot. Barot is also connected to few villages of Barot and there is trekking route to Bir Billing.

30. Workshops at Dharamalaya Institute.

Dharmalaya institute is located near camp Oak view in Ghodnala village, This is charitable organization for workshops on sustainable ecotourism and for service workshops. One can stay here, if looking for week long workshops only.

31. Tashi Jong Khampagar Monastery – 16 km.

Monastery is 17 km from Bir near Baijnath towards palampur. Monastery has 140 monks. Tashi Jong Monastery is making news as monastery mummifies a monk named Tokden Amtrin (mummy of a monk)who passed away on July 1, 2005, in Tashi Jong at the age of 84.
Home to the Drugpa Kagyu tradition of Buddhism, this monastery is one of the schools of Kagyu tradition established by 8th Khamtrul Rinpoche, Dongyu Nyima. The monastery complex houses the main temple, the stupa of Khamtrul Rinpoche, and the Yamantak Retreat Center which is restricted to the general public.