Monsoon 2023 Travel guide Bir Billing– activities open or close with other information regarding travel to Bir Billing during Monsoon,
- Road situation and rail route.
- when to visit for paragliding,
- Camping operational for which dates,
- trekking routes which are open,
- sightseeing, Tibetan Market Café; sand shops,
- Optional for stay.
Road situation and rail route.
Bir is located at the edge of Kangra district and has many ways to reach here by road. Many routes lead to Bir Billing, so roads are always open to reach here. This monsoon 2023 all main roads are closed for 1 day as heavy rain leads to landslides and roads closed. But not like anyone stuck in between as there is a network of connecting roads which allows to take us alternative local roads as well.
The Main road routes to Reach Bir Billing from Delhi as below and closed a few points which are also highlighted here.
- Delhi – Chandigarh – Kiratpur – Una – (diversion towards Paragpur , 10 km before Amb) – Paragpur – Dehra – Kangra – Palampur – Baijnath – Bir (515 km / 10 hrs 50 min)
This route is best to reach Bir Billing as all route is two lanes and National highway. The Condition of this route is very good. Till Amb route is in plains and no hilly roads, small curves start from here but not cliffs and deep valleys.
This year Monsoon 2023 road closed near Kangra bypass as landslide from a hill, but no incident happen (the road opened after one day, alternate route during this period and open now). Another landslide after Kangra and before Nagrota where mud and trees slide towards the road, the road is open now. Other small slide and pine trees fell near palampur which were cleared in a few hrs. Now all roads are open. The best this is that here network of roads makes it easy for alternative roads and this is a safe route to Reach Palampur and Bir Billing.
- Delhi – Chandigarh – Kiratpur – Una – Bangana – Naudan – Sujanpur – Alampur – Palampur – Baijnath – Bir . (510 km/ 10 hrs 50 mins) (2nd best option to reach Bir Billing)
The route is short in distance and takes a bit less time but has more turns and curves. This route is closed for a few days as Sujanpur – Alampur Beas bridge concrete walls were damaged due to a landslide at one end. This route will open in a few days.
- Delhi – Chandigarh – Kiratpur – Una – Bangana – Naudan – Sujanpur – Alampur – Khaira– Pahda – Andreta – Paprola – Baijnath – Bir (505 km/ 11 hrs 10 mins)
This particular route is shown on Google Maps. The Road is shorter in distance and time took but enters in link roads through villages which make more chances to take the wrong direction. Time taken on this route is less but the road is single at few starches and more curves. This is also closed near the Sujanpur Beas River bridge.
- Delhi – Chandigarh – Kiratpur – Una – Bangana –Hamirpur – Sujanpur – Alampur – Palampur – Baijnath – Bir (515 km/ 11 hrs 15 mins)
This is a bit long and more curved area but good road condition all the way to Bir. Road is open now.
- Delhi – Chandigarh – Kiratpur – Bilaspur – Sundernagar – Mandi – Jogindernagar – Chountra – Bir (465 km/ 9 hrs 30 mins) = Best recommended route to reach Bir Billing.
The Route is the shortest and also shown in Google Maps. Most of the road is falls under Kiratpur – Manali four-lane so you can take this four lane from Kiratpur to Mandi and then take the diversion towards Jogindernagar which is 70 km and takes more 2 hrs (this last part is narrow at a few points but good drivable). You can opt for this route from October 2023 onwards after monsoon, but not now as construction work of four lanes going on, and due to heavy rain road was washed away at a few points. Please avoid this route in monsoon 2023 and follow this route from October 2023.
- Delhi – Chandigarh – Kiratpur – Bilaspur – Ghumarvi – Sarkaghat – Dharampur – Jogindernagar – Chountra – Bir (475 km/ 10 hrs 30 min)
This is also the shortest route shown as 475 km and 10 hrs 30 mins drive till Bir Billing but above via mandi is better. Route is National highway till Ghumarvi then its 2 lane and single lane at few points till Jogindernagar. You can opt for this route to reach Bir Billing but not in monsoon.
- Delhi – Chandigarh – Kiratpur – Bilaspur – Hamirpur – Sujanpur – Alampur – Palampur – Baijnath – Bir (490 km/ 10 hrs 40 mins)
This is also a workable road and can be opted
When to visit for paragliding in Bir Billing,
Paragliding is closed as of now in Bir Billing till 16 September. It is closed every year during monsoon from 16 July till 16 September. No one is allowed to fly here during this period even weather is clear. Please visit Bir Billing after the monsoon to avoid any disappointment. Paragliding is open from 16 September onwards but the weather is still allowing morning flights only and bad in the day sometimes. From October onwards Bir Billing becomes heaven for paragliders and winds are very favorable to fly even for whole days. Many pilots from around the world travel to Bir Billing during October and November Fly whole days and spend 2 months to get experience. These pilots carry their gliders to fly the whole day.
When Camping operational for which dates in Bir Billing:-
Camping is open but better to avoid during monsoon as Bir Billing experience heavy rain and regular rains. Due to high humidity and no sunshine tents become moist and a bit smelly. All the forest area is full of leeches which makes it uncomfortable to stay. Due to rain and wet all around, insects start attracted to dry areas and light. The last week of September onwards camping is a good experience here in Bir Billing.
Trekking routes which are open:-
Trekking is closed in Kangra Dist. of Himachal till 16 September for monsoon 2023 by DC Kangra for safety reasons as heavy rainfall here this year. So avoid doing trekking in Himachal. Small treks like waterfall trek, sunset point in Ghodnala, Thathi village trek and Tatwani Hot water spring are all closed due to rain and leaches in forest area all the way.
Sightseeing:-
Bir Billing has many sightseeing options around and nearby. During Monsoon, few places are not recommended and few can not be reachable due to the terrains of the area and weather conditions.
Tibetan colony area can be visited during monsoon as it starts from Chougan Chowk where Tsring Jong monastery is located till Bir Khadd, the whole Tibetan colony area is 2 km long. There are various options to visit – Deer Park, Bir Monastery, Chokling monastery, Tring Jong monastery, Stupa monastery, Tibetan Market, Café’s, and restaurants all the way. Few Café’s and restaurants are closed due to the monsoon’s lesser footfall of tourists.
Palpung Sherabling monastery is located 6 km from the Tibetan colony area and takes 15 min to reach by car and 45 min by cycle. The Monastery comprises of two parts one is the study center of small monks which is the older section of the monastery. The older section has a temple in the middle where 2 storied indoor Buddha statue which is the main study area and prayer hall along with hostels surrounded all around and the inner ground is covered from the top. To reach here you need to the park car 500 mts away at the entry gate. Another part of the monastery is a new section that can be reached by the other side and further drive for 1 km or walk the internal trail for 500 mts.
The New wing of Palpung Sherabling Monastery Bhattu has a huge building with a prayer hall where Buddha huge indoor statue. This section is a study venture for younger kids and hostels for them. Palpung Sherabling Monastery Sheet shifted to Bhattu in 2014 from Tibet. You can visit these monasteries in monsoon, Please check with locals about the road as it pass through pine forest and closes sometime during monsoon.
Banghodhu Waterfall or Hidden Waterfall or Gunaid Waterfall or Bheem Pather Waterfall are the names of one particular waterfall located in Gunaid village 3 km from Bir. The Waterfall is located in the narrow gorge of water stream starting from Bheem Pather (a huge stone believed as placed by Mahabali Bheem). The Waterfall is huge and has cold water. To reach here need to drive for 7 km from the Paragliding landing area or 7 km from Camp Oak View and trek for 45 min in slippery boulders and cold water. Local guides are available (do negotiate with them) Waterfall is closed during monsoon due to the heavy flow of the stream and sometimes small floods in the stream make it unsafe, along with the trek to the waterfall has leaches which make it more uneasy.
Bungee Jumping and Sky cycling Point is located just at the start of waterfall trek, One can be experience activities during there visit towards waterfall. You can contact 8351012018 for booking these activities.
Baijnath Shiva Temple is 12 km from Bir and accessible throughout the year. Temple is 8th century old. You can visit Mahakal Temple, and Mukutnath temple as well which are also 7 km away from Baijnath.
Toy train ride is also closed during monsoon due to rail line being affected in the rainy season at many points, this year Monsoon 2023 Chakki bank bridge was damaged as also other points. So train operations are closed.
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