Bir

Bir is a rural village in the west of the Joginder Nagar valley in Kangra district, at about 1,525 m. Paragliders who take off from Billing land here. It is also the heart of the Bir Tibetan Colony, set up in the early 1960s for refugees after the 1959 uprising. Chokling Monastery, Palpung Sherabling Monastery and a number of smaller gompas give it a calm, spiritual feel. Tea gardens, orchards and small trails run through the area. A cafe and co-working scene has grown up around the main road. You find long-stay travellers, yoga classes and Tibetan food in the guesthouses. Adventure options include tandem paragliding, trekking and mountain biking. Spring and autumn are the best seasons. The monsoon from July to September is wet, and winter evenings are cool. You can reach Bir by bus or taxi from Baijnath, Palampur or Dharamshala. Three days lets you see the monasteries, try a paraglide and make a relaxed trip to the Billing meadow.