Bir is an emerging tourist destination and is now considered as a hub for ecotourism, meditation and spiritual studies for Buddhists. It is located in the Kangra district near the Joginder Nagar Valley. In Bir, there are many Buddhist monasteries which attract people from all around the country due to their spiritual prominence. Historically speaking, Bir was ruled by Pal dynasty of Chandravanshi lineage.
There are many institutions and attractions in the village which attracts a lot of tourists and knowledge seekers from different parts of India as well as abroad. The Deer Park Institute is a centre for studying classical Indian wisdom and traditions, then there is Dharmalaya Institute which is an eco-campus for contemplative practice and service-learning and is opted by many wanderers.
Chokling Gompa and a large stupa are some of the major attractions of the village. The main adventure activity which is a highlight of the village is Para-gliding. People come from different places to experience the fun-filled adventurous activity along with camping. The main season of flying is from September to October which can be further extended to November.
History of Bir
Historically, it is believed that Bir was ruled by the Pal dynasty. The kings from this dynasty belonged to the Chandravanshi lineage. The last Raja from this dynasty was Raizada Prithi Pal. He was considered as the descendant of the Rajas of Bhangahal. However, he was murdered by his own father in law in 1728 and all his land was seized by his father in law. After he was killed, the king did give him a proper funeral.
Major Attractions in and Around Bir
1. Paragliding in Bir Billing
This place is also known as heaven for adventure-seekers. It attracts a lot of people from all over the world who love extreme sports such as paragliding. Thus, no doubt that you would be finding this place quite a great option to travel to and spend some real quality time with your loved ones.
2. Bir Road
Bir Road is quite a great place which you would find to spend your time in Bir. This is a great place for shopping around, exploring as well as discovering new things. If you are someone who likes some chaos then this is the place which you must not skip.
3. Tibetan Colony
This place is very famous for a number of handicrafts as well as local Tibetan food. Thus, if you have any interest in such items then now you know where you must be heading to!
4. Sherab Ling Monastery
The monastery is quite a wonderful place to visit around with your loved ones. Due to its religious significance, it sees a great number of tourists flocking here all year round.
5. Deer Park Institute
This place is a centre for the study of classical Indian wisdom traditions where you can enroll in various programs, fundamentally on meditation, philosophy, art, and culture.
How to Reach Bir
By Air
The nearest airport is Kangra Airport which is situated at a distance of around 67 km. From there, you will have to either take a taxi or any other public transportation.
By Road
There are regular buses which operate on a daily basis. And in an overall manner, the connectivity via road network is quite good. Thus, you can consider taking a cab or your own vehicle as well.
By Train
For travelling via train, there is no direct connectivity via rail network. The nearest broad gauge station is located in Pathankot which is situated at a distance of around 112 km. After deboarding at the station, you will need to cover the remaining distance by some means of public transportation.
You can plan your trip and create your own route to the city with Adotrip’s technically driven circuit planner. Click here
