PARAGLIDING AT BIR AND BILLING

It’s a bird! It’s a kite! No! It’s a glider circling the sky like a colourful hawk.

We all wanted to fly at least once when we were wide-eyed, innocent children. But alas! Gravity played villain and we were stranded on the ground. But is it really so? Do you think it’s really not possible to rise up amongst the mountains and soar above the earth?

And no we are not talking about plane hopping and taking a window seat.

We are stating that it is indeed possible to glide with the birds, while the earth becomes beautiful jade scenery. We are telling you that it is plausible to have a bird’s eye view of the earth and hence attaining a new perspective in life.

Here, at Bir and Billing in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, you get a chance to defy gravity and get your adrenaline pumping. Bir is a small hamlet 35km from Palampur, which also claims to be one of the finest destinations for paragliding in the world. Providing mileage to this tall claim is the 2,300m take-off point which has a panoramic view of a beautiful plain before it.

Bir is known for its Tibetan Colony which was a refugee camp during the 1963 invasion of China into Tibet. The place is swarming with Tibetan handicraft and culture. Apart from attracting paragliders, Bir is also renowned for the many monasteries situated here. Chokling Monastery and Palping Sherabling Monastery are the most famous here. You can

see the meditating practices of the monks here as well as bite into authentic Tibetan delicacies.

Billing is a further 14km from Bir, but is usually traversed via a glider! As one circles over the valley he/she can have a 360 degree view of the tea plantations at Billing. The low hills surrounded by snow capped, glistening mountains forms an ideal and picturesque setting for the para-gliders.

HOW TO GET THERE

Around 500km from the capital, New Delhi, Bir can easily be approached by road. If you aren’t stingy with your time you can take the Kangra Valley toy train, which will drop you to a small village called Ahju. This train runs at a snail pace giving you ample amount of time to soak in the scenery. There are also frequent buses that run from all major cities and towns which will drop you to Bir.

BEST TIME

Voted as one of the best destinations for paragliding in the world, it is fast becoming a tourist hotspot. People who want a little more than gazing at the pine trees divert their footsteps to this little hamlet. The Himachal Pradesh Tourism has also started setting up tented colonies in the months of May and June which are the best for this adventure sport.

October and November are also amiable for taking on the winds using a glider.

PARAGLIDING

Rohtang pass is where most people would point towards if you ask for adventure sports or paragliding. But stop and take our advice and re-route your journey to the small and little known villages of Bir and Billing instead. Here you will find provisions by several agencies for this sport.

First timers don’t worry; you don’t have to worry about being novices at this daring sport. Though several camps provide lessons which span some weeks, you can still feel the wind whip your face as you circle the skies overlooking the valleys below. All you need to do is tag along on to a tandem glider where a professional takes you along for a flight. For the more seasoned gliders there is news for you; the Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Government of Himachal Pradesh organizes the ‘Para Gliding Pre-World Cup’ at Billing in the month of October. From amateurs become professionals by winning laurels in these

competitions. Hand-gliding and parasailing are also some adventure sports that you must give a try.

SAFETY FIRST!

Though a thoroughly enjoyable activity, paragliding is worth boasting about amongst your acquaintances, but the priority should be your safety. You need to be there to soak in the adulation, right? So before taking off from the beautiful Bir keep some essential points in mind-

Weather at high altitudes is never certain, so it is strictly advised to don your parachutes only in amiable weather. Ask the instructors about optimum conditions like strong thermals, a fairly cloudless sky, minimal chances of rain, etc.

Superman never flied drunk! Neither should you. Sublime alertness and response time are necessary if you plan to take on the skies, so don't attempt this adventure sport while you are tipsy or under any medication that makes you drowsy. Also you should be fit as a fiddle i.e. if you are suffering from any illness or any medical conditions such as hyper tension you should refrain from paragliding.

We know the scenes are breathtaking while you glide over the stupendous valleys and it's hard to tear your eyes from the views below. But you might miss the power lines from a distance and will not have the time to recover when you rapidly approach them while landing.

The numerous flight instructors and the tandem gliders indeed know what they are doing. But you should know that age sticker of their gliders should not be older than seven- eight years. Also make sure that he is carrying an extra parachute.

LODGINGS

The options for accommodations are pretty reasonable in and around Bir, you can get a single occupancy room for as less as Rs.200 but there aren't plenty of them. There are also dharamshalas and monasteries where you can stay the night for free while enjoying the traditional fare and meditation practices.