Bir is a small mountain town in northern Himachal Pradesh with a large, well-established Tibetan community. Set against the backdrop of the Dhauladhar Range of the Indian Himalayas, the town is picturesque, but the rubbish strewn roadsides and waterways of the Tibetan Colony are an unfortunate contrast to its golden roofed temples. There is Indian farming community located in the hills behind the town.
Bir is a noted centre for spiritual studies and meditation and a popular destination for adventure sports such as paragliding and trekking. Bir is also home to a Tibetan refugee settlement with several Buddhist monasteries and a large stupa.
PLACE TO VISIT
Chökyi Lödro College of Dialectics - A center for higher Buddhist philosophical study with about 600 monks in nearby Chauntra.
Palpung Sherab Ling - A Kagyu Tibetan Buddhist Monastery located in woodland between Bir and Baijnath, headed by the 12th Tai Situ Rinpoche and also the home of Mingyur Rinpoche.
Chokling Gompa - is the monastery of Neten Chokling Rinpoche, a reincarnate lama in the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism and the director of the film Milarepa (2006). The Tibetan architecture and large stupa are the principal attractions for casual visitors. In addition to its ongoing programmes for its full-time monastic students, the monastery periodically hosts Buddhist ceremonies open to the public. There is a guest house and restaurant on the premises.
The Bir Tea Factory - is a longstanding Bir cooperative, which offers tours for those interested in the process of tea production.
The Bir-Billing - area is a popular destination for adventure travel, offering paragliding, hang-gliding, trekking and camping.
Paraglide - from the mountaintop at Billing, but if you take a tandem flight check that the pilot is carrying a reserve parachute & ask him to show you the age sticker of his glider, if it's more that 7 pr 8 years old, think again, there is no maintenance programme or safety check on the equipment
Shiva Temple – Located in nearby Baijnath and dating from 1204 CE, the temple is a beautiful example of the Nagara style of early medieval North Indian temple architecture. The temple is dedicated to Shiva as Vaidyanath, ‘the Lord of Physicians’. Said to be the location of one of the 12 jyotirlingas.
HOW TO REACH
By bus - Bir is about four hours from Dharamsala/Mcleod Ganj.
From Dharamsala: There are direct buses to Bir Road/Upper Bir leaving at 6am & 2pm from Lower D'sala. Or you can take a bus to Palampur, then to Baijnath. From Baijnath there are buses every half hour to Upper Bir - for Bir Colony ask them to drop you at Chowgan crossroads, then you have to walk about 1km. Or get off at Bir-road junction and get a taxi (Rs50-60).
From Delhi: From the Inter-state Bus Terminal (ISBT), take bus to either Baijnath or Bir Road - the latter is closer, but many buses only go as far as Baijnath. There are two overnight buses leaving Delhi. Both depart mid evening and arrive early morning.
By taxi - This is the most convenient way of getting to Bir from Pathankot (4 hours, Rs1700-1800) or Dharamsala (2 hours, Rs1000-1200).
Taxis from Bir Road (the final destination of long distance buses) to the main bazaar or Deer Park should not cost more than 60 to 70rs.
By toy train - There is a morning train from Pathankot to Ahju, which is only 3kms from Bir. Trains from Delhi arrive at Pathankot an hour before the toy train leaves. The ride is long, tiring and often crowded but the stunning scenery more than compensates for any inconveniences.
