Category: Travel & Tourism
November is one of the best months of the year to paraglide at Bir Billing in Kangra district — clear post-monsoon skies, steady winds and strong, predictable thermals, with the snow-capped Dhauladhar range in view.
The site reopened on 16 September 2026 after the annual monsoon ban, when the Kangra district administration suspends all flying from 15 July to 15 September every year. October to November is widely considered the peak season, and the best months overall are October–November and March–June.
The flight
Bir Billing is a twin-location site. You take off from the Billing meadow at about 2,400 metres (8,020 feet) and land at Bir at about 1,400 metres (4,350 feet). The flight is a tandem flight — you fly with a certified, registered pilot, and no experience is needed.
A standard tandem flight lasts about 15 to 25 minutes and costs about ₹3,000 to ₹3,500 per person. A longer scenic flight of 30 to 45 minutes costs about ₹5,500 per person. Longer cross-country flights of 60 to 180 minutes cost much more — up to about ₹25,000 per person. Prices vary by operator, so confirm the current rate with your operator before paying.
A standard package generally covers the tandem flight with a certified pilot, a safety briefing and equipment (harness and helmet), and the jeep transfer from Bir up to Billing. GoPro video recording is included in higher-tier packages.
Rules and safety
Flying at Bir Billing is governed by the Himachal Pradesh Aero Sports Rules, 2022. Fly only with registered operators and pilots, and confirm the operator’s registration before paying.
Paragliding is weather-dependent. Flights can pause if the wind is bad, or if there is rain, snow, thunder or poor visibility, and resume once conditions are normal. November usually has many flyable days, but no operator can guarantee a flight on a given date.
How to reach
Bir is about 70 km from Dharamshala — a drive of about 2 to 2.5 hours. The nearest broad-gauge railway station is Pathankot, and the nearest airport is Kangra Airport at Gaggal.
The World Cup connection
Bir Billing gained international fame by hosting the Paragliding World Cup in 2015, and it is often described as one of the best paragliding sites in the world and the foremost in Asia. No World Cup event has been announced for 2026 — the Tourism Department has not initiated the process and no notification has been issued — so do not plan a trip expecting a World Cup this year.
Sources: travelbirbilling.com, updated 5 November 2026; birbillingparagliding.com, November 2026; stayvista.com, September 2026; dharamshalastay.com, updated 7 October 2026; Inshorts, 14 October 2026.
