Aptly called the paragliding capital of India, Billing is a majestic mountainous terrain located in Himachal Pradesh in North India. Nestled within Dhauladhar ranges and laced with lush tea gardens, Billing is a vast pasture land jointly famous with Bir (around 14 km. away) as ‘Bir-Billing area’. The panoramic view is of the high peaks in the north is complemented by undulating plains in the south. The prime attractions of Billing include its aero sports programs like paragliding and parasailing. Billing acts as the starting point for these sports while Bir acts as the landing ground. Apart from adventurers, Billing is also visited by nature lovers and people who want complete seclusion from city life.
Located in the Kangra District, Billing enjoys the elevation of around 2,400 m. above sea level. The population consists mainly of agricultural farmers and Tibetan refugees. Winters in the region can be extremely cold. However, recently the international population is cropping up as students of meditation and philosophy, paragliders and other adventure loving youths frequently throng the place. Billing hosted the first ever paragliding competition with the assistance of the Federation Aeronautique Internationale. With updated tourist information, you can attend one such competition or event. Billing is an internationally known name for its paragliding circuits and you can find further details in this travel guide.
Billing has decent eateries serving delightful local cuisine. The place has many tea and coffee stalls here and there. Closely resembling north Indian cuisine, the foods available here are rich in proteins and carbohydrates. The main meal components are rice and pulses with vegetable curries. For non-vegetarian menu, meat comes as the first choice. Snacks include patande (wheat pancake) and sidu (eaten with ghee). Four Tables, Bhawani Guesthouse, Norling and Buckstars Coffee Shop are some good eating places.
The Bir Tibetan colony has shops selling everyday goods, books, textiles and jewellery shops. Organic food items and fresh fruits and vegetables can be purchased from the bazaars.
After sightseeing in Billing, tourists usually visit the nearby places to get more of this beautiful Himachali region:
- Bir (about 14 km.): This picturesque village is situated south to Billing and is a noted destination for paragliding enthusiasts. The village has a prominent Tibetan village and some worthwhile tourist places like the Deer Park Institute, the Dharmalaya Institute, Bir tea factory, Chokling Gompa Monastery and tracks of lands for activities like paragliding, trekking, hang-gliding and camping.
- Baijnath (about 24 km.): This town is particularly famous for the ancient temple of Lord Shiva, which is believed to be one of the twelve jyotirlingas. Mukut Nath Temple and Mahankal Temple are equally popular pilgrim centres of the town. Backdrop of Dhauladhar Range and mountain streams make an ethereal combination.
- Dharamshala (about 84 km.): There are many notable temples, monasteries and nature’s hotspots in Dharamshala like Masroor, Bhagsunag Temple, Art Gallery, Dal Lake, Kangra Museum, Chamunda Temple, Triund, Kunal Pathri Temple etc.
- Palampur (about 41 km.): Palampur is beautifully surrounded by pine trees and tea gardens. This hill station has several places of interest like Neugal Café, Sourabh Van Vihar, Andretta Village, Mata Bandla Devi’s Temple and Devi Latti Jakhni’s Temple.