Short answer: To reach Bir Billing, fly to Gaggal (Kangra) Airport, 68 km away, or take an overnight train to Pathankot (140 km) and a taxi up. Overnight Volvo buses from Delhi run to Bir or Baijnath. From Dharamshala, Bir is about 70 km (2 hours) and from Manali about 165 km via Mandi.
Bir is a small village tucked into the foothills, and it isn’t on a main highway or a big rail line. But it’s easy to reach once you know the options. Here they are, from fastest to cheapest.
By air: Gaggal (Kangra) Airport
The nearest airport is Gaggal (DHM), about 68 km from Bir, with flights mostly from Delhi. From the airport it is about 2 hours by road through Palampur and Baijnath.
- Gaggal Airport to Bir taxi: ₹816 sedan, ₹1,224 SUV
Flying with a paraglider? Most airlines accept it as checked baggage within weight limits; check with yours.
By train: Pathankot
The nearest broad-gauge station is Pathankot (or Chakki Bank), about 140 km away. Overnight trains from Delhi arrive early in the morning, and from there it’s about 4 hours by road.
- Pathankot to Bir taxi: ₹1,680 sedan
The Kangra Valley narrow-gauge railway has a station at Ahju, a few km below Bir. It’s a lovely slow ride, but services change, so treat it as an experience rather than a plan.
By bus
Overnight Volvo buses run from Delhi (Majnu ka Tilla and Kashmere Gate) to Bir, or to Baijnath, 14 km away. They’re popular with backpackers and pilots. From Baijnath, a local taxi or auto takes you up to Bir.
From nearby places by taxi
| From | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Dharamshala | ~70 km | 2 hr (fare) |
| McLeodganj | ~78 km | 2 hr 15 min |
| Palampur | ~35 km | 1 hr |
| Manali | ~165 km | 5–6 hr via Mandi |
| Chandigarh | ~250 km | 7 hr |
Bir vs Billing
Bir is the village where you stay and where gliders land. Billing is the take-off site, about 14 km up a narrow mountain road. Paragliding schools take you up as part of your flight, so you don’t need your own car for that.
Plan it
Our Bir Billing paragliding package includes transfers from Gaggal, Kangra or Pathankot, two nights in Bir and a tandem flight. For the flight itself, read Bir Billing paragliding price and season.
Quick questions
Which is the nearest airport to Bir Billing?
Gaggal (Kangra) Airport, about 68 km away. Bhuntar (Kullu) airport is about 130 km.
Which is the nearest railway station to Bir?
Pathankot (about 140 km) for broad-gauge trains. The narrow-gauge toy train stops at Ahju, a few km below Bir, but services vary.
Written by the team at Ankush Travels, a tour and taxi company in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. We run these routes every week. Spotted something out of date? Tell us on WhatsApp.