Snowfall at Bir-Billing

Bir Billing is renowned for its beauty, and paragliding adventure activity. It is best for paragliding in winter. and the view after a snowfall will make your day. You won't be able to describe that view. It appears like the mountain and earth are covered in silver.
 
Winters of Bir Billing is a great time to experience the region. Its geographical location makes it ideal for winters and even heavy snowfall. Bir and Billing are two places that are just 16 km from each other and located at different altitudes. Bir is 1350 meters above sea level, while Billing is at 2430 meters. Bir (Chaugan) is also known as a paragliding landing site, while Billing is known as the Paragliding take-off site.

You can rent taxis or other rented vehicles. Trekkers can begin trekking to Billing starting from Bir. The Billing is the best place to watch or enjoy snowfall. Paragliding in the winter season is a wonderful way to enjoy the stunning Bir Billing view.

Adventure Activity during the Snowfall Season in Bir billing

People who enjoy playing in the snow Bir Billing is the best place to experience snowfall in the winter season. You can enjoy snow along with paragliding. Watching mountains and trees from the sky without any window is really enjoyable.

The entire Dhauladhar range is covered in snow and looks like a white blanket of nature. Bir Billing snowfall offers a pleasant feeling. Winter brings a change to roads and mountains covered in snow. Bir is best visited in the winter season, from December to February.

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Bir and Billing

Bir and Billing is a beautiful place in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. This village is famous for its Buddhist monasteries and beautiful locations. Bir has Buddhist Monasteries that are worth visiting. The village of Bir is surrounded by tea gardens and many low hills and gentle valleys are ideal for this adventure sport. Approx. 2 km form Bir there is a place called Chaugan landing site and most tourist accommodations are available there. Tibetan Handicrafts also produced here. Visitors can also enjoy the purchase of authentic Tibetan handicrafts produced here.

Bir and Billing is surrounded by Dhauladhar hills. Bir and Billing in Kangra Valley of Himachal Pradesh is the most popular paragliding site in India. The site offers extremely good flying conditions during October-November and February-April. Himachal Pradesh is conducting Paragliding Pre World Cup of International level every year since 2002 at Bir and Billing  Billing is take of site its height is 2600 M. Bir is landing site its height is 2080 M. This site is regarded as among the best in the world for Paragliding. Billing up in the hills, 14 km from Bir, 24 km form Baijnath and approx. 40 km form Palampur. One of the best aero sport sites in the world. Bir and Billing offer great opportunities for high altitude and cross-country flying for a stretch that extends to 200 Kilometers. Billing gained its importance as it came to known as the best paragliding site in the state. On the top of Hill, it presents a panoramic view of the valley below.

This is one of the most beautiful hill able routes in the Kangra valley. Upto Bir town you can travel by any vehicle. The 14 km distance from bir to billing is actually a rock road. It is advisable that this distance be covered either by foot or by a vehicle it should be any 4 wheeler or 2 wheeler. At billing there is only a Guest house of the Forest Dept. being booked from bir in advance for over night stays. This place is the originating point for hang and para gliders. 

How to Reach Bir and Billing

One can reach Bir and Billing by Air,  By Train and By Bus.

1.) By Air:-

The nearest Airport to Bir and Billing is Gaggal airport in district Kangra, Himachal Pradesh.One can take flight from Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) to Gaggal airport.From Gaggal Airport you can reach Bir by bus or by Taxi. From Gaggal airport Bir is approx. 65 km.

2.) By Train:-

The Pathankot Railway Station is the nearest railway station to the Bir and Billing. The nearest railway station is Paprola-Baijnath. There is a  tor train from Pathankot to Paprola-Baijnath which runs on a narrow gauge railway line. Travellers can hire taxis from Paprola-Baijnath railway station to Bir. 

3.) By Bus:-

There are ordinary, semi deluxe or deluxe buses available from Delhi and other major towns of Himachal Pradesh to Dharamsala, Palampur, Baijnath, Jogindernagar or Mandi. Bir can be reached easily from all these towns by buses or taxi.

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Maha Shivratri

Maha Shivratri is a Hindu festival celebrated every year in reverence of Lord Shiva. The festival of Maha Shivaratri is celebrated with great pomp and enthusiasm all over the country. 

Shivaratri literally means the great night of Shiva or the night of Shiva. Falling on the 13th or the 14th day of the dark half of Hindu month of ‘Falgun’ which corresponds to the period between February & March, this festival is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Commemorating the marriage of Lord Shiva. 

The Shivratri festival is principally celebrated by offerings of Bael or Bilva/Vilvam leaves asnd water to Lord Shiva. All through the day the devotees, chant the sacred Mahamrityunjaya Mantra dedicated to Lord "Om Namah Shivaya". 

Mahamrityunjaya Mantra

Om tryambakaṃ yajāmahe sugandhiṃ puṣṭi-vardhanam

urvārukam iva bandhanān mṛtyormukṣīya māmṛtāt

त्रयम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् ।
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् म्रुत्योर्मुक्षिय मामृतात् ॥

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Baijnath

The main attraction of Baijnath is an ancient Shiva Temple. According to legend, it is believed that during the Treta Yuga, Ravana invincible powers have worshiped Lord Shiva in the Kailash. In the process, to please the powerful offered his ten heads in Havana kund. Under the affect of this extra ordinary fact of Ravana, Lord Shiva not only restored his heads, but also gave powers of invincibility and immortality.

In this unique gift, Ravana also requested Shiva to accompany him to Lanka. Shiva granted the request of Ravana and converted himself into Shivling.The Lord Shiva asked him to carry the Shivling and told him that he should not place the Shivling down on the ground on his way. Ravana began to move south towards Lanka and reached Baijnath where he felt the need to respond to the call of nature. On seeing a shepherd, Ravana handed over the Shivling to him and went to seek relief from it. On finding the Shivling very heavy, shepherd kept the ling on the ground and the Shivling got established there and the same is in the form of Ardhnarishwar (God in form of Half Male & Half Female).   

In the town of  Baijnath, Dussehra festival in which traditionally the effigy of Ravana is consigned to the flames is not celebrated as a mark of respect to the devotion of Ravana towards Lord Shiva. Another interesting aspect of the town of Baijnath is that there are no shops of goldsmiths.

History : The history of the ancient Temple of  Baijnath is confusing and the two long inscriptions on the walls of the mandapa of the temple gives us account of the temple. The temple was built in Saka 1126 (CE 1204) by two brothers Manyuka and Ahuka in devolution to Lord Vaidyanatha. The inscriptions tell us that a Shivling known as Vaidyanatha already existed in the same place, but was without a home so the present temple and a porch in its front was constructed. British archaeologist Alexander Cunningham has an enrollment of 1786 in the temple, referring to its renovations by King Sansara Chandra. An  inscription on the wooden doors of the sanctum of the temple provides the date as samvat 1840 (AD 1783) that is very near to  Cunningham’s date. The devastating earthquake that shook the entire region of Kangra, on April 4, 1905 also caused damage to the sanctuary, which has been informed by Mr. J. Ph. Vogel and has since been repaired. Today the temple is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India, but the performance of worship and rituals are conducted by a local council in Baijnath with SDM as its Chairman. The hereditary priests continue to receive a portion of the offerings.

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History Of Baijnath

Baijnath is a town in Kangra district of  Himachal Pradesh. It is approximately sixteen (16) kilometres from Palampur. Baijnath is famous for its 13th century temple dedicated to Lord Shiva as Vaidyanath, ‘The Lord of Physicians’. It is originally known as Kirgrama. The baijnath town lies on Pathankot-Manali highway NH - 20 (National Highway No. 20). It is midway between Kangra and Mandi. The present name Baijnath became popular after the name of the temple. The baijnath town is located on the left bank of the river Binwa. The name Binwa is a corrupt form of ancient Binduka, a tributary of river Beas. The Baijnath temple has been continuously under worship ever since its construction in 1204 A.D. by two local merchants named Ahuka and Manyuka.

Baijnath temple attracts a large number of tourists and pilgrims from all over the world throughout the year. Special prayers are offered in the morningtime and evening time every day besides on special occasions and during festive seasons. Makara Sankranti, Maha Shivaratri, Vaisakha Sankranti, Shravana Mondays, etc. are celebrated with great eagerness and brilliancy. A five day state level function is held here on Maha Shivratri every year.


Baijnath Temple :

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