An overnight journey away from Delhi, nestled in the beautiful district of Kangra in Himachal Pradesh, Biris by far one of the most underrated destinations of Himachal which can be easily accessed by the public. As Dharmshala, Mcloedganj and others alike get crowded day by day; Bir offers a small quaint town for a peaceful yet thrilling holiday. It is a melting pot of cultures and sceneries, from colorful Hindu temples to brightly yellow Tibetan gompas, from lush green tea gardens to faintly lit snow-covered peaks.
One of the biggest highlights of Bir is that it is considered the second-best spot for Paragliding in the world after Lake Como in Italy, it has hosted the Paragliding world championship in the past. A trip to Bir is incomplete without this experience, professional paragliders can fly solo and novices can fly in tandem with a guide. There is no dearth of cafes and restaurants to satisfy your taste buds, and the town is has a very welcoming vibe. If you are a fan of Tibetian food, Bir will not disappoint you. My host suggested me to take the toy train back to Kangra, it was an old steam-powered train and moved in a slow and steady pace to show me the mountains and meadows in a new light.
Jyotirmoy Gupta is a student of photography in Delhi’s Jamia Millia Islamia.