Dharamshala: Paragliding activities at the world-famous site of Bir Billing, nestled in the foothills of the Dhauladhar range in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district, will remain completely suspended from July 15 to September 15 due to the upcoming monsoon season.
The administration’s decision is a precautionary measure taken to ensure the safety of both tourists and pilots. According to official sources on Sunday, weather conditions become highly unpredictable during the monsoon, bringing challenges such as heavy rains, strong winds, and poor visibility that significantly increase the risk of aerial accidents.
To mitigate these risks, the administration enforces this annual two-month suspension of paragliding operations. Under the issued directives, the ban will apply equally to both tandem and solo paragliding flights.
Officials have issued strict instructions to all registered paragliding associations and individual operators to recall all their pilots starting July 15 and completely suspend flight operations until September 15. Activities will only be permitted to resume once these restrictions are officially lifted.
Bir Billing is internationally recognized as one of the world’s leading paragliding destinations. The renowned site has hosted numerous national and international paragliding competitions, attracting thousands of adventure sports enthusiasts from India and abroad every year.
The take-off point in Billing is situated at an altitude of approximately 8,000 feet above sea level, located about 14 kilometers north of Bir. Meanwhile, the landing site in Bir is located at an altitude of around 4,500 feet. Beyond adventure tourism, the region is also known for eco-tourism, Buddhist monasteries, meditation centers, and spiritual sites.
According to Anurag Sharma, President of the Bir-Billing Paragliding Association and Rajya Sabha member, this two-month suspension will have a widespread impact on the local economy. Over 5,000 people in the valley depend directly or indirectly on tourism and paragliding-related activities.
The ban will affect the livelihood of around 250 local paragliding pilots. Additionally, nearly 100 taxi operators who transport tourists and pilots between Bir and Billing will remain without business during this period.
Officials clarified that this temporary suspension is a routine annual procedure, solely intended to prevent accidents during adverse weather and ensure visitor safety. Paragliding activities are expected to resume smoothly from September 15, subject to favorable weather conditions and necessary clearance from the district administration.
