Bir is back!

Greetings to all!

After the waning of the COVID pandemic at long last and an unusually mild winter, 2023 is off to a great start in Bir.

Most of the local businesses are open, and both Deer Park Institute and Dharmalaya Institute have a rich variety of programs coming up.

As the crowds return, please help Bir stay clean and green by minimizing the use of plastics and being responsible with your waste.

Thanks and have a great year!

Everyone Stay Safe!

It has been over a year since the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in India, and most of us know people who have died or been extremely ill. Our hearts go out to everyone who has faced suffering.

Here in the Bir area, we continue to see alarming spikes in COVID cases, so it’s clear that the pandemic is far from over. And many of the villagers in and around Bir are especially vulnerable because of already weakened immune systems, especially the elderly.

It's wise to wear a mask

It’s wise to wear a mask.

As we see many people understandably anxious to return to ‘life as normal’, and wanting to travel again, we just want to encourage everyone to be as careful as possible. If you can delay your travel until a large percentage of the population has been vaccinated, that is much, much better.

If you must travel, please take maximum precautions: wear your mask at all times, practice social distancing, wash frequently, etc.

We look forward to seeing everyone again after the majority of the population has been vaccinated and the very real danger of the pandemic has passed.

Meanwhile, stay safe!

Tribune Article on Plastic Dumping in Forests

Plastic junk littered in most forest areas can destroy the ecology of the hill state, even result in the death of wild animals, if the authorities concerned do not act now.

Heaps of plastic covers, mineral water bottles, chips packets and sweet foils are a common site in Palampur, Bir Billing, Jwalamukhi, Kangra, Baijnath,McLeodgunj and Dharamsala despite a ban on the sale and use of plastic imposed by the state. Most of the forest land and picnic spots are littered with plastic items and there is no one to remove these.

[Read the full article on the Tribune website here…]

A Renaissance of Vernacular Eco-Architecture

DharmalayaBir (HP) — India is playing host to the birth of a renaissance of vernacular eco-architecture. Hundreds of people of all ages and backgrounds are awakening to both the urgent socio-ecological crises of our time and the potential for us to find solutions in India’s own rural traditions.

Case in point: To preserve and advance the distinctive and beautiful forms of traditional earthen architecture of the Kangra District of Himachal Pradesh, the Dharmalaya Institute, in partnership with esteemed vernacular architect Didi Contractor, established a formal, academically-supervised Internship in Vernacular Eco-Architecture in May 2013.

Not quite two years later, the Dharmalaya Institute has grown to become one of the most popular vernacular architecture training centres in India and South Asia. Though it has not yet even completed the construction of its campus, it has already attracted scores of architects and civil engineers from across India, Europe, the Americas, and Australia, most of whom learned of the institute either through the recommendations of their architecture professors or by word of mouth spreading far and wide among the green-minded designers and builders of India and beyond.

› Read the rest of the story here

International Paragliding Competition at Bir-Billing Brings Both Cachet and Controversy

The Paragliding World Cup Association (PWCA) is organising a major international paragliding competition, labeled as a ‘Pre-World Cup’, in Bir on 24-30 October, after a five-year hiatus.

Urban Development Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Mr. Sudhir Sharma, who is also president of the Billing Paragliding Association, the official host of the event, projects that approximately 200 pilots will participate in the competition.

Both Indian and foreign pilots will compete, including some of the world’s top pilots. The first prize is set at Rs 2.5 lakh (approximately US $4000), with several other valuable prizes at stake, including a 23-carat gold medal for the winner.

While such a high-profile event brings cachet to the Bir-Billing area, it has stirred some controversy over concerns about the possibility of a few of the foreign participants staying in Tibetan homes instead of registered hotels. In years past, it has been common practice for some foreign visitors to rent rooms in the homes of both Indian and Tibetan families, which provides a more interesting cultural experience for the visitors, and is often the only option when all of the registered hotels and guest houses in Bir are fully booked, as is not infrequently the case during major events such as this competition.

Naturally, most of these visitors are unaware that there are regulations requiring all foreign guests to complete ‘C forms’ for overnight stays, and to register for ‘Protected Area Permits‘ when staying overnight in the Bir Tibetan Colony, because such regulations are not clearly posted, and the PAP is not required in most other areas in Himachal Pradesh. Thus, there is no dependable way for the foreign tourists to know in advance about these requirements. Also, Since Bir is not a border area or a strategically sensitive region, there is no obvious reason for the permit restrictions, leaving many tourists confused and frustrated.

It is also unclear why the Tibetans are singled out in the controversy. News media have cited ‘security concerns‘ but there have been no security incidents in Bir in the past, and no specific security threat has been named in the present, leaving many to believe the concern is baseless or even fabricated, and resulting in complaints from both local business proprietors and tourists.

In the eyes of some local residents and foreign visitors alike, this policy, which they view as overly and unnecessarily strict and discriminatory, is an embarrassment for both the HP government and the Indian government and damages Bir’s reputation. As one visitor observed, it would be simple enough to train the Tibetan hosts to use C forms and allow them to participate in Himachal’s family homestay programme in the same way that Indian families are allowed to do.

Whatever one’s opinion on that issue, it is obvious that a clearer and friendlier solution will be required for future international events, in order to preserve Bir’s attractive reputation as a relaxed and desirable destination for ecotourism. Local hoteliers and employees of the budding paragliding cottage industry are hoping the government will relax its overly restrictive policies to ensure that visitors to Bir will have a positive experience and the local ecotourism economy can continue to grow.

Protected Area Permit (PAP) Application Form for Bir Tibetan Colony

For the benefit of foreign (non-Indian) travelers wishing to stay overnight in the Tibetan Colony of Bir, we are posting a copy of the Protected Area Permit (PAP) Application Form that the Government of India requires you to complete and submit to the Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in order to receive the PAP, which allows you to stay overnight in the Tibetan Colony.

Please note that the PAP is required only in the case of overnight stays in the Bir Tibetan Colony by foreign citizens. It is not required for day trips to the Colony, nor is it required for visits or overnight stays in Bir proper (Upper Bir) or at the Dharmalaya Institute in Ghornala Village. Also, it is not required for citizens of India, Nepal, or Bhutan.

Download the PAP application.

(Thanks to SanghaSeva!)

Update on Protected Area Permits

We’ve received word that the Government of India has issued changes in policy regarding the requirement of Protected Area Permits (PAPs) in the Bir Tibetan Colony (and other Tibetan settlements, such as Chauntra).

Three key points:

  • Foreigners require a PAP only for overnight stays in the Bir Tibetan Colony (or other Tibetan settlements). No PAP is required for day visits to the Tibetan Colony (or, for example, Chauntra).
  • Foreigners only need a PAP if you are staying in the Tibetan Colony itself. If you are staying in an Indian area, such as an Indian hotel or guest house outside of the Tibetan Colony, for example in Chowgan or in Bir proper (“Upper Bir”), then no PAP is required.
  • If you are staying in Bir and visiting Chauntra you only need the PAP for Bir, not for Chauntra (and vice versa if you are staying in Chauntra and visiting Bir, you only need the PAP for Chauntra, not for Bir).

To apply for a permit for to stay in Bir Tibetan Colony, you need to apply at the District Commissioner’s office in Dharamshala.

Government declares Bir Tibetan Colony a “Protected Area”

For those who haven’t heard the news: The Government of India has recently classified the Bir Tibetan Colony as a “protected area.” Unfortunately, this means any foreigners wishing to visit the Bir Tibetan Colony for any reason must now obtain a Protected Area Permit (PAP) before arriving.

You can apply for the PAP in one of three ways:

  1. When you apply for your India visa
  2. At the Ministry of Home in New Delhi
  3. At the Foreigner’s Regional Registration Office in Dharamshala

Note that the PAP is needed only for the Bir Tibetan Colony in Chowgan, not for Bir proper (“Upper Bir”) or surrounding areas.

Paragliding Temporarily Banned in Bir-Billing: Pilots Protest

BIR, HP — The government of Himachal Pradesh has imposed a temporary ban on paragliding at the popular Bir-Billing site, 80km southeast of Dharamshala, claiming a need to keep the region secure during the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket matches in Dharamshala.

Paragliding enthusiasts and professional pilots alike have criticized the ban, saying it is unnecessary and harmful both to local business and to India’s chances in the upcoming  Asian Championship in China on 20 May.

According to the Times of India:

Flyers Gurpreet Dhindsa and Jyoti Thakur, who are to participate in the tournament, said: “This ban doesn’t make sense. A sport must not suffer due to another. We are here wasting crucial time, otherwise would have practiced our skills better.” However, the administration citied a different season saying the ban was due to arrival of VIPs. Kangra deputy commissioner R S Gupta said, “Paragliding has been restricted due to the IPL matches. Security measures are necessary as so many VIPs and VVIPs are scheduled to arrive.” The ban has also upset local flyers and tourists. “The tourist season has begun and the weather is suitable. We charge Rs 1,200 to Rs 2,000 from each customer, and we cannot go on with our business,” said an operator.

Bir-Billing is acknowledged as the best site in India for professional-level paragliding, and is regarded internationally as the second-best site in the world, second only to Lake Como in Italy. Paragliding enthusiasts travel to Bir from across the globe to enjoy the strong thermals and beautiful scenery.

Introduction to Jainism (March 2012)

WhatIntroduction to Jainism
When: 13-17 March 2012
Who: Samani Aagam Pragjna and Samani Rohit Pragya
Where: Deer Park Institute

Jainsim prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. It is one of the oldest Indian religions and has one of the richest heritages of learning and culture, together with a tradition of tolerance and synthesis. Jains have significantly influenced and contributed to ethical, political and economic spheres in India. As Jains have an ancient tradition of scholarship, they currently have the highest degree of literacy for a religious community in India and their libraries are the oldest in the country. Introduction to Jainism is presented by faculty members of Jain Vishva Bharati University in Ladnun, Rajasthan.

Read more at the Deer Park website ›