Bir is one of the most idyllic places for a holiday, a retreat, or an adventure in the Indian Himalayas. The greater Bir area offers a range of accommodation options, including some of the best ecotourism destinations in Himachal Pradesh. They are listed here grouped by area (see our Greater Bir Orientation to get your bearings):

• Tibetan Colony (at the west end of Chowgan village, down the hill to the south of Bir proper)
• Chowgan (the part of Chowgan village east of the Tibetan Colony, straddling the main, north-south Bir Road)
• Bir proper (Upper Bir)
• Other options in the vicinity of Bir

Hotels/Guesthouses in Bir Tibetan Colony

NOTE: Foreigners (anyone other than Indians, Tibetans, Nepalis, and Bhutanese) wishing to stay overnight in the Bir Tibetan Colony will need to apply for a Protected Area Permit (PAP) from the Indian Government. For information, see this page.

• Chokling Guesthouse: Near Chokling Monastery. Sixteen pleasant rooms (some nicer than others) with attached bathrooms and solar-heated showers. Reasonably quiet setting facing the impressive stupa of the monastery. Restaurant serves decent Tibetan food (and veg sushi) in a less chaotic setting than most eateries in the colony. Checkout: 12:00 noon  ☎ +91 88942-32589 or 88941-12325
• Dzongsar Guesthouse: An eight-room guesthouse near Deer Park with somewhat cavernous rooms (can be cold in winter). Sometimes has solar-heated water for showers. No restaurant on premises, but Chokling (above) is nearby.  ☎ +91 (1894) 251-787
• Emaho Guesthouse: Has a few rooms with attached bath. ☎ +91 (1894) 268-197 or 98162-12678
• Green Guest House & Hygienic Restaurant: Just down the road from Deer Park Institute. Email: greenhousebir@yahoo.com ☎ +91 94181-05045.
• Palden Guesthouse. Electric heated showers. Nice hostess and husband. Very clean. Fast food joint also with Wi-Fi facility.
• Paloma Guesthouse: Attached to Paloma Bistro, just east of the landing site. Has a few affordable rooms in a good location. Enquire at Paloma Bistro.
• Surya Classic: Modern budget hotel with 14 rooms with attached bath, 24-hour(ish) hot water, and Wi-Fi internet. ☎ +91 94180-46580

Hotels/Guesthouses in East Chowgan

• Bir Resort Hotel: An older place with 12 rooms, hot showers and a restaurant. Web: www.birresorthotel.com Email: birhotel@rediffmail.com ☎ +91 (1894) 268-367 or 98106-85753.
• Colonel’s Resort: The most upscale accommodation option in Chowgan, set amid tea gardens. The best rooms are in the newer wing and the cottages. Serves good food with good service. Well-suited for families, groups, and couples. Sometimes hosts student groups, which can be loud, so check in advance. Web: www.colonelsresort.com ☎ +91 98055-34220
• Sangrai Guesthouse: Nice, small, family-run place tucked off the main Colony Road amidst tea gardens and thus a bit quieter. ☎ +91 (1894) 268.669 or 94184.49669

Hotels/Guesthouses in Bir Proper (Upper Bir)

• Bhawani Guest House: A quiet place at the west end of Upper Bir with a ‘homely environment’. Has nine comfortable rooms with attached bathrooms and ’24-hour hot water’ (if there is such a thing in India). Serves Indian meals with advance order. Email: bgh.bir@gmail.com  ☎ + 91 (1894) 268025,  98574-60215, or 94180-15525

Elsewhere Around Bir

• Four Rooms Hotel: A small homestyle guest house in a renovated traditional home in Gunehar village (some distance east of Bir proper). Part of the same business as the Four Tables restaurant.
• Sherab Ling Monastery’s Guest House: Another nearby option is to stay at the very comfortable guest house at Sherab Ling Monastery. The facilities at the Sherab Ling guest house are some of the best in the greater Bir area, and it’s usually easy enough to arrange a taxi between Sherab Ling and Bir if the beautiful (long) walk through the forest doesn’t appeal. For details, see the web page of the Sherab Ling Guesthouse. (Note they may not answer their telephone, so you might have to go there in person to book.)

In the Palampur Area (About 1 Hour West of Bir by Car)

• The Mirage: ‘A Boutique Himalayan Homestay’ in the Andretta artists’ village. The Mirage is a traditional Himachali mud house lovingly restored as a luxury bed-and-breakfast with modern amenities. www.mirageandretta.com ☎ +91 (1894) 254.434
• Taragarh Palace Hotel: A luxury heritage hotel set in a picturesque residential estate nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas. The property belongs to the royal family of the erstwhile princely state of Jammu & Kashmir. www.taragarh.com

Did We Miss Anything?

If you’ve discovered another recommendable accommodation option in the Bir area, please post the details in the comments section below so we can add it to the list. Thanks!