Life is full of adventures. The unforeseen and mysterious wilderness of life makes it even more interesting. Ups and downs, smiles and tears, so much to experience and so much to enjoy. But destiny never ceases to be kind enough to give humans a multitude of opportunities to enjoy the sweet adversities of life that are not to be missed. Well, Paragliding is one such adventure sport one must experience at least once in a lifetime, and there are plenty of amazing places for paragliding in Himachal Pradesh.
The activity is spine-tingling yet super fun. It is a sports activity performed by a person or two after jumping from an aircraft or a high-altitude place wearing a wide rectangular parachute. It can be performed solo or duo with a trainer or a friend. If you are a newbie courageous enough to partake in paragliding. In that case, you must go for a duo under proper guidance without hesitation, and a pro can go for solo paragliding too.
Why Paragliding Is So Famous In Tourist
For Indian and foreign tourists, paragliding in Himachal Pradesh is a dream. Himachal Pradesh is a serene place with lovely views and is home to various paragliding spots in the Himalayas. All of these spots provide an amazing experience but Bir Billing and Solang Valley attract most of the tourists’ hearts, as the Himalayan Paragliding Event took place in Bir Billing. Gliding time may differ from spot to spot. Let’s move on to the best spots for paragliding in Himachal Pradesh:
1. Bir Billing
Bir Billing, a beautiful place and paragliding capital of India that lies in Kangra District, Himachal Pradesh. It is one of the top paragliding sites in the world and is considered the best place for paragliding in Himachal Pradesh. All adventure lovers can visit this spot for paragliding, you will take off from a 2400m high starting point and end up landing 14 km south at the edge of Tibetan Colony in Chowgan, Bir.
This spot remains open for most of the year(Mid September – July), you can visit any time during this period to enjoy paragliding. The flying duration is between 15-20 minutes and the total time required including waiting is 2-3 hours. The entry fee starts around Rs 2800 for a normal 15-20 min flight and is higher for a longer flight. After paragliding, you can also engage in activities like Trekking, Camping, Shopping, Travelling on the toy train, and visiting the beautiful places in Bir.
2. Solang Valley
Solang Valley aka the “Snow Valley” is situated 14km northwest of Manali, which is a rather short drive. It has numerous sports activities, including paragliding, it is simply a paradise for all adventure seekers out there. You can visit here with a group of friends or family to have a thrilling weekend trip, the daring leap from a high altitude point and landing after enjoying those breathtaking landscapes and then discussing it with your close ones, an exciting scenario, isn’t it?
The charges are Rs 1000 and above for paragliding in Solang Valley in Himachal Pradesh. The place is generally closed during the monsoon season, and the best time to visit varies on the seasons like October to December for a cold and breezy experience with the view of snow cornices and open sky. Timings for the place are 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM, you must leave early morning to get free soon and enjoy the rest of the trip.
Also Read:- Most Exciting Places To Visit In Himachal In December
3. Khajjiar
Khajjiar is a peaceful hill station in Himachal Pradesh famous for its lush greenery and stress-busting view of the wide grasslands and snow-capped mountains. It is just a few kilometres away from Dalhousie. Khajjiar was named “Mini Switzerland” by the Vice-Counsellor of Switzerland on 7 July 1992, as it resembles the topography of the country. There are a lot of beautiful places to visit in Khajjiar, but it is also a great site for paragliding.
The charges are Rs 1500 and above for paragliding, and a 2-day weekend trip will cost you around Rs 3500. The best months to visit are September to November, January, and June, as the weather is ideal for paragliding and the timings are 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Keep in mind to have proper clothing according to the weather conditions and you are good to go.
4. Rohtang Pass
Rohtang Pass or Rohtang La is a high-altitude mountain pass situated at the height of 3,980 meters and just 51 kilometers away from Manali. Due to its sky height, it is quite an attraction among tourists for paragliding in Himachal Pradesh.
The charges for this place are 2500 for a normal fly (10-15 min) and higher for a longer fly. The timings are 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. You can easily reach the fly point while enjoying the breathtaking landscapes on the way.
Also Read:- Best Hill Stations In Himachal Pradesh For a Perfect Winter Holidays
5. Kullu
One of the most popular hill stations in Himachal, Kullu is situated at an altitude of 6300 feet above sea level. Not only it is a delight to the eye but also an enthralling spot of paragliding in Himachal Pradesh. While in the air you can enjoy the picturesque glances of the Pir Pranjal range, The beautiful Kullu valley, the Pong Dam and the Dhauladhar range.
The duration of paragliding is ten minutes in the air after which the final landing is made in the beautiful Solang valley. The paragliding spot is located in Gulaba, Kullu valley and the timings start from 11 in the morning to 6 in the evening. The charge for paragliding is approximately 3000 rupees.
6. Manali
Any discussion on some best places to visit in Himachal Pradesh is absolutely incomplete without mentioning Manali on the bucket list. Manali is both a popular as well as a populous town in HP with beautiful Tibetan markets parallelly housing several beautiful temples. The town in itself is a wonderful spot to explore while it also hosts an adventurous tour of the skies. Dhobi, the start of the flight, is situated almost 8000 feet above sea level.
During this chilling experience of paragliding, you will also see some upright peaks of the Himalayan Range and a glimpse of the greenery of the Kullu valley and Beas River. Paragliding charges are 3000 Rupees per person, and the activity timings are 9 in the morning to 4 in the evening.
Also Read:- Stunning and Surreal Landscapes of Chamba
Best Time To Visit For Paragliding In Himachal Pradesh
Except for July to September, any time would be the best time to visit and enjoy paragliding in Himachal Pradesh. Every month has its own charm, the most favorable months to visit Himachal for a perfect paragliding tour are March – June in summer and September – January in winter. In any of these months, a solo trip or with family/friends would be a thrilling experience lasting a lifetime.
Be Prepared Before Undergoing Paragliding
Paragliding is not a simple activity. There are many thing which should be considered before going for this activity. Many criteria are there which have to be followed. Paragliding is a very furious and thrilling activity and anybody can’t do this, so it is very important that you match all there criteria to experience this adventure. There are various things to remember and be prepared for before paragliding in Himachal Pradesh which is as follows:
Age Limit:- You must lie under the specified age limit before paragliding in Himachal Pradesh. In Manali, anyone above 14 years and below 45 years, and on the rest of the spots, anyone of age between 16 – 45 years can try paragliding.
Note: The paragliding charges may differ according to the age group.
Attire:- Ensure that your clothes are neither so tight nor so heavy, as it may cause some hindrance in paragliding. You must wear some light layers of clothes and a wind protector, as it won’t cause any hindrance with the paragliding gear and will protect you from the cold wind while paragliding.
Weight Limitation:- There are weight limitations in paragliding that range from 80 – 95 kgs, including the weight of clothes. The maximum limit with high-quality strong gears is up to 105 kgs.
Things To Remember While Going Paragliding In Himachal Pradesh
- Do not open the parachute while still at the take-off point.
- Your clothes must be warm enough to protect you from the freezing winds while paragliding.
- You must wear non-slippery shoes.
Paragliding is one of the most thrilling adventures that offers a breathtaking experience. If you are one of those adventure seeker, than you must like this blog. In this blog, we have given all the information related to Paragliding and what should you know before doing this adventure. It is very important that you have all the information before going for paragliding. I hope this blog helped you about all the great paragliding sites and the important things to know before paragliding.