Billing is the meadow at 2,400 metres where paragliders launch their flights down to the landing field at Bir, 14 km below. Even if you have no intention of flying, the trip up is worthwhile: the views from the meadow are staggering, with the Dhauladhar peaks filling the northern horizon and the Kangra valley spread out to the south and west. Shared taxis leave from near the Emaho cafe in the Tibetan Colony around 9:30 a.m. and the drive takes about an hour on a steep, winding road.
At the top, tandem paragliding operators are always on hand for the half-hour flight back down to the Bir landing field — this is the standard introduction for visitors and needs no experience. Experienced pilots come from around the world for the thermal flying, which is among the finest in Asia. An elderly couple maintains a small teahouse at the meadow, serving tea, chapati, and eggs to pilots and spectators. On clearer days in autumn, the launch can be breathtaking with dozens of colourful wings in the air simultaneously.