How to Get Here

Note: When travelling to Bir by taxi or bus, ask for BIR COLONY - otherwise you may end up in Upper Bir, an Indian village 2km north of here. For detailed directions, see the map on 'location' page.

From outside India:

Most international flights arrive in New Delhi. For Mumbai (Bombay) arrivals, transit to Delhi by domestic flight or train, or take a train direct to Pathankot/Chakki Bank, then follow the directions below.

From Delhi to Bir

1. Bus:

a) There are overnight buses from New Delhi to Baijnath leaving daily between 5pm and 8pm ('semi-deluxe' buses cost Rs.300-400, 'deluxe' around Rs.700). They depart from the Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT) near Kashmiri Gate; some also pick up in the Tibetan colony Majnu-ka-tilla in north Delhi. Tickets can be booked in advance at the bus station - ask at the Himachal Transport or Harayana Roadways counters in the ticket hall. The overnight journey takes approximately 12-13 hours, arriving in Baijnath in the early morning. Bir Colony is 20 minutes by taxi from the bus station (approx Rs.150).

b) If you want to visit Dharamsala/Mcleod Ganj first, there are many overnight buses from Delhi (12-14 hours; fares range from Rs.400-800). Government buses leave from ISBT (as above). Private buses leave from near Paharganj Main Bazaar and pick up in Majnu-ka-tilla; tickets can be booked through travel agents in both these places.

2. Train:

There are several daily overnight trains from Delhi to Pathankot/Chakki Bank. Timetables and fares can be checked on www.indianrail.gov.in. Bir is then a 4-hour taxi ride from Pathankot (approx Rs.1700 - contact Deer Park if you need help with booking taxis). This is a good way to travel with a companion, and it is easier to sleep on the train than on the bus.

3. Air:

There is a daily flight service from New Delhi to Dharamsala (Gaggal-Kangra Airport) operated by Air Kingfisher (www.flykingfisher.com). Bir Colony is 2 hours by taxi from the airport. Please note that these flights are sometimes cancelled due to adverse weather conditions or underbooking.

From Mcleod Ganj/Dharamsala to Bir
Taxis take about 2 hours. Fares are subject to frequent revision - check with Mcleod/Dharamsala Taxi Union for the latest.

There is a direct local bus to Bir from Lower Dharamsala at around 1-2pm every day, operated by Anurag Travels (3-4 hours). Please confirm with the bus terminal because this information is subject to change. Otherwise, change at Palampur and/or Baijnath. From Baijnath there are frequent local buses to Upper Bir - ask them to drop you at Chowgan crossroads, from where it is a 1km walk to Bir Tibetan Colony. Local buses bound for Jogindernagar or Mandi/Kullu can also drop you at Bir Road junction, from where you can get a taxi to Deer Park (Rs.50-60)

From elsewhere in India

Transit via Delhi or Pathankot, then follow the instructions above.