From Wikitravel

Bir is a town in Himachal Pradesh with a large Tibetan (Khampa) community.

[edit] Understand

Bir is a small mountain village in northern Himachal Pradesh with a large, well-established Tibetan community.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By bus

Bir is two-and-a-half to three hours from Dharamsala.

Either take a direct bus from lower Dharamsala bus station or, at the same station, take a bus to Palampur, then to Baijnath, then to Bir-road. From there, take a bus or taxi to "Bir Tibetan Colony".

[edit] Get around

Sherab Ling is a one-and-a-half hour walk from the town.

Upper Bir (or Indian Bir as it is often referred) is within walking distance of the Tibetan community.

[edit][add listing] See

• Dzongsar Institute. A Buddhist college with several thousand monks.

• Sherab Ling. A Kagyu Monastery headed by Tai Situpa Rinpoche, located in woodland.

• River pools in Upper Bir.

• Teagardens.

[edit][add listing] Do

• Paraglide from the mountaintop at Billing.

[edit] Learn

• Buddhism. Deer Park Institute [1] (located in the Dzongsar Institute campus) offers courses and workshops to explore various aspects of the Dharma. All classes are taught in English.

[edit][add listing] Buy

Every day shopping can be done in Bir Tibetan Colony. In upper Bir you'll find a post-office. In nearby Chauntra you can shop for basic kitchenware. In Joginder Nagar and Bajnath are a few pharmacies, hardware stores, shops with decorative items, drugstores, shops with basic domestic appliances. For more choice in clothing and appliances and for garden centres go to Palampur. Go to Dharamsala to buy books, Kashmir shawls and silver jewelry, Tibetan religious items, cheese, curd, pies, ice-cream, pasta, pizza, salads, french fries and sandwiches.

[edit][add listing] Eat

Emaho Cafe offers a wide variety of dishes and a terrace to enjoy them. Another possibility is "Friends' Cafe", although their menu promises more variety than they actually can offer. Try Gang-Chen Cafe on the second floor above the bank.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Buckstars Coffee Shop for gourmet coffee, tea and muffins.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Budget

• Dzongsar Guesthouse, ☎ +91 (1894) 251-665; 251-787. An eight room guest house. Big, cold rooms - sometimes solar heated water for showers. No restaurant Rs.150 for double bed room, Rs.100 for single bed room.  edit
• Chokling Guesthouse, ☎ +91 (1894) 268-334; 94180 17934. Pleasant rooms. Sometimes solar heated showers. Many guests have had complaints about the noise from disco-music and motorbike-roaring by. Restaurant facilities, but very slow Rs.250 for double bed room, Rs.200 for single bed room.  edit
• Emaho Guesthouse, ☎ +91 (1894) 268-197; 9816212678 (TseringGyaltsen@rediffmail.com). Very simple but cheap. Laundry service, also for non-guests, Cold water showers. Best restaurant facilities in town Rs.160 for double bed room, Rs.80 for single bed room.  edit
• Palden Guesthouse, ☎ +91 (1894) 268-544; 9418088251 (Norlingartgallery@yahoo.com). Electric heated showers. Nice hostess and husband. Very clean. Rs.250 for double bed room, Rs.200 for single bed room.  edit
• Bir Resort Hotel, ☎ +91 (1894) 268-367; 9810685753 (birhotel@rediffmail.com). Electric heated showers.Restaurant facilities,12 bedrooms,www.birresorthotel.com. Rs.400 for double bedrooms.  edit

[edit] Stay healthy

Do not drink water from the jugs in any place. Not only is the water not boiled, this water does also not come straight from the tap. Check the date on the bottles of soft drinks in all places, including shops.

• Tibetan government clinic (regular medicine)(low-price vaccinations, e.g. Hepatitis B).

• Tibetan Men-Tse Kang (traditional Tibetan medicine).

• Homeopathic clinic, veterinary clinic (extremely cheap), Western medical clinic (low-price vaccinations, e.g. rabies, tetanus), Upper Bir.

• Government doctor> cross-roads to Chowntra.

[edit] Get out

• Bir is two-and-a-half to three hours from Dharamsala.

• Shiva Temple – very old and beautiful, in nearby Baijnath

• Tashi Jong – another Tibetan settlement with a monastery and temple

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