Bir, Himachal Pradesh
Bir, Himachal Pradesh
Bir बीड · بیڑ | |
|---|---|
village |
Bir ([बीड Bīṛ] Error: {{Lang-xx}}: text has italic markup (help), [بیڑ Bīr] Error: {{Lang-xx}}: text has italic markup (help)) is a village located in the west of the state of Himachal Pradesh in northern India.
Bir is a noted centre for spiritual studies and meditation[1][2] and a popular destination for adventure sports such as paragliding and trekking. Bir is also home to a Tibetan refugee settlement with several Buddhist monasteries and a large stupa.
Geography
Bir is located at 32°03′N 76°42′E / 32.05°N 76.70°E in the Tehsil (administrative subdivision) of Baijnath, in the District of Kangra, in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.
It is situated approximately 50 km (31 miles) southeast of Dharamshala at a distance of two to three hours by road. It is 14 km south of Billing, which lies on the way to the Thamsar Pass leading to Bara Bhangal.
Geologically, Bir is situated in the Dhauladhar Range of the foothills of the Indian Himalayas.
The nearest railway station is Ahju, on the narrow-gauge line running between Pathankot and Jogindernagar via Kangra.
Road access to Bir is from the Bir Road turnoff (signposted) on NH20, approximately midway between Baijnath and Jogindernagar.
Population
The population of Bir is primarily Indian agriculturalists. There is also a sizable community of Tibetan refugees in the Bir Tibetan Colony (see below) and a small community of international expatriates and long-term visitors.
Prominent Institutions and Attractions
There are several institutions in Bir that attract students, tourists, volunteers and other visitors from around India and from abroad:
The Deer Park Institute is a 'centre for the study of classical Indian wisdom traditions' established by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche in March 2006 under the patronage of the Dalai Lama[3]. The Institute hosts frequent guest lectures and workshops with reputed scholars and meditation teachers.
Dharmalaya is an Indian charitable society (NGO) 'devoted to education, service, and compassionate living, with a practical focus on sustainable village development, service-learning, and preservation of traditional wisdom' [4][5]. Dharmalaya provides opportunities for long-term volunteers and meditation students to do karma yoga (mindful service work with an unselfish, altruistic intention) for various charitable projects to benefit the local community and the natural environment[6].
Chokling Gompa is the monastery of Neten Chokling Rinpoche, a reincarnate lama in the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism and the director of the film Milarepa (2006). The Tibetan architecture and large stupa are the principal attractions for casual visitors. In addition to its ongoing programmes for its full-time monastic students, the monastery periodically hosts Buddhist ceremonies open to the public. There is a guest house and restaurant on the premises.
The Bir Tea Factory is a longstanding Bir cooperative, which offers tours for those interested in the process of tea production.
The Bir-Billing area is a popular destination for adventure travel, offering paragliding, hang-gliding, trekking and camping.
Paragliding
The Bir-Billing area is noted as a popular site for paraglider pilots, both Indians and visitors from all over the world. The flying season is from September to November, with some flying also done in October. The village continues to host periodic international competitions and events. The paragliding launch site is in the meadow at Billing (14 km north of Bir), at an elevation of approximately 2400 metres (7874 feet), while the landing site and most tourist accommodations are in the village of Chowgan (also spelled Chaugan), on the southern edge of Bir.
Bir Tibetan Colony
Bir Tibetan Colony is a Tibetan refugee settlement located in the village of Chowgan on the southwestern edge of the village of Bir.
Bir Tibetan Colony was established in the early 1960s following the exile of the Dalai Lama and other Tibetans from Tibet.
Bir Tibetan Colony houses several Tibetan monasteries (representing the Nyingma, Kagyu, and Sakya traditions), a Tibetan handicraft center, a Tibetan Children's Village school (Suja), a branch of the Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute (Men-Tsee-Khang), a medical clinic, and the Deer Park Institute.
See the full Wikipedia article on Bir Tibetan Colony for further information.
In popular culture
Bir was the setting for Khyentse Norbu's first feature film, The Cup (Phörpa) (1999), which was based on events that took place in Bir during the 1998 World Cup final and was shot on location in Bir[7].
References
- ^ http://www.deerpark.in/programs.html
- ^ http://www.dharmalaya.in/ashram
- ^ http://www.deerpark.in
- ^ http://www.dharmalaya.in
- ^ http://www.earthville.org/news/2009/DharmalayaSprouts.html
- ^ http://www.dharmalaya.in/ashram/volunteering.html
- ^ http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,411452,00.html