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353:: In 1966 the third Neten Chokling (1928-1973), an incarnate lama of the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, brought his family and a small entourage to Bir. With the help of foreign aid, Neten Chokling purchased over 200 acres of land and established a Tibetan settlement where 300 Tibetan families were given land to build houses. At this time Chokling Rinpoche also started building a new Neten monastery in Bir and disciples who had followed him to India formed its first
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357:. When the third Chokling Rinpoche died in 1973, his eldest son, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche (born 1951), assumed responsibility for completing his father's vision. The fourth Neten Chokling incarnation was born in 1973 in Bhutan and was brought to Bir at a young age where the family of the third Chokling took him under their wings. In 2004 full responsibility for
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471:) "devoted to education, service, and compassionate living, with a practical focus on sustainable village development, contemplative service-learning, and immersive ecotourism". Visitors must contact them via the website before visiting, as they are sometimes closed to visitors for silent retreats and special programmes.
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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.
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The paragliding launch site is in the meadow at
Billing (14 km north of Bir), at an elevation of 2400 meters, while the landing site and most tourist accommodations are in the village of Chowgan (also spelled Chaugan), on the southern edge of Bir.
39:
520:; both Indians and visitors come from all over the world. The flying season is in September and October, with some flying in November. The village hosts international competitions and events.
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The village of
Ghornala is the location of the Dharmalaya Institute, a Sikh retreat centre, several homestays and camps, and a few cottages. It is about midway between Bir and Sansal.
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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.
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Bir
Tibetan Colony houses several Tibetan monasteries (representing the Nyingma, Kagyu, and Sakya traditions), a Tibetan handicraft centre, a
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There are several institutions in Bir that attract students, tourists, volunteers and other visitors from around India and from abroad:
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The Bir Tea
Factory is a long-standing Bir cooperative, which offers tours for those interested in the process of tea production.
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The population of Bir is primarily Indian agriculturalists. There is also a sizable community of
Tibetan refugees in the
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refugee settlement located at the west end of the village of
Chowgan on the south-western edge of the village of Bir.
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Sherab Ling
Monastery is a 50-to-70-minute walk (or 15-minute taxi) from Chowgan, or slightly longer from Upper Bir.
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Bir
Tibetan Colony was established in the early 1960s following the exile of the Dalai Lama and other Tibetans from
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The Dharmalaya Institute is an eco-campus for service-learning and contemplative practice. Dharmalaya is an Indian
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The Deer Park Institute is a "centre for the study of classical Indian wisdom traditions" established by
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is also located in Bir. Ecotourism, spiritual studies, and meditation draws visitors.
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735:"Bir Portal - Bir Orientation: Bir, Tibetan Colony, Ghornala, Billing The Bir Portal"
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848:"Dharmalaya Sprouts: Earthville Co-founds New Charitable Organization in India"
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Bir can be reached from the Bir Road turnoff (signposted) on
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school, located either in the town of Bir or nearby. A large
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The historical centre of Bir is in Upper Bir (Bir proper).
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361:in Bir was passed to the fourth Neten Chokling.
1351:Shahpur, Himachal Pradesh Assembly constituency
1336:Nagrota, Himachal Pradesh Assembly constituency
684:"Welcome to Bir, paragliding capital of India"
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653:(now NH 154), approximately midway between
516:The Bir-Billing area is a popular site for
492:(2006). The Tibetan architecture and large
342:A Tibetan pilgrim spinning a prayer wheel (
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314:monasteries and supportive centres of the
283:is a rural village located in the west of
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708:Deependra, Dobriyal (29 September 2019).
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393:in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.
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404:Range of the foothills of the Indian
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1311:Jaswan-Pragpur Assembly constituency
474:Chokling Gompa is the monastery of
76:Location in Himachal Pradesh, India
850:. Earthville News. 19 January 2009
18:Village in Himachal Pradesh, India
14:
1316:Jawalamukhi Assembly constituency
1306:Jaisinghpur Assembly constituency
1291:Dharamshala Assembly constituency
597:and was shot on location in Bir.
565:Tibetan Children's Village school
889:Jakes, Susan (27 January 2003).
815:"Welcome to Deer Park Institute"
385:(administrative subdivision) of
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1326:Kangra Lok Sabha constituency
486:and the director of the film
1341:Nurpur Assembly constituency
1331:Sullah Assembly constituency
1321:Jawali Assembly constituency
1301:Indora Assembly constituency
710:"Paragliding in Bir Billing"
478:, a reincarnate lama in the
214:1,525 m (5,003 ft)
79:Show map of Himachal Pradesh
1377:Villages in Kangra district
1372:Tourism in Himachal Pradesh
1286:Dehra Assembly constituency
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1387:Adventure tourism in India
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454:Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche
373:Fields and mountains near
310:Bir is noted for several
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891:"The God of Small Films"
641:is 520 kilometres away.
610:Ahju railway station, a
579:Bir was the setting for
1009:(district headquarters)
760:"Welcome to Dharmalaya"
633:is 67 kilometres away.
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476:Neten Chokling Rinpoche
784:. Birhp. 21 March 2012
737:. Birhp. 21 March 2012
637:is 152 kilometres and
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817:. Deer Park Institute
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398:Joginder Nagar Valley
389:, in the district of
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305:1959 Tibetan uprising
285:Joginder Nagar Valley
224: • Official
1382:Paragliding in India
682:Wong, Maggie Hiufu.
612:narrow-gauge railway
595:1998 World Cup final
542:Tibetan monks in Bir
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878:. 2015. Channel 4.
635:Chandigarh Airport
575:In popular culture
547:Bir Tibetan Colony
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528:Bir Tibetan Colony
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512:Paragliding at Bir
465:charitable society
439:Bir Tibetan Colony
421:Bir Tibetan Colony
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351:The Tibetan Colony
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44:Aerial view of Bir
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1265:Uparli Badol
1230:Simbal Khola
1155:Hatli Jamula
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976:Dera Gopipur
905:. Retrieved
901:the original
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854:30 September
852:. Retrieved
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762:. Dharmalaya
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146:32.05; 76.70
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1019:McLeod Ganj
1001:Jawalamukhi
996:Jaisinghpur
981:Dharamshala
962:Cities and
803:deerpark.in
782:"About Bir"
663:Dharamshala
618:station at
616:broad gauge
518:paragliding
504:Paragliding
412:Orientation
320:Karma Kagyu
297:paragliding
295:. It's the
144: /
109:Bir (India)
1366:Categories
1225:Sari Molag
1150:Harchakian
719:18 January
669:References
458:Dalai Lama
433:Population
402:Dhauladhar
344:mani wheel
1255:Tota Rani
1210:Rehalpura
1135:Dharamkot
1085:Bakarawan
1049:Shamirpur
1014:Mant Khas
788:24 August
693:14 August
620:Pathankot
406:Himalayas
365:Geography
243:Time zone
219:Languages
211:Elevation
1215:Rey Khas
1205:Rehalkar
1195:Narghota
1140:Gopalpur
1115:Dainkwan
1105:Dadasiba
1095:Bhawarna
1080:Andretta
1068:Villages
1054:Sidhbari
1039:Palampur
971:Baijnath
655:Baijnath
489:Milarepa
387:Baijnath
248:UTC+5:30
200:District
193:Baijnath
1200:Pragpur
1175:Kutwari
1130:Dhanotu
1120:Dhameta
907:5 April
821:5 April
766:5 April
741:5 April
586:The Cup
551:Tibetan
480:Nyingma
334:History
316:Nyingma
274:91-1894
265:176 077
236:English
157:Country
132:76°42′E
129:32°03′N
32:village
1260:Triund
1245:Sullah
1235:Simbal
1185:Naleti
1165:Jawali
1090:Banuri
1075:Agahar
1034:Nurpur
1006:Kangra
991:Indora
591:Phörpa
391:Kangra
383:tehsil
355:sangha
228:Kangri
205:Kangra
188:Region
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1220:Sakri
1180:Lohna
1170:Kotla
1160:Ichhi
1145:Haler
1044:Rehan
964:towns
872:"1".
651:NH 20
606:Train
558:Tibet
549:is a
494:stupa
328:stupa
324:Sakya
293:India
232:Hindi
176:State
169:India
1250:Than
1125:Dhan
1110:Dadh
909:2012
896:Time
856:2018
823:2012
790:2012
768:2012
743:2012
721:2023
695:2022
657:and
645:Road
419:The
1100:Bir
1059:Yol
688:CNN
626:Air
469:NGO
281:Bir
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