Paragliding is an adventure activity where an individual can fly. Paragliding is done using paragliders which can be used to fly with the help of wind and can also be folded and kept in a backpack to carry around. If you are a person who wishes to fly like a free bird in the sky then parrot lighting is the closest activity that can give you a feel of flying. The mechanism of paragliders does not need any machine or fuel to work it just operates with the flow of wind and the flying skill of the pilot.

The paraglider used for flying is having a canopy that has two layers that are made of high-quality fabrics such as nylon and polyester and this canopy is attached to the harness. The harness is strapped to the pilot and there are several strings attached to the canopy which makes it easy to control the direction of flying.

In paragliding, The Pilot can have the control to turn left or right using the brakes given on both the site of the hardness paragliding is generally done from a high altitude like a mountain top and one can cover a long distance while flying, then land safely in plains.

This activity can be enjoyed in several parts of India but paragliding in Himachal Pradesh will give you a magnificent view of the Himalayan mountains with the alluring beauty of natural landscapes.

Rules for Paragliding in Himachal Pradesh

It's very important to learn about the rules and regulations regarding paragliding and to undergo your training before executing this activity. Understanding these rules will make you feel safe while performing this activity and can avoid any kind of hazardous accident. 
As there is an increase in air traffic so the topmost priority to give “right of way” is for hot air balloons and after that, the “Right of way” is given to paragliders or hand gliders and the importance of this arises when there are multiple paragliders flying in the same space.

It is the responsibility of pilots to prevent their paragliders from any kind of collisions with other aircraft and they need to maintain a specific distance from other aircraft.

The Pilot should make the appropriate decision in the case of a collision with another paraglider and should alter their way to the right side and if two paragliders are getting collided near a hill then the left one should move out so that the other person can turn towards the right

You can overtake the other paraglider as it is permitted if it is done in the right manner. The Pilot should anticipate the situation early and make his decision accordingly to make his flight safer.

Places to enjoy Paragliding in Himachal

1. Bir Billing

The climate of Bir Billing is really favorable & cold which changes from 5 to 30 degrees Celsius in the winter month and in the summer month, it rains from 25 to 30 degrees Celsius. The minimum weight limit is from 30 kgs to 90 kgs if you are more than 90 kg then INR 500 extra will be charged up to 110 kg. The cost price of paragliding activity at billing includes the transportation charges that will take you to the launch site at billing from covering the distance of 16 km uphill.

Minimum Age: 12 years

Flying Route: Billing – Bari – Keyori – Chougan – Landing

Altitude: 8020 feet above sea level

Flight Time Duration: 15 to 20 minutes

Flying cost: INR 3000 per person

2. Khajjiar

Paragliding at Khajjiar will let you fly and witness the lush green mountain clips of Mount Kailash. Paragliding at Khajjiar can be performed along with the help of a qualified pilot where you can observe the mind-blowing panoramic view of the Dhauladhar range and dense forest of pine and oak trees. You will be provided with all kinds of face safety gear.

Minimum Age: 12 years

Flying Route: Local Resort Road  – Shiv temple

Altitude: 5000 feet above sea level

Flight Time Duration: 5 to 10 minutes or 10 to 20 minutes

Flying cost: INR 3000 per person

3. Shimla

The paragliding can be enjoyed at Seri Junga in Shimla where you can have the best aerial view of this prominent hill station of Himachal Pradesh the transportation from pick up side to the starting point of paragliding is included in the price of this package. If you want to have a video of your paragliding experience then you need to pay an additional amount of 500 rupees. The weight limit for paragliding at Shimla is from 25 kg to 95 kgs.

Minimum Age: 12 years

Flying Route: starts from Junga road

Altitude: 4000 feet above sea level

Flight Time Duration: 10 to 15 minutes

Flying cost: INR 2800 per person

4. Manali

Manali is a destination where one can enjoy paragliding in five different places such as Solang Valley, Bijli Mahadev, Fatru, and Marhi. Among these Solang Valley is one of the famous hotspots for paragliding in Manali. At Fatru one can enjoy a longer flight time of 30 minutes and can fly by witnessing The Spectacular view of this place. The paragliding as Bijli Mahadev is awe-inspiring.

Minimum Age: 12 years

Altitude: 3360 feet above sea level

Flight Time Duration: 15 to 30 minutes

Flying Cost: INR 1000-5000 per person(Long Ride)

INR 800-2000 per person( Short Ride)

5. Kullu Valley

Paragliding in Kullu Valley can be enjoyed at Gulaba and one can have a magnificent view of the Dhauladhar range and Pir Panjal mountain range while flying. The age limit for flying in Kullu Valley is from 16 to 60 years and the weight limit is from 40 kgs to 100 kgs. The mentioned price does not include pick up and drop off service

Minimum Age: 16 years

Flying Route: Gulaba – Kullu – Manali – Kothi

Altitude: 6300 feet above sea level

Flight Time Duration: 10 minutes

Flying Cost: INR 2050 per person

Professional Paragliding course in Himachal Pradesh

If you are a person who is interested in flying freely in the air without any aircraft then paragliding is the best option for you and you can also take up the training courses for this activity at Himachal Pradesh in Aero Sports Institute. There are various championships organized by this Institute for beginner and professional paragliders. One can take up this course to enjoy the panoramic beauty of Himachal Pradesh and can give the wings to their dream.

The professional course of paragliding can be done at Bir Billing in Himachal Pradesh this course is for 6 to 10 days and is done under the direction of Mr. Arvind Paul and with the help of the travel Bir Billing team. Mr. Arvind Paul is one of the best paragliding pilots and also the top instructor in India. Bir billing is considered the best place to learn paragliding as the weather condition is really favorable and you can have a safe flying in this Valley which is also the best for beginners. You can learn paragliding in the month of October till the mid of December and from mid of January till march month. There are different options available for this paragliding course.

Course one contains P1 course P2 course and P3 course which can be done in the time span of 10 days and may cost up to INR 38000 per person. In the second option, there is a P1 and P2 course which can be done in the time span of 6 days at the price of INR 25000 per person. The third option is the P3 course which can also be completed in just 6 days by paying INR 20000 per person.

Facts about Paragliding In Himachal

• Himachal Pradesh is considered the capital of paragliding in India
• The paragliding World Cup 2015 was organized in Himachal Pradesh itself
• This world cup was held in the Kangra district on October 24, 2015
• In this tournament, 150 top rank pilots participated from all around the world
• Other than this there were also 500 free-flying Pilots who participated.

Best time to enjoy Paragliding in Himachal

The best time to enjoy paragliding on your Himachal tour is from march month to early June month and from September to November month as during this time period the weather remains really favorable and one can fly easily in wind. At this time period, the Himalayan paragliding free world event is also organized and will billing which attract use number of adventure enthusiasts from all around the world.