Day Adventures at Bir - Trek to Bangoru Waterfalls

Snugly located in the foothills of Dauladhars, the cozy village bir is popular for its scenic beauty and raw nature.It is known as the paragliding capital of India and popular destination for paragliders across globe. Worlds 2nd highest paradliding destination.The place has much more to adventure seeker.It includes birding, butterfly spotting, Sky cycling, bunjee jumping and numerous hiking trails.The saluburious climate year round beckons everyone !

Jul 9, 2024 - 20:01 Updated: Jul 9, 2024 - 20:10

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Day Adventures at Bir - Trek to Bangoru Waterfalls

Ever since i came to know about this virtual twin paradise, bir and billing. a quaint sleepy village in Himachal. Only thing that always lingered in my mind is being haven for Paragliders and worlds 2nd highest paragliding destination.

No sooner did i land, here i realised that its TRULY a haven for Adventure seekers !

A incredible destination

Surrounded by evergreen hills, swift flowing streams and chirping birds. it did not take much time to decipher what lies in the bosam of mother nature in the adjoining hills.

However few of members expressed their desire to fly like a bird and made up their mind to opt for paragliding from Billing to Bir !

Though we had options of Bunjee Jumping, and Sky Cycling.I was eager to explore the hills in the backdrop.The cool air persuaded me to explore a less known Bangoru waterfalls snugly located in the deep canyon.

Accompanied by local guide, Saahil, we set out via Kotli village and reached the last village Gunehar road head after traveling 7 km.

The landscape teeming with bird life and butterflies engaged me !

A tiny little brown creeper began to drew my attention,which was busy looking for insects on the bark of the tree, Cinerous tit seemed like busy in gathring twigs for buidling nest,as its was breeding season.

A russet sparrow and long tailed shrike flew from tree to tree and posed for me.

The brown creeper, also known as the American treecreeper, is a small songbird, the only North American member of the treecreeper family Certhiidae.

The russet sparrow (Passer cinnamomeus ), also called the cinnamon or cinnamon tree sparrow, is a passerine bird of the sparrow family Passeridae. Its vocalisations are sweet and musical chirps, which when strung together form a song.

Shrikes are rare among songbirds for their common lifestyle of hunting and eating animals. they often kill more prey than they need at one time, but they don't let it go to waste. They often store food for later by impaling their prey on spines or barbed wire, earning the nickname "butcher birds."

A blue whistling thrush, displayed her colourful plumage and whistling call was melodius in the woods.Though i moved nearer to it,it seemed very busy in collecting twigs for nest.I felt that i was trespassing the territory and maintained safe distance.Though dark in colour, blue fan liked wings and yellow beak seemed attractive !

Papilio bianor, also known as the common peacock, Chinese peacock black swallowtail emerald or Chinese peacock, is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae, the swallowtails. It is native to Continental Asia.

It is the state butterfly of the Indian state of Uttarakhand

I could spot few butterflies perching on Gaillardia flowers - commonly known as blanket flowers. Initally looking at the colourful pattern i felt it was a loday tiger and later reconfirmed it as Indian tortoise shell, which has similarilies i.It is always confusing winged beauties for me because of its similarities.

As we hit the path leading to waterfalls,the hills rising above the canyon began to unfold literally drenched in mist.The path was broken with land slides and i can hear the roar of the thundering waterfalls in the valley.

A steep descent, with a zig zag path led us to base of the waterfalls.We followed our guide Saahil.A short walk amidst the knee deep water led us through numerous rocks, which seemed gateway to the waterfalls !

The ice cold water and dew drops kissing us was exhilirating !.We walked cautiously on the slippery rocks,the deep water holes, crevasses were posing a danger, in case of little negligiance or over confidence.

I was mesmarized to see an object submerged in water and assumed to be a Star Turtle, looking a the shell pattern amidst rocks.Later was able to decipher it as a rock with curvature formed by flowing water jutting through the canyon.I was amazed with the pretty patterns of nature !

Rock resembing Star Turtle shell

As we climbed up upstream in waist deep water,if became more and more challenging.The rocks seemed more and more slippery. Holding the cracks and pinch holds we cmlimbed and finally completed the first stage of climb.

After manouvering the, slippery descent we had a challenge of climbing a steep slopy rock, with no support nor holds.It was really a junction where it involves team support and help.

We could see few visitors, even retreating from here.It didnot bring down our morale.We finally supported each other and reach the pinnacle.

We could view the miky white waterfalls, cascading from about 150 feet high.A giant step and a leap from a rock to another rock face led us to an inclined rock.

Which there on led us to base of waterfalls.

We enjoyed the waterfalls in all its splendour and began the descent slowly and cautiously.It began to rain and rocks seemed more slippery during ascent.

I personally felt that Bangoru is a hidden princess in Bir Biling and still in pristine state.However i could notice few wall frescos, contribution by visitors and trash.

Though Bir and Billing has lot many to offer, we stayed only one night and it was memorable.