McLeod - Bir - Tirthan (4N/5D) - Check List:

1. Bus Booking:
● Getting the booking 1 week prior
● Cross checking the operator.
● Cross checking the seat nos.
● Cross checking the timings.
● Cross checking the the dinner stop
● Taking the ticket from the Vendor.
● Informing the vendor if there is any pickup from outside of Delhi.
● Confirming the pickup point & timings outside of Delhi. Conveying that to the captain and
client.

2. Accommodation Booking:
● Booking the rooms 1 week prior to the departure at McLeod, Bir & Tirthan.
● Cross checking the room allotment.
● Cross checking the meals & menu.
● Sharing the rooming list with the hotels.
● Asking vendors to cross check the amenities of the rooms which we will be allotted and
washrooms on day prior to the check-in Like geysers working, toilet seats, taps, flush, etc.

3. Babu Bhai McLeod:

● Informing Mahesh about the no of vehicles required on call
● Messaging him on whatsapp date wise and route wise all the vehicles required

4. Manohar Bir Taxi:

● Informing Manjeet about vehicles required from Bir - Gushaini on call
● Messaging him on whatsapp date wise all the vehicles required

5. Mahesh Taxi Tirthan:

● Informing Mahesh about the no of vehicles required on call
● Considering the guides on the trek.
● Messaging him on whatsapp date wise and route wise all the vehicles required

6. Deshraj Ji:
● Informing Deshraj ji about the group size
● Informing about the no of freshen up rooms & guide
● Cross checking the Breakfast Menu
● Informing about the no of people for paragliding
● Posting all details in the Whatsapp group
● Cross checking the paragliding timings

7. Team Captain Assignment:

● Briefing the captain about the trip.
● Transfering all the contact details required on the trip.
● Discussing the whole itinerary with inclusion and exclusions.
 ● Sharing the boarding list and room listing
● Asking the team captain to give a call to all the travellers 1 day prior and cross check the details.

8. Whatsapp Group:
● Forming the whatsapp from on D-2
● Ops team introduction
● Sharing the list of things to carry
● Captains introduction
● Sharing the boarding point & meeting time & putting it in the group description.
● Posting the message for How to reach
● Posting liability form

9. Feedback:
● Posting the feedback form in the group.
● Taking the feedback from the captain on call
● Evaluating the feedback
● Conveying it to the vendor
 McLeod Bir Tirthan (4N/5D) Traveller’s File

About the Place:

McLeodganj Also known as Little Lhasa and famous around the world for being home to the Tibetan
spiritual leader Dalai Lama, Mcleod Ganj is a beautiful town situated near upper Dharamsala. Nestled
amidst majestic hills and lush greenery, this town is culturally blessed by a prominent Tibetan influence
owing to the major settlement of Tibetans here. Mcleodganj has one of the most mesmerising
landscapes in the entire state of Himachal Pradesh and attracts a lot of tourists throughout the year.

Bir is a small town located in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. Bir Billing is a popular
destination located in Kangra District of Himachal Pradesh, known for paragliding and also as the town
for meditation. There is an influence of Tibetan culture due to Tibetan community settlement in this
town.

Bir is considered as one of the best spots in the world for paragliding. The take-off site is called Billing
and the landing site is Bir and the overall altitude change is around 800m.

There are two parts of the Bir town: The Tibetan Colony of Bir, located downhill from the village of
Chowgan and the other part is Upper Bir which is much greener.

Tirthan Valley name comes from the Tirthan River that flows from Tirth, its origins located in the
GHNP, and ends at Larji in the Beas river. This is one of the two major valleys that constitute the Great
Himalayan National Park, the other being Sainj.

Compared to other destinations in Himachal, the valley is still well preserved and offers the perfect
environment for those who are looking for a peaceful holiday.

The region is dotted with Himalayan villages. You will be fascinated by the quaint aspect of the
traditional architecture. The welcoming atmosphere in the villages and the good mood of people will
leave your mind with a lot of sweet memories.

The Tirthan valley has plenty of hidden gems and so, it will allow you to enjoy various activities such as
relaxation, day hikes, multi day treks or trout angling.

One of the favorite experiences of the visitors is to trek, this allows you to enjoy the Himalayan
wilderness, the easy hikes from Jalori pass that give you amazing views of the Himalayan range

Places to Visit - McLeod

Bhagsu Nag Waterfall and Temple :

Bhagsunag is a village situated about 7000 feet above the sea level,the prime importance of the place
is due to the majestic Bhagsunag temple devoted to Lord Shiva, which adds beauty and mystic to the
spot by making it extremely popular amongst worshippers. The stunning waterfalls, present at a
walkable distance from the temple, is one of extreme grandeur.

Shiva Cafe -
Sitting on top of the Bhagsunag Waterfall, accessible only after a steep walk uphill, Shiva Cafe in
Mcleodganj is an exceptionally photogenic hippie establishment that serves delectable dishes from
morning to night. While their menu, featuring pizzas, pasta, pancakes, sandwiches, coffee and more, is
a treat for foodies, the overall serene ambience environment, sounds of the gushing water and the
cafe’s excellent music collection make for a relaxing experience. There is inside and outside seating
available, and the latter is ideal for nature watching.
Address - Water Fall, near Bhagsunag, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh 176219

Dalai Lama Temple Complex

Dalai Lama's Temple complex, is the home for His Holiness Dalai Lama. It is among the world renowned
religious centers and is thronged by Buddhist pilgrims throughout the year.

The complex houses the Photang (Dalai Lama's residence), Tibet Museum, Tsuglagkhang Temple, and
Namgyal Gompa. The monastery deals with training of monks for rituals associated with holy shrine,
whereas the temple is a chief place of worship. A beautifully decorated statue of Lord Buddha along
with beautiful statues of Padmasambhava and Avalokiteshvara are housed in the temple.

The monastery has a place called Namgyal Gompa which is reserved for Tibetan monks to get indulged
in a religious debate. There is also the famous Kora ritual which includes walking in a clockwise
direction along with a specific path. This monastery has a garden, cafeteria, book shop, museum and a
library.

Places to Visit - Bir:

Chokling Monastery (closed rn)

Chokling Monastery or Pema Ewan Chogar Gyurme Ling Monastery is one of the main attractions of Bir.
It houses a grand and colossal stupa as well as an enthralling statue of Padmasambhava. This monastery
is located in the Bir Tibetan colony. The monastery is divided into a passageway, a temple and a prayer
hall. A picturesque statue of Padmasambhava or Guru Rinpoche, who was a Buddhist master of the 8th
Century, from the Indian subcontinent, is placed in the centre of the temple and the passageway is
heavily decorated with sculptures. The 14th Dalai Lama and some of his people fled to the northern
areas of India during the 1959 Uprising of Tibet. Neten Chokling Rinpoche III established the Chokling
Monastery in Himachal Pradesh, with the assistance of Captain Davidson, a retired armed force captain.
Neten Chokling Rinpoche IV, who was brought to the Chokling monastery from Tibet, at the age of 7,
became the succeeding leader of the monastery.

SherabLing Monastery (closed rn)

The Palpung Sherabling Monastery, located at Keori near Bir, is a religious centre of eastern Tibet that
offers Buddhist studies and other forms of living art and culture along with Periodic courses in Buddhist
meditation and philosophy. The monastery is divided into the old structure and new structure
The monastery complex has a school, college and university to learn about the past, present and future
of Buddha. More than 1200 monks are in the institute. Apart from Buddhist studies, people can also
learn about music, dance, crafts and research on Ayurvedic and Tibetan medicines. The monastery
houses an enormous stupa of Maitri Budh, the one who is yet to come

Bir Market
Bir Market is a streetside market with several eateries and shops. Local people and residents of the
nearby areas come for utilities like food, clothing, and other items while tourists spend capital time
picking up souvenirs. The market area is an assemblage of interesting and lively local shops that sell
varieties of products at good prices. It has a little something for everyone. Several stalls exhibit a wide
range of products that celebrate the rich culture and tradition of Tibet.

Gunehar Waterfall
Gunehar Waterfalls is the prime attraction of the Gunehar village, tucked away on a hillock around 1.5
km away from Bir in Himachal Pradesh. At a height of 100 ft., the gorgeous waterfall can be reached
through a short trek from the village. The crystal clear water cascading down the hillock is a pure
visual delight. Time Needed to explore this is 2 hours.

Places to Visit - Tirthan Valley:

Great Himalayan National Park

Great Himalayan National Park located in Kullu region of Himachal Pradesh, is home to more than 375
species of fauna, 31 species of mammals and 181 species of birds. The Great Himalayan National Park
received the status of a national park in 1999. This beautiful location of the national park becomes all
the more attractive due to the Deodar and Oak trees.

The secluded location of the park has made sure that the villages inside the park have a culture of
their own. Every village inside has a deity of its own. There are also some fairs organized here during
April, May, August, and September.

You need to obtain a permit for the core zone of the park to visit the Great Himalayan National Park.
The permits can be obtained at the Shamshi head office and the range offices at Ropa in Sainj Valley
and Shairopa in Tirthan Valley.

There are different levels of trekking that can be done inside GHNP. Moderate day-long treks to
difficult multi-day treks are organized on all the four valleys of the park including Tirthan, Jwar Nala,
Parvati and Sainj.

Chhoie Waterfall
Chhoie Waterfall in Tirthan Valley can be reached through a short trek of 3 km walk that begins from
Village Nagini which takes about 1 hour. The waterfall is named after local deity Chhoi Mata and locals
come to worship the goddess at one of the trees before the waterfall.

Jibhi
Often referred to as a mesmerising "hamlet" situated amidst the lush green forests and surrounded by
variegated mountains, Jibhi is just the right place to relax and spend some peaceful moments with your
loved ones. An offbeat place in Himachal Pradesh, Jibhi is untouched by industrialization and
surrounded by nature. The dense pine forests, tranquil freshwater lakes and pristine temples make this
place worth visiting. You will be spellbound after visiting this place and would not want to leave it. The
cozy Victorian style cottages in which you can stay are an added bonus that makes you feel as if you
are living in the Victorian Period. So enjoy a cup of chai breathing in fresh air and listening to the
sweet chirpings of the birds in the lap of nature.

Jalori Pass
Nestled in the peaks of northern Himalayas lies the Jalori mountain pass, located between the districts
of Kullu and Shimla. Perhaps one would recognise it better as the snow-covered summit in the
Bollywood film "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani", where actors Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone are seen
trekking through the mountainside. The pass opens in the second week of March and shuts down in
December due to snowfall.

Situated at a height of 10,800 feet above sea level, Jalori Pass is located at a distance of 30 kilometres
from Gushaini. The leading road is narrow and extremely steep, not to mention uneven and full of
potholes, making it a bumpy ride and sometimes it becomes difficult to drive the car even in first gear.

The Jalori Pass Trek that starts from here is a moderate level trek seated amidst vast coniferous
forests, and can be best covered between the seasons of mid-June to mid-October when traversing
through the snow is an easy feat. The path leads to the nearby Serolsar Lake and 'Budhi Naagin' temple.

Selorsar Lake
Serolsar lake also known as Saryolsar Lake) at an altitude of 10,496 feet in the outer Seraj valley of
Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, surrounded by Alpine forests it is also accessible via Jalori pass.

There is one really interesting story about the lake- Once a Brahmin from a nearby village came to visit
Serolsar lake while he was taking a stroll around the lake he drowned himself. It is believed that
Serolsar Lake is the residence of the Budhi Naagin the mother of all Nag (Snake) Deities of Himachal
like SheshNag, KamruNag, GhundaNag, MahuNag to name a few and she lives in her golden palace at
the bottom of the lake. The goddess saved his life, and allowed the Brahmin to stay in her golden
palace for three years taking the promise that he will not tell anything about the stay and the goddess
to anyone. The Brahmin’s family, who assumed him to be dead, was ecstatic on seeing him after 3 years
when the brahmin got back to his family they were curious to know where he had been for such a long
time. Everyone kept asking him about his whereabouts but he kept dodging that question. But one day
he had to tell everyone what happened and as soon as he did that, he died. His family & friends were
shocked. They wanted to go and figure out about the mystery of the lake, and whoever from his family
tried visiting the lake met with mysterious accidents. No geological study has still been able to
accurately calculate the depth of the lake.

USEFUL INFORMATION

Do’s and Don’ts:

Do’s
• Keep your Team Captain updated with your plans.
• Be Careful while you are around the river
 • Follow the instructions given by your pilot carefully.
• Be punctual and follow the timings given by your Team Captain
• Have plenty of drinking water or electral powder mix or any kind of liquids except alcohol
• While visiting any sacred place, please take permission from authority before capturing photos or
videos (avoid using flashlight)
• Please take suggestions and consult a doctor before the journey if you have any medical
preconditions
• Put on a warm jacket before the sun goes down
• Dress in layers and avoid putting one thick layer to maintain body temperature
• Carry chocolates or dry fruits

Don’ts
• Do not exert unnecessarily or suddenly
• Do not smoke too much
• Don’t Make a Lot of Noise While Staying in the Valley
• Do not consume alcohol during the day. Anyone found doing the same will be immediately
disqualified
• Do not use Plastic Bags
• Please do not split or litter at public places.

INTERESTING FACTS

● Bir and Billing are two separate places. Billing is the place from where the takeoff happens and
it lies at an elevation of about 2300 meters. On the other hand, Bir is the landing site at an
elevation of 1400 meters.
● Billing is named after a Scottish officer, Captain Billing who served the British empire during
the pre-independence era.
● Bir has a large Tibetan colony, which provides an interesting closeness of cultures. The colony
was built soon after the Dalai Lama was granted asylum in Dharamshala.
● Bir Billing have also hosted a lot of International Paragliding Competitions like Pre PWC, where
participants from all over the world took part in.

PLACES TO EAT - McLoed:

● Himalayan Musaafir Guest House & Restaurant
● Cafe 129
● The Other Space

PLACES TO EAT - Bir:

● Himalayan Pizza
● June16
● Silver Linings Cafe
● Vairagi Cafe

PLACES TO EAT - Tirthan:

● Himalayan Trout House
● Mazel tov cafe
 POINTS TO REMEMBER

Cash Scenario:
● There are ATMs available in McLeodganj
● Bir has many ATMs which can be used to take out cash.
● There are ATMs available in Banjar. It will be on our way, while going to Jalori Pass.

Network Scenario:
● McLoedganj has proper Networks available from all the operators.
● All the networks are available in Bir. But in Billing the networks are uncertain.
● All networks work fine in Tirthan Valley for both prepaid and postpaid connections. But, during
the trek to the Selorsale Lake, only BSNL will work. As long as you are staying in towns like
Gushaini and Banjar, you will have a good connection with a clear voice. In terms of Data
connectivity, you will get 4G Speed.

Accommodation at Billing:
● Billing is around 14 KMs from Bir, without any settlement, making it a remote area with less
resources. The only source of electricity in Billing is through solar energy and electric
generators. Hence there will be limited electricity provided during the stay at night.

Paragliding:
● Paragliding depends on various natural factors like; wind speed, clear sky, etc. Based on these
factors we will be scheduling the paragliding for all the travellers and provide them their slots.
It can differ from our planned itinerary
● You are suggested to wear comfortable clothes during paragliding.
● For the video and photography during the paragliding, the pilot charges an extra INR 500 for
videography and INR 300 for photography.
● During paragliding you cannot carry any luggage / bag along with you.

Trek
 ● The trek for Serolsar Lake is 7 KMs in total. The trek begins from Jalori Pass which is 30 Kms
from our stay. This trek is easy to moderate.

Miscellaneous
● For travelling from Delhi to Bir, we use regular Volvo bus service on that route. We have our
seats reserved in them. These are on time bus service and do not wait. Please ensure to be at
the meeting point posted on the trip whatsapp group on time.
● As we use the regular bus service, we do not have control over the stoppage of the bus for
dinner stop and washroom breaks. We inform the Team Captain to look for better alternatives
if the dinner stop is not up to the mark nearby.
● All the travellers are suggested to carry something to eat during their bus journey.
● In case any traveller encounters any issues during the trip with driver, camp staff, or anyone it
is suggested to contact the Team Captain.
● Due to the Covid19, the monasteries at Bir are closed.
● During winters, the vehicles will drop at snow point on the way to Jalori Pass. Further, we will
trek from the snow point till the 360° viewpoint. Further trek to Serolsar Lake will be
completely subject to it's feasibility based on snow & weather conditions.

Things to Carry:
Basic Gear 🎒
• A rucksack bag and day pack.
• Water bottle

Clothes 👕
• A Backpack rain cover

• A sun cap and a woollen cap

• UV protected sunglasses
• At least 1 pair of inner thermals
• One long sleeve and 2 short sleeve cotton t-shirts
• 1 warm jacket
• 1 pair of gloves
• At least 2 long pants (trek pants and cargo pants are favourable)
• 2-3 sets of undergarments
• 2-3 pair of socks
• A small towel

Footwear 👟
• A rain jacket or a poncho

• Water proof shoes/ Waterproof trekking shoes

Medications💊
• Flip flops/sandals ( optional)

• Medicines for headaches, diarrhoea, motion sickness, cold & cough

• Painkillers
• Sprain relief spray

Personal Accessories 🔦🪥
• Any personal medication advised by doctor

• Toothpaste, Toothbrush
• Paper Soap/Sanitiser
• An SPF 40+ Sunscreen ,Lip Balm, Cold Creams
• Body Spray
• Led Torch Light
😜
🍫
• Power bank, Bluetooth speakers ( very important )
Eatable stuff:
•Carry Glucose, chocolates, Nuts and other stuff which u want to carry.
😉😁
Some extras for ladies
Sun screen
👩🏻‍💼:-
• And most importantly your sense of humour and the spirit for adventure

Moisturiser
Dry shampoo
Sanitary napkins/tampons
Tissues
Paper soaps
Wet wipes
Disposable bags
Energy bars
Due to the COVID19 protocols, busses are not providing blankets for the journey. It is
suggested to carry a thin blanket for your journey in the bus.

Hope whatever we take with us , we bring it back home .

Let's leave nothing behind but our footprints.
 Emergency Contacts:

Chirag Jain Gaurav Singh Sandeep Kumar Fareed Laiq

+91 90503 84645 +91 99965 08685 +91 99170 77858 +91 997189 1243

Mcleod - Bir - Tirthan (4N/5D) Captain’s File

Things to Carry for the Captain:

● Medical Kit (Cross Checking all the medicines in it)
● Rooming & Boarding List
● List and Contacts of all vendors

Depart from Delhi-

● Inform travellers to carry light snacks and light blankets.
● Pit stop after Kurukshetra for dinner
● Call transport vendor before hand, and inform you’ll be reaching early morning at Dharamshala
bus stop and tell the requirements
● Call hotel and confirm about check in timings

Day - 1 Mcleodganj
● Call local transport for pickup
● Generally we reach early before check in time, ask people to freshen up in the common
washroom, and get the breakfast ready.
● After breakfast take them out for local market strolling and visit monastery (basically a short
walk around)
● Check In at 12, give time to rest and freshen up, leave from hotel around 1:30
● Head straight to Bhagsu Fall / Shiva cafe
● Lunch at Shiva cafe - Bhagsunag after Shiva cafe
● Cafe hopping and day leisure (try local Tibetan cuisine - souvenir shopping)
● Brief for next day
● Call transport vendor for bir and tell basic requirements
● Sleep overnight at hotel

Day - 2 Bir
● Schedule: Wake Up -7am Breakfast-8am, Check Out: -9am
● Call transport vendor for Bir
 ● Call Sky village and inform about estimated arrival time
● Reach Dharmshala stadium by 10:30 (30 Rs ticket per head)
● Leave stadium at 12pm
● Reach Bir at around 2-3pm
● Call up Deshraj bhai, leave all the luggage at his office, take slot for paragliding
● Go for local walk around and have lunch
● Take people out for forest cycling or a small hike to waterfall (depending on the batch size)
and visit some monasteries .
● Suggest cuisine based cafes and some hidden gems of bir.
● Reach Billing by evening and experience sunset (Followed up by bonfire and dinner)
● Brief them about next day at bonfire (as after paragliding it will be a long journey to Tirthan)
● Call up transport vendor, ask regarding the condition of vehicle and music system as it will be a
long journey

Day-3 Bir(Paragliding)-Tirthan
● Schedule: Wake up call - 6am, Breakfast - 7am, Checkout - 8am
● Call and inform transport vendor for pickup
● Call and inform hotel at Tirthan and give estimated time of arrival
● Start making groups and depart them for paragliding.
● Collect people at landing site,chill for a while
● Leave around 11-12max
● Lunch stop near mandi Punjabi rasoi recommended
● Reach Tirthan around 7 max (try to reach early)
● Allot rooms, inform everyone about the property / dining area and riverside location
● Brief everyone for the next day
● After a long journey ,dinner & sleep

Day-4 Tirthan
● Schedule: Wake Up - 7am, Breakfast - 8am, Checkout - 9am
● Depart for Jalori pass
● Can stop in between at banjar market to shop necessary items or atm (as it gets late while
coming back)
● Reach Jalori pass / collect group and brief them about the trail and start the trek for serolsar
lake and 360 view point.
● Lunch near serolsar lake (100mts before serolsar there is a dhaba)
● Try returning back to base by 6max.
● Depart for hotel (inform transport guy about pickup timings for next day)
● Dinner followed by bonfire.
● Brief every one for the next day and how they need to pack or keep there changes for rafting
making it hassle free for the travellers

Day-5
● Schedule: Wake Up -7am, Breakfast -8am, Checkout -9am
● Call transport vendor
● Call for Bus timings to Delhi
● Depart for Jibhi waterfall
● Reach at waterfall around 10:30 (20Rs per head ticket)
● Depart at dot 12pm for rafting point
● Reach jhir i(555 rafting point)
● Keep your luggage and pre order your lunch at restaurant near jhiri park
● Leave for Rafting and after reaching the end location / change and get ready for the final
departure
● Lunch at jhiri / chill at riverside park and depart for Delhi as per the bus timings.

After Trip Duties:

● Update on the whatsapp group after reaching Delhi

● Ensure all the traveller reach back safely to their places after deboarding the bus
● If any of the traveller needs any assistance in routing help them in it
● Once everybody reaches their places, share the feedback form on the whatsapp group
● Share the feedback for the trip to the Operations Team
● Take reviews from the traveller on Google / FB / TripAdvisor