Four and a half-hour drive away from the Kathmandu valley on the way to Pokhara, lies a beautiful hilltop settlement of Newari people called Bandipur. Bandipur village is a beautifully preserved village crowning a lofty ridge above the highway stop of Dumre. Lying on the hills, this place gives the majestic view of the traditionally well preserved ancient cultural houses.
As beautiful as its name sounds, its characteristics are also amazingly good. It is one of central Nepal’s hidden gem filled with pure Newari culture, age-old architecture, spectacular views of mountains, green hills ,excellent accommodation and much more. Unspoiled cultural artefacts, natural beauty, village settlement along with the mindblowing hospitality of the town, Bandipur preserves Nepal’s confidante slogan ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’: the guests are depicted to be god and people upfront themselves with the greatest hospitality.
Bandipur is a traditional village of Tanahun district which has been enticing lots of tourists to offers one of the best hiking and sightseeing experiences in Nepal due to its colossal beauty of pristine forests, historical trails, Newari village, and beautiful culture. Modernization has not affected Bandipur and it has been able to maintain its old culture, tradition, and architecture.If you wanna get out of busy city life and have some quality time then Bandipur is the best place to get a wholesome flavor of rural Nepal.
From the top of Bandipur, you can see the panoramic views of Dhaulagiri, Langtang Lirung, Machapuchare, Manaslu and Ganesh Himal along with the neighbouring peaks and Mountains. The typical village settlement will give you some experiences in village life with cultural diversity.The best-preserved ancient heritages along with the mountainous beauty are the major things to explore in Bandipur. Stroll around the villages and visit the hillocks, you will get some contagious spiritual bonding with natural beauty with diverse spectrums of the demographic variations.
Places to visit around Bandipur
Though small in area, Bandipur offers lots of tourist destinations in and out of the town.
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Tundikhel
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Khagda Devi Temple
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Thani Mai Temple
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Padma Library
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Bindhabasini Temple
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Buddhist Monastery
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Teendhara
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Siddha Gufa Cave
Things to do in Bandipur
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Talk with the locals, you may get some interesting topics to find out.
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Try local food and live in the local homestay.
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Visit temples around Bandipur (Khadga Devi temple, Bindabasini temple, Thanimai temple etc.)
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Explore the villages.
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Visit some historical sites and get some understanding about it.
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Visit the largest cave system of Nepal- Siddha Cave.
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Attend the chariot festivals.
Itinerary from Hotel Annapurna View to Bandipur
Arrival to Pokhara
Arrival to Sarangkot from Pokhara
Hotel Annapurna View to Dumre – 3 Hours ride by vehicle ( 75 Km )
Dumre to Bandipur – 0.5 hours ride by vehicle ( 1030m altitude )
