Hills
Bandipur
On a ridge halfway between Kathmandu and Pokhara, an old Newar trading town left off the main road: a paved pedestrian street, brick houses with wooden balconies, and views of the Himalayas.
- Region: Hills
- Time needed: 1–2 days
- Entry: free
- From Kathmandu: 5 to 6 h by road
At a glance
Bandipur once prospered on the trade route between India and Tibet. When the main Kathmandu–Pokhara highway was built down in the valley in the 1970s, the town fell asleep, and that is what saved it: its main street has kept its 19th-century merchant houses, and it is now closed to cars.
Perched at about 1,000 m, the village looks out towards the Himalayas, from the Annapurnas to Manaslu. People come to wander, walk along the ridges, visit a large cave, and break up the long journey between Kathmandu and Pokhara. One night is the minimum; two let you go hiking.
No entry fee, no great monument: Bandipur is something to experience rather than to visit.
Don't miss
- The main street in the evening, car-free, when the terraces light up.
- Sunrise over the Himalayas from the hill of the Thani Mai temple.
- Siddha Gufa, one of the largest caves in Nepal.
- Walks to the surrounding Magar villages.
Less good
- For one night, you have to get off the bus at Dumre and go up by jeep.
- Not much to do if you don't walk.
- Mountains often hidden from March to September.
In pictures
What to see
No entry fee for the village. Only Siddha Gufa cave charges.
The town
The bazaar and its houses
free
The main street and its brick houses with carved balconies and shutters, the Bindebasini temple on the square, the Tundikhel (the old parade ground at the end of town) with views over the valley and the mountains. Further on, the Khadga Devi temple, which houses a sacred sword.
- Time
- half a day of wandering
Viewpoint
Thani Mai hill
free
A small temple at the top of the hill above the town, with Bandipur's finest view: the Himalayas on one side, the Marsyangdi valley on the other. A steep 30 to 40 min climb.
- When
- At sunrise or sunset
Hike
Siddha Gufa cave
≈ 150 NPR (≈ €0.9) + guide
One of the largest caves in Nepal, with vast chambers of stalactites. Walk down from Bandipur (about 1 h 30, steep) with a local guide who provides the lamp, then climb back up or finish at Bimalnagar, on the main road, to catch a bus.
- Time
- half a day
- Tip
- Shoes with good grip: the cave is slippery.
Hike
Ramkot and the Magar villages
A half-day walk along the ridge to Ramkot, a Magar village of round mud-and-thatch houses, with fine views. You meet few people.
- Time
- 3 to 4 hours return
Planning your visit
One night on the way
Leave Kathmandu in the morning, arrive in Bandipur in the early afternoon, wander and watch the sunset at the Tundikhel. Sunrise at Thani Mai, then on to Pokhara (2 h 30 to 3 hours).
Two nights
Add Siddha Gufa cave or the walk to Ramkot. That's the pace of Nepal in 10 days and Nepal in 2 weeks.
The other way round
From Pokhara, Bandipur is 2 h 30 to 3 hours away: a good stop on the way back to Kathmandu or on to Chitwan.
Getting there
Tourist bus to Dumre
Take a Kathmandu–Pokhara bus and ask to get off at Dumre, at the foot of the hill (you usually pay the full fare).
Dumre → Bandipur
Local bus or shared jeep up a winding road (8 km), or taxi. Hotels can arrange the transfer.
Car with driver
Convenient if there are several of you: you drive up to the car park at the entrance of the town.
Getting around locally
On foot
The town is pedestrian; everything is done on foot, including hikes to the neighbouring villages.
Where to stay
In the bazaar
Guesthouses and boutique hotels in the old merchant houses, often with a balcony over the street. Limited choice: book in high season and at weekends.
Around the town
A few lodges and resorts on the heights, with mountain views, quieter but a little out of the way.
When to come
bestpossiblenot advised
As in Pokhara: the mountains are mostly visible from October to February, in the morning. In spring the weather is pleasant but haze veils the view. During the monsoon the Dumre road can be damaged by rain, and trails get slippery.
Festivals
| Dashain and Tihar | October–November Families from Bandipur come back to the village; guesthouses are full. |
Dates change every year.
Good to know
You get your visa on arrival, at Kathmandu airport or at the border: form, fees and pitfalls to avoid on our dedicated site.
Visa Nepal →Fancy a few days of walking? Poon Hill, Mardi Himal, Langtang… permits, guides, transport and day-by-day itineraries on our trekking site.
Trek Nepal →Comments
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