Tanahun, between Kathmandu and Pokhara
Bandipur
A traffic-free Newari bazaar town on a ridge, the perfect stop between Kathmandu and Pokhara.
- Region
- Tanahun, between Kathmandu and Pokhara
- Best time to visit
- October to March; clear mornings for the mountains.
- How long to stay
- 1–2 nights
- Experiences
- 2 nearby
Overview
Bandipur was a trading post on the old Tibet–India route until the highway in the valley below took the traffic away in the 1970s. What was left is a ridge-top bazaar of tall Newari merchant houses, now restored as guesthouses and cafés, with the Annapurna and Manaslu ranges filling the northern horizon.
The main street is closed to vehicles. Most visitors stay one night on the way between Kathmandu and Pokhara; two allow for the cave and the village walks.
Plan your visit
Planning time in Bandipur?
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Ask Recent Visits AI →Why visit Bandipur
- A preserved 19th-century bazaar with views of Annapurna, Manaslu and Langtang
- Siddha Gufa, one of the largest caves in Nepal
- An easy, low-altitude break in a long road journey
What to see
Tundikhel
The old parade ground at the end of the bazaar, a flat ridge-top with sweeping views of the mountains and the Marsyangdi valley.
Siddha Gufa
A limestone cave with large chambers, about 1.5 hours on foot below the town; take a guide and a torch.
Thani Mai temple
A hilltop shrine 20 minutes above town, the classic sunrise spot.
Ramkot
A Magar village 2–3 hours’ walk west with round thatched houses, for a quiet half-day.
Bandipur bazaar
Tundikhel viewpoint
Ramkot village
Good to know
- Leave the Prithvi Highway at Dumre; jeeps and buses climb the 8 km to Bandipur, or walk the old trail in about two hours.
- Most guesthouses are in restored houses with thin walls; bring earplugs if you are a light sleeper.
Frequently asked questions
Photo gallery
Bandipur in pictures
Things to do
Experiences in Bandipur
Easy
Day Hiking
Short walks to viewpoints, villages and monasteries, no permits or porters needed.
- Typical duration
- 2–6 hours
Easy
Cultural Tours
Heritage squares, living temples, monasteries and craft traditions.
- Typical duration
- Half day to several days
Plan
Suggested itineraries with Bandipur
Day-by-day trips by our team. Ask local agencies for a quote on any of them.
Suggested itinerary
8 days: Kathmandu, Bandipur and Pokhara
The road west done slowly: Kathmandu’s heritage, a night in the traffic-free hill bazaar of Bandipur, and three days of lake and mountain views in Pokhara.
- Places
- Kathmandu · Bandipur · Pokhara
- Trekking
- No trekking
Suggested itinerary
12 days: Nepal highlights from Kathmandu to Lumbini
The full loop without trekking: the Kathmandu Valley’s royal cities, the Nagarkot sunrise, Bandipur, Pokhara, wildlife in Chitwan and the Buddha’s birthplace at Lumbini.
- Places
- Kathmandu · Patan · Bhaktapur · Nagarkot · Bandipur · Pokhara · Chitwan · Lumbini
- Trekking
- No trekking
