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Temple, monastery or heritage site · 666 m
Siddha Gufa
A large limestone cave with chambers full of stalactites, on the forested slope below Bandipur.
Pokhara & Annapurnaबन्दीपुर
Bandipur
A car-free Newar hill bazaar above the Kathmandu-Pokhara highway.
This is Bandipur, the Newar hill town in Tanahun district of Nepal, not Bandipur National Park in Karnataka, India.
- Altitude
- 1,030 m*
- Best months
- Oct-Apr
- Type
- Town or village
- District
- Tanahun, Gandaki
- Suggested stay
- 1-2 days
- Budget per day
- about US$25-35 a day (indicative)
- Permit
- None needed
Why go
Bandipur is a hilltop town in Tanahun district, perched on a narrow saddle of the Mahabharat range about 700 m above the Marsyangdi valley. It lies roughly 140-145 km west of Kathmandu and 75-80 km east of Pokhara, and an 8 km road climbs to it from Dumre on the Prithvi Highway. Most of the bazaar's main street is closed to traffic, so the town is a calm place to walk among three-storey brick houses with carved windows, slate-paved lanes, small temples and terraces of cafes.
On clear mornings the ridge looks north across the valley to a long stretch of the Himalaya, from Dhaulagiri and the Annapurnas to Manaslu and Ganesh Himal. Short walks lead to Thani Mai temple hill for sunrise, to the Tundikhel parade ground on the north side of town, and along ridge paths to Gurung and Magar villages. Bandipur suits a one or two night stop on the road between Kathmandu and Pokhara.
Sights in and around Bandipur include Siddha Gufa, a very large limestone cave on the slope below the town, reached on foot from the bazaar or from Bimalnagar on the highway; the Bindhyabasini and Khadga Devi temples in the bazaar; and the community library that dates from the town's Rana-era heyday.
The story
Bandipur's guardian deity is Khadga Devi, worshipped in the form of a sacred sword. The sword is kept wrapped and is brought out only once a year during Dashain, when the town gathers for the procession.
Places in Bandipur
History and culture
Bandipur began as a Magar village. After Prithvi Narayan Shah conquered the Kathmandu Valley in 1768, Newar traders from Bhaktapur settled here, attracted by a malaria-free ridge on the trade route between India and Tibet. Over the 19th century they turned it into a prosperous trading centre with substantial houses, a covered veranda along the main street and paved lanes. The town flourished in the Rana period (1846-1951), when it was even allowed its own library, which still stands and was restored in 2000.
Decline came in the 1970s, when the Prithvi Highway was built along the valley floor and the district headquarters moved to Damauli. Many traders moved down to Dumre or to the Terai, and Bandipur was half empty for years. Since the access road opened in 1998, residents have rebuilt the town around tourism while keeping its Newar character.
Khadga Devi, Bandipur's guardian deity, is worshipped in the form of a sacred sword that is brought out once a year during Dashain, when the town gathers for the procession and puja. Bisket Jatra and other Newar festivals are also celebrated.
Things to do in Bandipur
Thani Mai sunriseFree
A 20 to 30 minute climb from the bazaar to the Thani Mai temple hill for sunrise over the mountains.
Siddha Gufa caveWith a guide
A large cave about an hour's walk below the town. Go with a local guide, who will bring lights; the cave floor is uneven and slippery.
Bazaar walkFree
Walk the main street and side lanes in the early morning, when shops open and the light is soft on the brickwork.
Siddha Gufa
Walk down to the cave in about 1-1.5 hours and explore it with a local guide and torch.
Village hikes
Follow ridge paths to Ramkot and other villages for traditional round houses and farm life, usually a half or full day.
Weather and the best time to visit Bandipur
Weather in Bandipur
Forecast for 1,030 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Best time to visit
Oct-Apr
- Good month: Jan
- Good month: Feb
- Good month: Mar
- Good month: Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Good month: Oct
- Good month: Nov
- Good month: Dec
- Autumn (Sep-Nov)
- October and November bring clear mountain views and Dashain and Tihar festivities; weekends can be busy with domestic visitors.
- Winter (Dec-Feb)
- December to February is cool and mostly clear, with morning fog filling the valley below the ridge.
- Spring (Mar-May)
- March and April are warm with flowering trees; haze often hides the peaks by mid-morning.
- Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
- June to August is wet and green; views are rare and the road and trails can be slippery.
Where to stay
GuesthousesHotelsHomestaysResorts
Stay in the old bazaar itself, where several houses have been converted into small guesthouses. Rooms are limited at weekends and in festival season.
Old bazaar houses converted into small guesthouses, a few hotels and resorts near Tundikhel, and homestays in surrounding villages; rooms fill at weekends and during Dashain.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Eat and drink
Newari khaja (beaten rice, spiced meat and pickles) is served in the bazaar. Coffee and tea on the main street terraces with a view is part of the pleasure.
Getting there
Any bus between Kathmandu and Pokhara can drop you at Dumre on the Prithvi Highway, from where local buses, jeeps and taxis climb the 8 km road to Bandipur.
Nearest hub: Pokhara
- roadKathmandu to Dumre, about 135-145 km and 4-6 hours by tourist or local bus depending on traffic.
- roadPokhara to Dumre, about 70-75 km and 2-3 hours by bus.
- jeepDumre to Bandipur, about 8 km and 20-30 minutes by local bus, jeep or taxi.
- walkA footpath climbs from Bimalnagar on the highway past Siddha Gufa to Bandipur in about 2-3 hours.
Permits and fees
None needed
No permit is needed for Bandipur. Siddha Gufa charges a local entry ticket and guide fee.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against Bandipur, Wikivoyage.
Practical tips
- Mobile signal and Wi-Fi are generally available in the bazaar.
- ATMs are limited; withdraw cash in Dumre, Kathmandu or Pokhara to be safe.
- Remove shoes before entering temples and ask before photographing rituals.
- Trails to Siddha Gufa are steep and slippery after rain; do not enter the cave without a guide and torch.
- Vehicles are kept out of the main bazaar; be ready to carry bags a short distance from the road head.
Safety
Trails down to Siddha Gufa are steep and slippery after rain. Do not enter the cave without a local guide and a torch.Questions about Bandipur
How do I get to Bandipur from Kathmandu?
Take any Kathmandu-Pokhara bus to Dumre (about 4-6 hours), then a local bus, jeep or taxi up the 8 km road to Bandipur.
Is Bandipur worth a stop between Kathmandu and Pokhara?
Yes, if you have a night to spare: the car-free bazaar, sunrise mountain views and Siddha Gufa make a good break in the journey.
Do I need a permit for Bandipur?
No permit is needed; Siddha Gufa has a local entry ticket and guide fee.
When is the best time to visit Bandipur?
October to April for clear views; Dashain brings the Khadga Devi procession but also crowds.
How do I get up to Bandipur from the highway?
Get off any Kathmandu-Pokhara bus at Dumre, then take a local bus or taxi up the 8 km road to the town.
Nearby
Temple, monastery or heritage site · 1,135 m
Gorkha
The hill town where the Shah kings ruled the Gorkha Kingdom and Prithvi Narayan Shah began the unification of Nepal.
Town or village · 822 m
Pokhara
A lakeside city about 200 km west of Kathmandu, with the Annapurna range and Machhapuchhre rising close to the north.
National park or conservation area
Chitwan National Park
Nepal's first national park, in the inner Terai lowlands: sal forest, tall grassland and rivers home to one-horned rhinoceros, tigers and gharials.
Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-06. Sources: Bandipur Rural Municipality, Wikipedia, Bandipur, Wikivoyage, Bandipur, OpenStreetMap, Wikipedia: Bandipur, Wikipedia: Siddha Gufa