Bandipur Attractions: What to See in Bandipur, Nepal

Walk up from the bus stop at the edge of Bandipur and the road gives way to a long, paved bazaar street. Brick houses with carved wooden windows line both sides. On a clear morning, the Himalaya sits along the northern skyline.

The short answer. The main Bandipur attractions are the old Newar bazaar, the Khadga Devi and Bindebasini temples, the Thani Mai viewpoint, the Tundikhel ground, Siddha Gufa cave and the village walk to Ramkot. The town sits at about 1,000 m in Tanahun district, on the road between Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Bandipur is one of several hill towns we cover in our guide to hill stations in Nepal. Below you will find what each sight is, a short history, how to get there, when to go and a few practical tips from our Kathmandu team.

Key facts

Altitude: About 1,000 m (Uncover Nepal operator fact, 8 Oct 2026)
Where: Tanahun district, Gandaki Province, on the Mahabharat range (Bandipur Rural Municipality, 8 Oct 2026)
Local government: Bandipur Rural Municipality, six wards (Bandipur Rural Municipality, 8 Oct 2026)
From Kathmandu: Five to six hours by road (Uncover Nepal operator fact, 8 Oct 2026)
From Pokhara: About 76.5 km, about two hours and ten minutes by bus (Nepal Tourism Board, 8 Oct 2026)
From Dumre (highway junction): About 8 km, about 30 minutes by local bus (Film Development Board; Onlinekhabar, 8 Oct 2026)
Nearest airport: Pokhara (Nepal Tourism Board, 8 Oct 2026)
Best season: Mid-September to mid-December (Film Development Board, 8 Oct 2026)

Bandipur attractions: what to see

Bandipur is small, and you can walk to almost everything from the bazaar. The table gives a quick view; the notes below explain each one.

The flower-lined bazaar street of Bandipur, Nepal — The main bazaar street, lined with old Newar houses.

Sight	What it is	Good for
The bazaar	Preserved Newar trading street with traditional houses	Slow walking, photos, tea
Khadga Devi temple	Hilltop shrine said to hold the sword of Mukunda Sen	Culture, Dashain procession
Bindebasini temple	Pagoda-style temple in the bazaar	Architecture, daily worship
Thani Mai viewpoint	Hilltop temple above town with wide views	Sunrise, mountain views
Tundikhel	Flat open ground at the edge of town	Valley and Himalaya views
Siddha Gufa	Cave below Bandipur, officially described as Nepal's largest	A guided cave visit
Ramkot	Village in the rural municipality	A quiet village walk

The Newar bazaar

The bazaar is the reason most people come. The Nepal Tourism Board puts it plainly:

"The hilltop settlement of Bandipur, predominantly a Newar town with its age-old flavor still intact is well preserved and invites travelers to experience its unique offerings: rich hill culture, mountain views, and hiking."

Nepal Tourism Board, ntb.gov.np/en/bandipur

The rural municipality lists the bazaar first among its main attractions, as a "quaint Newari culture reservation". Expect two- and three-storey brick houses with carved windows and wooden struts holding up the eaves. Some of the old houses now take in guests as homestays and inns. The main street has traditionally been kept free of traffic, with vehicles stopping at the edge of town. That is what makes it pleasant to wander at any hour.

Khadga Devi temple

Khadga Devi stands on the hill above the bazaar. It is said to house the sword of Mukunda Sen, a 16th-century king of Palpa. Khadga means sword. Once a year, on Phulpati, the seventh day of Dashain (17 October in 2026), the sword is carried in procession around the bazaar. The temple used to open only during Navaratri, the nine nights of Dashain, but it is now open daily.

Bindebasini temple

Bindebasini (also spelt Bindhyabasini) is a pagoda-style temple in the bazaar itself. It is a working temple, so you will see local people stopping for morning and evening worship. Walk around it clockwise, take your shoes off if you go inside the temple area, and ask before photographing anyone at prayer. Other temples in and around town include Mahalaxmi and Mahadev.

Thani Mai viewpoint

Thani Mai is a hilltop temple above the bazaar, reached by a steep climb on stone steps. The Nepal Tourism Board describes "a stunning 360 degree view" from the top. On a clear day the Himalaya runs across the horizon, from Dhaulagiri in the west to Langtang in the east. Visibility depends on the season and the hour, so go early. The rural municipality also lists Mukundeshwori as a viewpoint, and a wall trail linking it with Thani Mai is part of the municipality's plans.

Tundikhel

Tundikhel is the Nepali name for an open parade or gathering ground, and Bandipur's sits at the edge of town. It is an official viewpoint over the Marsyangdi valley and the Himalaya. On many mornings, cloud settles in the valley below, which the Film Development Board describes as a "white lake". It is the easiest viewpoint to reach: no stairs, just a short stroll from the bazaar.

Siddha Gufa

Siddha Gufa is a limestone cave below Bandipur, which the Nepal Tourism Board describes as Nepal's largest cave. Size figures quoted online vary widely, so we do not repeat them here. You reach the cave on foot, either down a steep trail from Bandipur or up stone steps from Bimalnagar on the Prithvi Highway. Visits are guided with a torch, and the inside is slippery, so wear shoes with good grip. An entry fee is charged at the cave; ask locally for the current amount and timings.

Ramkot and the villages

Ramkot is one of several villages in the rural municipality, along with places such as Hilekharka, Korikha and Bahun Bhanjyang. A walk out to Ramkot takes you away from the bazaar into farmland and traditional houses. Trail conditions change after the monsoon, so ask your guide or your guesthouse about the current route before setting off.

Other things to do

The rural municipality lists paragliding, rock climbing, rafting on the Marsyangdi and trekking among local activities. A small silk farm below the town has offered visits in the past; ask locally whether it is open now.

A short history of Bandipur

Bandipur grew rich on trade, then went quiet when the highway passed it by. That quiet is why the old town survived.

Brick and slate rooftops of the Newar bazaar town of Bandipur — Brick and slate rooftops from the town's trading days.

Early settlement. Bandipur was originally a Magar settlement.
The Newar traders. Newars from Bhaktapur settled here and made it a trading town; the Kathmandu Post dates their arrival to the 19th century.
On the trade route. The town sat on a route between India and Tibet. The rural municipality says it was a trading transit point for Kaski, Lamjung, Gorkha and Manang before a motor road arrived.
Losing the district office. The Tanahun district headquarters moved from Bandipur to Damauli in November 1968 (2025 BS).
The highway bypass. The Prithvi Highway, completed in 1974 with Chinese assistance, runs from Naubise to Pokhara via Mugling and Dumre at the foot of the hill. After it was built, trade moved down to the road and Bandipur declined.
Today. Bandipur and Dharampani merged into a municipality in 2071 BS, which became a rural municipality after the 2073 BS federal restructuring. Tourism, homestays and small hotels now keep the bazaar alive.

How do you get to Bandipur?

Direct answer. Most visitors come by road. From Kathmandu it is five to six hours; from Pokhara about two hours and ten minutes by bus. Both routes run along the Prithvi Highway to Dumre, where buses and jeeps climb about 8 km up to Bandipur. There is no direct Kathmandu to Bandipur public bus.

From	How	Distance	Time	Notes
Kathmandu	Private car, or bus to Dumre then local bus or jeep	Not quoted	Five to six hours by road	No direct public bus to Bandipur
Pokhara	Bus or car via the Prithvi Highway	About 76.5 km	About two hours and ten minutes by bus	Pokhara is also the nearest airport
Dumre	Local bus or jeep up the hill	About 8 km	About 30 minutes by local bus	Dumre is the junction on the Prithvi Highway

A few notes on the road:

Traffic and roadworks. The Prithvi Highway carries heavy traffic, and roadworks can add time. Treat the drive time as a guide, not a promise.
Flying in. If you fly to Pokhara first, the flight from Kathmandu takes about 30 minutes. Domestic and international flights are your own arrangement; we arrange the road transfer.
Breaking the journey. Kathmandu to Pokhara is most of a day by road, often six to nine hours with traffic and roadworks. Stopping in Bandipur splits that drive into two easier days.

When is the best time to visit Bandipur?

Direct answer. The best time to visit Bandipur is mid-September to mid-December. Skies are clearest after the monsoon, in October and November, which is when the mountain views from Thani Mai and Tundikhel are most reliable. Winter mornings are cool, and the monsoon months from June to September bring most of the year's rain.

Misty morning light on the Tundikhel ridge in Bandipur — Tundikhel on a misty morning.

The table below shows average temperatures and rainfall recorded at the Bandipur station.

Month	Avg max (°C)	Avg min (°C)	Rain (mm)
Jan	18.4	6.4	24.5
Feb	20.8	7.5	23.3
Mar	25.7	11.8	35.9
Apr	29.7	16.2	76.7
May	30.0	18.6	200.2
Jun	30.1	20.6	333.8
Jul	28.3	20.8	463.0
Aug	28.2	20.6	376.0
Sep	27.8	19.5	201.9
Oct	26.7	16.3	62.9
Nov	23.1	10.6	10.1
Dec	19.3	6.8	15.9

Bandipur station, 965 m, FAO/JICA data, period not stated; the bazaar sits a little higher.

Season by season:

Autumn (mid-September to November). Dry, clear and comfortable, with the best mountain views.
Winter (December to February). Clear days with cold nights; the coldest months average a low of around 6 to 7°C at the station. Bring a warm layer for sunrise.
Spring (March to May). Warmer, with more haze and rain building towards May.
Monsoon (June to September). Nationally, the Nepal Tourism Board says "Eighty percent of all the rain in Nepal is received during the monsoon (June-September)". Expect cloud over the mountains and slippery steps.

Festivals worth timing a visit for

Dashain and the Khadga Devi procession. On Phulpati, the seventh day of Dashain (17 October in 2026), the sword of Mukunda Sen is carried in procession around the bazaar. Dashain dates follow the lunar calendar and change every year.
Bagh Jatra. Bandipur has its own tiger-dance festival, held around Gai Jatra in late summer.

Practical tips for visiting Bandipur

Stay at least one night. The viewpoints are best early in the morning, and staying over means you can be at Tundikhel or Thani Mai at first light without a pre-dawn drive.
Where to stay. Community homestays operate in the bazaar and in nearby villages, alongside hotels and inns. Book ahead around Dashain and other holidays.
No altitude worries. At about 1,000 m, Bandipur is far below the altitude-sickness threshold of about 2,450 m (CDC). If you are heading higher later, read how to avoid altitude sickness.
Shoes. You will be on stone steps for Thani Mai and Khadga Devi, and on a slippery floor in Siddha Gufa. Shoes with good grip matter more than boots.
Respect the temples. Remove shoes where asked, do not touch offerings, and ask before photographing people at worship.
Pair it with other places. Bandipur works well as a stop between Kathmandu and Pokhara or alongside Gorkha. For places closer to Kathmandu, see our guides to Nagarkot and the Chandragiri cable car. Our guides to places to visit in Kathmandu and Kathmandu hiking are coming soon.

Read next: Nepal tourist places and places to visit in Kathmandu.

Frequently asked questions

Is Bandipur worth visiting?

Yes, if you enjoy old towns, slow walks and mountain views. Bandipur is a Newar trading town whose bazaar the Nepal Tourism Board describes as having its "age-old flavor still intact". You get temples, viewpoints, a cave and village walks within easy reach on foot. It also breaks up the long road between Kathmandu and Pokhara.

What is Bandipur famous for?

Bandipur is best known for its preserved Newar bazaar, with traditional brick houses and carved windows. It is also known for wide Himalayan views from Thani Mai and Tundikhel, ranging on clear days from Dhaulagiri to Langtang. Siddha Gufa, which the Nepal Tourism Board calls Nepal's largest cave, is nearby.

How do I get from Kathmandu to Bandipur?

Go by road along the Prithvi Highway to Dumre, then up the hill for about 8 km. The drive takes five to six hours. There is no direct public bus from Kathmandu to Bandipur, so either take a bus to Dumre and switch to a local bus or jeep, or travel by private car.

Is Bandipur on the way to Pokhara?

Yes. Bandipur sits above Dumre on the Prithvi Highway, the main road between Kathmandu and Pokhara. From Pokhara it is about 76.5 km, or about two hours and ten minutes by bus. Many travellers stop for a night to break the drive.

How many days do you need in Bandipur?

One night covers the bazaar, the temples, Tundikhel and a sunrise climb to Thani Mai. Add a second day if you want to walk down to Siddha Gufa or out to Ramkot, or try local activities such as paragliding or rafting on the Marsyangdi.

Can you get altitude sickness in Bandipur?

It is very unlikely. Bandipur is at about 1,000 m, far below the level of about 2,450 m (CDC) where altitude sickness usually becomes a concern. You may feel the stone steps up to Thani Mai in your legs, but not the altitude.

Plan your visit

If Bandipur fits your route, these trips include it:

Want Bandipur added to a different trip, or a quiet night there on the way to Pokhara? Message our Kathmandu team on WhatsApp or send an enquiry, and we will plan it with you. For more hill towns, go back to our guide to hill stations in Nepal.

Last checked: 8 October 2026