The Best Things to Do in Bandipur, Nepal

Best Things to Do in Bandipur, Nepal

Hike to the Thani Mai Temple for Sunrise or Sunset

Hiking up to the Thani Mai Temple was one of my favourite things to do in Bandipur. The temple is on a small hill close to the center of Bandipur, and it takes around 30 minutes to hike up to it.

The best time to come is for the sunrise, but I also visited for the sunset, and it was also worth it.

The hike up to the temple is not too strenuous, but the path is mostly stairs uphill for 30 minutes straight, so it is good to take some short breaks.

💡 Pro Tip for the sunrise hike: In the morning, wake up about 1 hour before the sunrise. Check if the weather is good (not cloudy). If the weather is clear, quickly get ready and hike up to Thani Mai. If the weather is cloudy, you can go back to sleep and try for better views the next day.

Explore Siddha Gufa, South Asia’s Second Biggest Cave

• Entry fee: Rs. 100 (USD 0.60) (+ Rs. 100 for guide fees). 
• Opening times: 10 am – 5 pm everyday

Siddha Gufa is the biggest cave in Nepal and you can visit it by a short (and adventurous) hike from Bandipur. The cave is massive and you can do a lot of exploring inside.

I was not aware of how big the cave is and how far inside the cave you can go. In comparison to some of the smaller caves I have visited in Nepal, the Siddha Gufa is really something else.

When I arrived at the cave, there were a few other people there already, and we all went together with the guide. The cave is really big, so it’s good to go with a guide.

On some sections of the cave, you even have to climb up and down with the help of a rope. Make sure to wear something that you do not mind to get dirty.

Hike to Ramkot

Ramkot is a tiny village a short hike away from Bandipur. It has become popular in the past couple of years to hike to Ramkot as the village is like set in old times and you get to visit an authentic Nepali village.

Ramkot is 6 km from Bandipur and the hike takes about 1.5 hours one-way. Usually, people hike to Ramkot in the morning, spend a little bit of time in the village, and then get back to Bandipur by lunch time.

It is an easy hike and can even be completed solo. There are also hikes to Ramkot organized by guides, if you prefer to go with one.

See the Sunrise at Tundikhel

Tundikhel is about 10 minutes’ walk from Bandipur Bazaar. It is a big field from where you can have nice views of the Himalayas.

The views are not as great as from Thani Mai but it can be reached much more easily. If you want to see the Himalayas without having to hike uphill for 30 minutes, then Tudikhel is the place for you.

Eat, Chill and Soak in the Sun in Bandipur Bazaar

Bandipur Bazaar is a street full of charming cafes and restaurants. Many of the restaurants in Bandipur have outdoor seating areas where you can relax and soak in the sun. It can feel a lot like as if you were in cafe in Belgium or France.

Some of the restaurants also have balconies overlooking the hills that are perfect for a dinner watching the sunset. 

Explore the Temples in Bandipur

There are many temples scattered around Bandipur: Mahalaxmithan Temple, Khadga Devi Temple, Bindabyasini Temple and Bhimsem Temple.

You will find these temples as you wander around Bandipur and there are even signs pointing the way towards each temple.

Donate Books to the Padma Library

The Padma Library is a small public library in Bandipur Bazaar. There are many English and Nepali language books, additionally they even have some other foreign language books such as Japanese or Korean.

The books are second-hand and if you have any extra books with you, you can also donate books to the library. 

Check Out the Newari Architecture of Bandipur

Newari architecture is traditionally characterized by the use of red bricks and beautiful wood carved windows.

The locals in Bandipur have put great efforts into preserving buildings in the traditional Newari architecture. Due to these efforts, you will see all the beautiful buildings all around Bandipur and especially by the main street.

Visit the Mini Great Wall of Bandipur

The name ‘Mini Great Wall’ was given by tourists as the wall structure is reminiscent of the Great Wall in China. You can see and reach the Mini Great Wall from Thani Mai.

If you walk all the way down the Mini Great Wall, you will also get to the trail that goes towards Ramkot. 

Visit the Silkworm Farm

• Best time to visit: from April to October.
• Opening times: everyday 10 am – 4 pm, closed on Saturdays.
• How to get there: The Silkworm Farm is a 30 minutes’ walk from Bandipur. You can also take a taxi from Bandipur. If you want to take taxi back to Bandipur, negotiate with the taxi driver to wait for you while you check out the Silkworm Farm. The road to the farm has barely any traffic and you will not be able to hail a taxi unless you arrange one beforehand.

The best time to visit the Silkworm Farm is from April until October, which is the hatching and rearing season of the silkworms. During this time, you will be able to see the rearing of the silkworms until they reach the cocoon stage.

The silk production is carried out in Kathmandu, so if you are interested to see silk production, you will not be able to see it here.

I visited the farm during the “off season” in December. During this time, there is only a small exhibition where you can see the different stages of the silkworm and learn about the rearing process. The presentation is only about 5-10 minutes and I think it is not that worth to visit it in the off-season.

Try Newari Food

As Bandipur is a Newari settlement, make sure to try traditional Newari food while you are there.

There are not that many restaurants that serve Newari food but the best place to try would be at the Samay Baji Restaurant. In Samay Baji, you can try various Newari dishes, such as bara (lentil pancake), samay baji (Newari lunch set) or choila (spicy meat).

Visit the Buddhist Monastery

The Buddhist Monastery is near where the trail starts to the Siddha Gufa. If you are going to hike to Siddha Gufa from Bandipur, it is a good opportunity to check out the Buddhist Monastery as well.

It is a slightly small monastery and when I was there, there was nobody there, except for a cooking lady. She told me that there is usually a monk here, so if you are lucky, you may be able to meet the monk.

Restaurants in Bandipur

There are lots of nice restaurants in Bandipur serving all types of dishes (both international and Nepali). The restaurants and cafes are mostly family-run, and the owners are super kind and friendly.

My favourite restaurants are Khaja Cafe (for Nepali and Indian food), Samay Baji (great for Newari food), and the Bandipur Bahadur Cafe (best for breakfast).

Where to Stay in Bandipur

How to Get to Bandipur by Bus

• Step 1: First, take a bus from Kathmandu/Pokhara/Chitwan to Dumre
• Step 2: Once in Dumre, change to the local bus that goes from Dumre to Bandipur (30 minutes)

How to Get to Dumre

There is no direct bus to Bandipur so first you have to take the bus to Dumre which is the closest town to Bandipur.

To get a bus to Dumre, you can take any of the buses running between Kathmandu-Pokhara or Pokhara-Chitwan, they all stop in Dumre.

The safest and most comfortable option is to take a tourist bus, but for these you have to pay the full fare. For example, if you are going from Kathmandu, you have to buy the ticket for a tourist bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara for the full price, it is not possible to just buy a ticket and pay a partial price up to Dumre.

Tell the bus helper that you are going to Bandipur and ask them to drop you off in Dumre at the bus stand, where the local buses go to Bandipur.

How to Get from Dumre to Bandipur

Once you get to Dumre, there is a local bus that goes from Dumre to Bandipur. It isn’t really a bus stand, just a bus standing on the side of the road.

From Dumre, it is around a 30 minutes’ bus ride to Bandipur. The bus ticket costs Rs. 100 (USD 0.70).

There is also an option to take a taxi. The taxis are around the bus stand in Dumre and the drivers are hanging around asking passengers if they want to take a taxi to Dumre. I took the bus, but the taxi is a quick a comfortable option. It takes only 10 minutes by taxi and costs Rs. 600 (USD 4).

Conclusion

In conclusion, Bandipur is a peaceful, friendly town that offers many activities including hiking, exploring caves, and a relaxing atmosphere to recharge.

Bandipur can be visited all year around but the best times to visit is between October to Mid-December and Mid-February to May. During these times, the weather is more pleasant and you will have the best chance for clear sunrise and sunset views of the Himalayas.

Read Next

• How to Get to Bandipur by Bus
• Best Things to Do in Pokhara
• Best Things to Do in Chitwan