Siddha Gufa: Guide to Visiting the Largest Cave of Nepal

Information for Visiting Siddha Gufa

• Opening times: every day 10 am – 5 pm
• Entry fee: Rs. 100 (USD 0.70) + guide fees Rs. 100 (USD 0.70)
• Duration of the cave tour: about 45 minutes

A bit of background about the Siddha Cave is that it was discovered by a group of hikers in 1988. It is estimated that the cave is 3,500 years old.

How to Get to Siddha Gufa

Hike from Bandipur to Siddha Gufa

There is a hiking trail from Bandipur to Siddha Gufa. The trail is all downhill and takes about 50 minutes to reach the cave.

The hike itself to Siddha Gufa is pretty adventurous but be careful as some parts of the trail are steep and slippery. In the mornings, the weather is still a bit foggy on the trail but it clears around noon.

I also decided to hike this trail to Siddha Gufa. I started in the morning around 9 am, and there was no one else on the trail at the time. I found the trail was easy to follow but a bit dangerous as the trail is all downhill and was also a bit slippery.

More people started to hike later during the day, so if you are hiking solo and want to meet other people on the trail, then leave a bit later during the day, even if you leave at 10 am, you are likely to meet more people on the way.

Walking from Bimalnagar to Siddha Gufa

Bimalnagar is a town near Dumre, and you can also reach the Siddha Gufa from here.

Bimalnagar is much closer to the entrance of Siddha Gufa, but if you are staying in Bandipur then it’s not worth it to go to Bimalnagar. I recommend starting from Bimalnagar only if you are already in Bimalnagar by some chance.

From Bimalnagar, there is a path made of stairs that lead to Siddha Gufa. It takes about 20 minutes uphill on the stairs to reach the cave.

How to Get Back from Siddha Gufa to Bandipur

Hike Back to Bandipur

After you explore the cave, you have the option to hike back on the trail to Bandipur. The hike back to Bandipur is all uphill and can be pretty exhausting if you are already feeling tired.

If you feel too tired to hike back uphill, you can also take the stairs downhill to Bimalnagar and take a bus from there back to Dumre, and then change to the bus to Bandipur.

Walk Down to Bimalnagar and Take the Bus

I felt pretty tired after I hiked down from bandipur to the cave, and explored the cave. So, after visiting the cave, I decided to just take the stairs down to Bimalnagar.

The way down to Bimalnagar is an easier and shorter option. The stairs leading down from Siddha Gufa to Bimalnagar take only about 20 minutes of walk.

Once you get down to the main highway in Bimalnagar, take the bus to Dumre (5 minutes bus ride, costs Rs. 20). Then, take another bus from Dumre to Bandipur (30 minutes bus ride, costs Rs. 100).

I decided to take this way as I felt pretty tired. Overall, taking the bus didn’t save me time, but it was less tiring.

Inside Siddha Gufa Bandipur

Route

Once you start walking inside the cave, you see how big the cave is. A path was built inside the cave and people can go pretty far inside the cave.

This route was established with the building of some stairs and by fixing ropes along the cave.

There are sections where you have to use ropes to pull yourself up and down to be able to continue on the path. I thought it was way more adventurous then I had expected. I thought we would just walk a bit around the cave like in one of the caves in Pokhara, but here you could actually go quite far and see much of the cave.

What to See Inside

Inside the cave, you can also spot various stone formations. It’s good to take a guide with you, as he can point out the formations for you. I would have never been able to spot them on my own because the cave is so big, and I could look around with my headlamp for a long time without ever spotting anything.

Some of the formations include ones that resemble a lion’s head, elephant, chicken, an old man’s face, and other broccoli-shaped formations.

There are also some bats inside the cave but it is not possible to spot as many as in the Bat Cave in Pokhara.

Overall, if you have only visited smaller caves previously, then this cave will really surprise you. I did not know how big it was going to be or that we will be able to go so deep inside the cave.

If you are in Bandipur, I definitely recommend to check out the Siddha Gufa Cave.

⭐ Explore Nepal’s biggest cave and book a private tour to Bandipur and Siddha Gufa here!

Sometimes, a sadhu also stays inside the cave and performs prayers and meditations. They usually sit near the entrance.

Things to Know Before Going

Is the Guide Worth it?

When you buy your entrance ticket to the cave, there is also an option to hire a guide for Rs. 100 (USD 0.70). I recommend hiring a guide as they can point out the formations for you, and guide you on the path inside the cave.

I liked having the guide as he could point out the formations inside the cave that I would not have been able to spot otherwise.

Take a Headlamp with You

There are no lights inside the cave and it is very dark. They give everyone a torch, but it is much better of you have a headlamp with you.

On some sections of the cave you have to use a rope to pull yourself up and down on the path, and if you have a headlamp, it makes using the ropes easier. If you have a torch that you have to hold in your hand, then it is more difficult to use the rope on the path.

I had a headlamp with me, and felt it was so useful. If I just had the torch, I would have found it very difficult to continue on the rope path and use the torch at the same time.

💡 Grab your headlamp now! (Useful both when trekking or visiting caves in Nepal)

What to Wear When Visiting the Siddha Cave?

Your shoes and clothes get a bit dirty when you are inside the cave, especially when you are at the sections where you have to use the ropes. So, I recommend wearing something that you don’t mind to get dirty.

Other Things to Do in Bandipur

Bandipur is such a cool place! One of my favourite things to do was to visit the Siddha Cave, but there are a few other things I recommend while visiting:

• Hike up to the Thani Mai Temple and see the sunrise or sunset
• Hike from Bandipur to Ramkot
• Check out the Newari architecture of Bandipur
• Eat and drink in one of the cute cafes and restaurants in Bandipur
• Try Newari food
• Visit the Silkworm Farm (best time to visit between April to October)

FAQs: Siddha Gufa, Nepal

Which is the largest cave in Nepal?

The largest cave in Nepal is the Siddha Cave near Bandipur. It’s a limestone cave, about 50 metres high and 430 metres deep.

It is estimated to be 3,500 years old but was only discovered in 1988 by a group of hikers. The cave is located about 1 hour hike from Bandipur.

What is the second largest cave in South Asia?

The Siddha Cave in Nepal is the second largest cave in South Asia. It is located near the town of Bandipur and can be reached by a 50 minutes hike.

Siddha Gufa is a limestone cave, and is 50 metres high and 430 metres deep.

In which district in Nepal is the Siddha Cave located?

The Siddha Cave is located in the Tanahun District of Nepal. It is about half-way between Kathmandu and Pokhara. The closest towns are Bandipur and Bimalnagar.

It is a popular activity to hike from Bandipur to the Siddha Cave. The hike takes about 50 minutes downhill.

My Final Tips before Visiting the Siddha Gufa

If you are staying in Bandipur, I recommend hiking down to the cave. It’s an adventurous hike, but be careful as the trail is steep and slippery. Still, hiking to the cave is adventurous and it’s like a warm up before visiting the cave.

Once you get to the cave, I recommend hiring a guide. The cave is big and dark, and the guide can point out the formations inside the cave that you would not be able to spot otherwise.

Make sure to wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty as you pass sections inside the cave where you might get a bit dirty.

Lastly, if you feel tired after the hike and exploring the cave, you can also walk down to Bimalnagar, and take the bus back to Dumre and then to Bandipur. It won’t save you time, but in this case you don’t have to hike back uphill to Bandipur.