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

The Thani Mai Temple is about 30 minutes hike from Bandipur Bazaar. It is on a small hill near the main street of Bandipur. The hike is easy, though includes mostly stairs to reach the top. 

💡 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 – 7 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 really 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.

Some sections you will 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 has a very authentic Nepali village life.

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 organized by guides, if you prefer to go with one:

➡️ If you don’t want to hike solo, book a one-day hiking trip from Bandipur to Ramkot here!

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 have some great Himalayan views 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”. 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 am not sure if it is really that worth it.

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 an ideal time 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. I heard usually there is a monk there, so if you are lucky, you may be able to meet the monk.

Restaurants in Bandipur, Nepal

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, Nepal

How to Get to Bandipur by Bus

• Step 1: Take a bus from Kathmandu/Pokhara/Chitwan to Dumre
• Step 2: Take a local bus 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.

How to Get from Dumre to Bandipur

• By local bus: the local bus takes 30 minutes and costs Rs. 100.
• By taxi: The taxi takes around 10 minutes and costs Rs. 600.

Need more info? Check out my guide on how to get to Bandipur by bus.

FAQs: Best Things to Do in Bandipur, Nepal

What is special about Bandipur, Nepal?

Bandipur is a charming small town, most famous for its well preserved Newari architecture, and beautiful sunrise and sunset views.

Newari architecture is characterized by red bricks and wooden carved windows, and there are many restaurants and hotels there built in Newari design.

The outdoor cafes and restaurants on the main street of Bandipur will even remind you to Belgium or France.

What are the best places to visit in Bandipur?

The best places to visit in Bandipur include Siddha Gufa (Nepal’s largest cave), sunrise and sunset hike to the Thani Mai Temple, hike to Ramkot village, Silkworm Farm, Tundikhel, Mini Great Wall of Bandipur and visiting the temples.

Is it worth visiting Bandipur, Nepal?

Yes, Bandipur is definitely worth visiting. There are quite a few things you can do in Bandipur, such as hiking to Ramkot, hiking to and exploring Siddha Gufa (Nepal’s largest cave), and see the sunrise or sunset from the Thani Mai Temple.

With so many things to do in Bandipur, it is easy to spend 3 nights here. Even though there are many activities in Bandipur, it is also nice to just relax and hang out in the cafes in Bandipur.

How to go to Bandipur Nepal?

There are no direct buses to Bandipur. So to get to Bandipur, first you will have to take a bus to Dumre. Then once in Dumre, you have to change to another bus to Bandipur.

The bus from Dumre takes 30 minutes and costs Rs. 100. If you do not want take the bus, there are also taxis that can take you to Bandipur for Rs. 600, which is pretty good.

How do I go from Pokhara to Bandipur?

To get from Pokhara to Bandipur, you can take any tourist buses that operate between Pokhara and Kathmandu. You will have to get off at Dumre, which is a town about halfway between Pokhara and Kathmandu.

Once you are in Dumre, you can either take a bus or a taxi to Bandipur. The bus takes 30 minutes and costs Rs. 100, while the taxi costs Rs. 600.

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.

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• Best Things to Do in Pokhara
• Best Things to Do in Chitwan