Important Places for visiting at Bandipur

The heart of Bandipur is the medieval-looking Bandipur Bazaar that sweeps in a gentle curve along the top of the hill in an east-west axis. The stone-paved main street is lined with compact town houses with ornate windows and doorways and roofs of tin or slate. All along the street, a covered veranda extends in front of the rows of houses providing shade in summer sun and monsoon rain. Tundikhel, a field to the northern end of Bandipur’s main Bazaar, is an excellent vantage point for viewing the Marsyangdi valley and the magnificent Himalayan Range in a single frame. It includes the spectacular peaks of Dhaulagiri, Machhapuhhre, Langtang, Manaslu and Ganesh Himal, among others. The legendary Gorkha Palace and the famous Manakamana peak are clearly visible from here. Other sites include Bimalnagar and Dumre Bazaar. Purano Kot, originally a fort, lies a distance of about 500 m to the west of the main bazaar. It takes about twenty minutes of easy and gentle climbing to reach the top. There is a small temple nearby containing a number of old statues. Next to it stands a newly built temple of Thanithan Mai. The local people believe that praying to the god Mahadev at this spot during a drought will bring rain. Since this spot lies on a hilltop above the bazaar, it provides stunning views of the mountains and the bazaar especially at sunrise and sunset. Teendhara, a best picnic spot lies to the east of the main bazaar and can be reached in fifteen minutes. The name of this place derives from the original three water spouts which is still the main source of water for the villagers. The shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva lies nearby with rest houses and shady spots scattered around making this a favorite place for picnickers. Raniban, the mixed Sal forest is located to the east of main bazaar. It is a tranquil heaven for the nature enthusiasts with abundant local flora and fauna, including lungurs, orchids, butterflies etc. Bandipur’s hillsides are dotted with caves, often carrying religious significance for the locals. The must-see destination here is the Siddha Cave discovered only in 1987. Rich in stalactites and stalagmites, it is said to be the largest cave in the Himalayan region. Siddha Cave is situated just above the cliff of Bimalnagar, from where it is a 30-minutes climb. Ramkot is a two-hour easy hike to the west of Bandipur. It passes through Muchuk Village from where you can also visit Mukundeswari. Ramkot is a typical Magar village with traditional round houses, untouched by modern development offering an opportunity to experience authentic lifestyles of rural Nepal. From here, one can go on to Chabdi Barahi, a pilgrimage spot, which can be reached after two hours of easy hiking. Bandipur hosts more than 24 species of orchids. The month of June is the best season to enjoy the different varieties of orchid in full bloom. Although you can see orchids in most part of Bandipur, the best route to enjoy this beautiful flower is on the way to the silk farm west of Bandipur Bazaar.