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BANDIPUR A LOVELY TOURIST DESTINATION Bandipur is one of the most famous tourist visiting places in Nepal. It is a hilltop settlement of Newar with its age-old flavor still intact. Because of its beautiful environment and perseverance of the old-time cultural atmosphere, it has increasingly been coming to the attention of tourism. The population in that area is very thin as at the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 9952 people residing in 1929 individual households. Bandipur is located between the Capital of Kathmandu and the Lake-town of Pokhara ridge above the highway above Dumre. It combines traditional village architecture, epic Himalayan views, lovely countryside walks, local adventure sports, and excellent accommodation. It’s also an ideal place to break up the drive between Pokhara and Kathmandu while getting a relaxing taste of rural Nepal in the process. It can also be called a natural view tower since it lies on the top of the hill and offers a spectacular view of the Annapurna Range along with the Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, and Lang tang.
HISTORY OF BANDIPUR Bandipur was established as a funneling point of a trade by Newar traders from Bhaktapur in the Kathmandu valley after it had been conquered in 1768 by Prithvi Narayan Shah. They took advantage of its malaria-free location to develop it into an important stop. Perched on a saddle high above the Kathmandu-Pokhara highway, Bandipur consists of a single flagstoned street lined on both sides with traditional wooden Newari architecture.
Bandipur Village Nepal
Once an important stop on the trade route to Tibet, the former merchants’ homes you’ll find this town has today been mostly converted into guesthouses and cafes. However, a few traditional shops remain, and their 18th-century architecture remains utterly charming. Here, crimson bougainvillea flowers cascade off wooden balconies, and ancient temples peek out from every street junction. The complete lack of vehicles and their tooting horns is a particular joy, especially if you’ve spent any time in polluted and crowded Kathmandu.
FAMOUS PLACES TO VISIT AROUND BANDIPUR BAZAAR PURANO KOT (THANI MAI) Purano Kot, originally a fort, lies at a distance of about 500 m to the west of the main bazaar. It takes about twenty minutes of easy walking over the stones to reach the top. There is a small temple nearby containing several old statues. Next to it stands a newly built temple of Thani Mai. Thani Mai is again another religious place in Bandipur. The temple is located at the top of the hill and offers visitors the breathtaking view of the mountains and the village downhill. Despite being a religious village, the Thani Mai Temple is famous for a spot for a spectacular sunrise. The visitors prefer a short early morning hike to the temple to view the sunrise. The hike is less than an hour from Bandipur.
KHADGA DEVI The temple of Khadga Devi is one of the most revered temples in Bandipur, which is believed by its look of a residential house except for the finial. This temple is opened to devotees only once a year on the day of Phulpati during the Hindu festival of Dashain.
Khadga Devi
The shrine does not contain any statues of gods or goddesses, but a Khadga, a sacred sword wrapped in layers of cloth. Legend has it that if anyone looks at it, he or she invites instant death by vomiting blood. According to another story, the relic was a gift from Lord Shiva to Mukunda Sen, king of Palpa (1518-1553 A.D.). The Khadga is worshipped as a symbol of the female power; hence the name Khadga Devi means goddess of the sword.
TUNDIKHEL Tundikhel is an excellent vantage point situated to the north of Bandipur’s main bazaar. From here, one can view the magnificent Himalayan Range including the spectacular peaks of Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, Langtang, Manaslu and Ganesh Himal, among others. The legendary Gorkha Palace and the famous Manakamana Peak can also be seen clearly. Other sights include the Marsyangdi Valley, Bimal Nagar, and Dumre.
CHANDITHAN This temple lies to the west of Bandipur Bazaar. According to folklore, people would place 12 eggs inside the temple and cover it with straw and brick before the start of the planting season. If the eggs kept fresh after one year when they were uncovered, it meant that there would be a good crop the following year.
Chandithan
MAHALAXMI TEMPLE This temple is located in the southeast of the main bazaar. Its architecture shows it to date from the medieval period. The temple is in the style of a pagoda. The struts and tympanum are adorned with figures of Bhimsen and various mythical creatures. The original statue of the goddess Mahalaxmi, however, was stolen, and a new one has replaced it.
BINDABASINI TEMPLE This temple is located in the main bazaar area and is constructed in the pagoda style. An image of the goddess Bindabasini is enshrined here. It also contains statues of other goddesses. During the New Year celebrations of the Bikram Sambat, the image of Bindabasini is put on a chariot and pulled through town amidst other revelries.
Bindabasini Temple
PAHARPANI MAHADEV A fifteen-minute walk to the north of Bandipur Bazaar brings one to the shrine of Parpani Mahadev. From above, it appears as a small bush. A stone pathway leads to the cave-like shrine. Inside, there is a waterspout, and below it are installed several small statues of various gods. They are known as Parpani Mahadev. In the old days, people gathered here to sing hymns and bathe under the fountain before going to work in their fields. A pond has been built here to add to the beauty of the site.
PADMA LIBRARY The Padma Library is at the center of the Bandipur Bazaar. The library is important because of the special permission from the Ranas, thus reflecting the power of Bandipur during the Rana time. Being small, the library is famous for its architecture and design. The library contains books from the time of Rana administration and is also preserving the historical sources of the village.
SIDDHA CAVE Bandipur amazes visitors with its geology as much as with its scenic and cultural attractions, and it would be unthinkable not to visit its caves. The must-see destination here is Siddha Cave, discovered only in 1987. It is said to be the largest cave not only in the kingdom but also on the South Asian subcontinent. Sightseers can check for themselves by exploring its inner recesses which are filled with natural artworks created by stalactites and stalagmites here. Siddha Cave is just above the cliff of Bimal Nagar, from where it is a thirty-minute climb.
Siddha Cave You can reach Bandipur through the cave after ninety minutes of easy walking. Patalidwar This cave also goes by the name of Gateway to Heaven. According to legend, anyone entering the cave will cause all the sins of their ancestors. And, to wash away and bring them salvation. The way to this cave is through a jungle and takes about two hours from Siddha Cave. People celebrate religious fair here in April when participants perform the Chutka dance.
RAMKOT Ramkot is a two-hour walk to the west of Bandipur. It is an easy hike passing through Muchuk Village from where you can also visit Mukundeswari. Ramkot is a typical Magar village with traditional roundhouses. Ramkot is safe from modern development and offers an opportunity to experience the lifestyle of rural Nepal. From here, one can go on to Chabdi Barahi, which can be reached after two hours of easy hiking.
THE BEST TIME TO VISIT BANDIPUR The spring (March to May) is the time of maximum tourist flow in Bandipur. The humidity and the temperature together make the environment warm, where the average temperature ranges from 21.7°C to 32.5C. The atmosphere in summer (June to August) is also a popular time to visit Bandipur. The cost of staying in hotels might rise due to the frequent tourist visit. Bandipur experiences snowfall during November. The flow of the tourists is less during the winter. A trip to Bandipur is a wonderful experience of the mixture of nature and culture at a place. So, if you are making a plan to visit Bandipur, make it for either spring or summer. The winter also offers beautiful mountain views. However, the atmosphere is cold during winter.
IN A NUTSHELL, We can say that Bandipur is the traditional and preserved society that provides us with beautiful views like a mountain viewing tower. It is not only famous for its natural beauty or different adventures but also for the warm hospitality that is provided by the local people to tourists. Travel from Kathmandu to Pokhara is long distance so this typical Newari town is the best place for relaxation point. The place names around Bandipur indicate that Magars, whose chieftains ruled numerous principalities of today’s central Nepal, originally inhabited the surrounding region, known as Tanahun. When Prithvi Narayan Shah of Gorkha set out to expand his dominion, Tanahun was a powerful adversary that was overcome only after a hard battle. The majority of the current residents are originally traders from Bhaktapur in the Kathmandu Valley, who made their way to Bandipur and settled here. While the Newars are predominant in Bandipur, the Magar and Gurung ethnic groups inhabit the hillsides growing rice, millet, corn and mustard on terrace fields.