Bandipur is a small, tranquil, and enchanting village, located in Tanahun District, 143 km west of Kathmandu and 80 km east of Pokhara. It is a wonderful destination renowned for its impressive fusion of nature and cultural preservation. With a calm street, traditional Newari architecture, mountain views, and hiking trails, Bandipur offers a serene break for travellers seeking to experience a glimpse of Newari culture in a compelling natural setting.
In this tour, “Trip to Bandipur,” you will explore some of the heritage sites of Kathmandu, i.e., Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhnath Stupa, “The Monkey Temple,” aka Swyambhunath Stupa, and Patan Durbar Square. The major highlight of the tour is the journey to the rural Newari settlement – Bandipur and the day you will spend there, where you will be hiking to the Siddhi cave (Asia’s second-largest and Nepal’s largest cave), visiting the Bandipur Bazaar, Khadga Devi Temple, and making a morning climb to the Thani Mai Temple viewpoint. This trip allows you to experience the combination of modern and traditional rural lifestyles, all against the backdrop of the natural world.
Upon arrival at the TIA, Kathmandu, meet and greet with our office representative. Then, you will be transferred to the designated hotel. Our representative will escort you to the hotel and assist you with the check-in process. After a short briefing on the trip, the rest of the day is leisure. In the evening, you can stroll around Thamel’s local market, a tourist hub. Overnight stay at the hotel.
The day starts with a delightful breakfast at the hotel, and then you will visit one of Nepal’s most sacred religious Shiva temples, Pashupatinath. It is Kathmandu’s most visited temple of Lord Shiva. Its main attraction is the unique Shiva Linga, which displays the eight faces of Lord Shiva.
Then, you will visit the holiest shrine of Buddhists and the largest stupa in the world, Bouddhatha. The stupa’s massive mandala makes it one of the largest spherical stupas in Nepal and the world. It represents the Tibetan culture in Kathmandu. In the stupa, there are giant pairs of eyes looking out from the four sides, which refer to Buddha’s eyes and the wisdom eyes. These eyes symbolize the all-seeing ability of the Buddha.
Swyambhunath Stupa: The golden spire of the 5th century, also known as “The Monkey Temple”, is an ancient religious stupa atop a hill in the Kathmandu Valley. The stupa is revered for its ancient spiritual significance, breathtaking views of the valley, and the playful presence of resident monkeys. With its distinctive stupa, prayer flags, and serene ambience, Swayambhunath serves as a symbol of peace and enlightenment in the heart of Kathmandu.
Later, visit a UNESCO-enlisted World Heritage Site, Patan Durbar Square, which served as the royal palace of the Malla kings. It consists of three different courtyards, i.e., Mulchowk, Sundari Chowk, and Keshab Narayan Chowk, which is an exquisite example of Nepalese art, culture, and architecture. The square is full of ancient temples and carvings and is full of innumerable pagoda-style temples. One of its attractions is the ancient royal palace where the Malla Kings of Lalitpur resided.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
The third day starts with a scenic drive from Kathmandu to Bandipur on your private transport. The route from Kathmandu to Bandipur alongside the Trishuli River is one of the most used travel routes in Nepal. After 4-5 hours of driving, you will reach Bandipur, one of the best hill stations in Nepal with stunning vistas of the Himalayas, including Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh, Langtang, etc. The Newa town of Bandipur is one of Nepal’s hidden gems.
Once we reach there, you will make your way to the hotel. After getting some rest, you will visit Khagadevi Temple, Tindhara, a Buddhist Monastery, and Tudikhel. Overnight stay at the hotel in Bandipur.
In the morning, we will have a short climb to the Thani Mai Temple Viewpoint, on top of Gurungche Hill, to enjoy the sunrise. Embrace the sunrise over the spellbinding mountains and pristine forest, and the Bandipur village hidden by the cotton clouds. Return to the hotel for breakfast.
You will next travel to Siddha Cave, an interesting combination of natural beauty, adventure, and cultural significance. Following the dense forest, you will hike for approximately 1.5 hours. Upon reaching the top, ease your exhaustion with the cool breeze and splendid view of hills draped in a blanket of greenery. Entering the cave, you will descend into deep caverns of ladders and pass through sections with ropes. The structure of stalactites abound the whole cave. You can hear the whistling of bats high above the cavern walls. Along the way, you will see places of prayer and meditation areas and a swimming pool during the wet season. There is an extended space at the end of the cave that can accommodate around 2,500 people. The cave provides the best experiences of a small world without light.
It is advised to wear comfortable shoes and bring a torch because the cave is slippery, dark, and has a stone path.
After the hike, return to the hotel, then spend the remainder of the day at leisure. Overnight stay at the hotel in Bandipur.
On the 5th day, retracing the same path, we will drive back to Kathmandu.
Optional on an extra cost: En route, you have the option of rafting in the Trishuli River or visiting the Manakamana Temple, “Goddess of Fulfilling Wishes,” where you are taken by cable car ride.
Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Breakfast is at the hotel, and the rest of the day is free till your departure. You will be transferred to the airport in time to board your flight for the upcoming onward trip. The journey ends at the airport with enduring memories of Nepal.
