The main street
Stone and red houses.
Bijay Chaurasia — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Bijay Chaurasia — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Maesi64 — CC0 · Ganesh Paudel at ne.wikipedia — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Bijay Chaurasia — CC BY-SA 4.0
Bandipur is a small hilltop town in central Nepal, between Kathmandu and Pokhara. It is known for its main street free of traffic noise, old houses, big trees and views over the valley. It makes a restful stop for anyone travelling between the two cities who wants a quiet night rather than one long journey. Bandipur was an old trading village which, as late as 1998, could be reached in the monsoon only by tractor, according to Wikivoyage. A paved road then opened the town year-round to Nepali and foreign visitors, setting off a building boom, but it has kept much of its old character. It also has the Narayan Sthan temple. The main street runs on a stone surface between red houses with timber windows and balconies, draped with bougainvillea, and small cafes. Near the town are an open ground with huge trees and paths among terraced fields. On winter mornings cloud fills the valley below you, and distant peaks may appear above the sea of mist. It is about 5 km in a straight line from the Dumre area on the main road and about 51 km from Pokhara. Travel by bus or car to Dumre, then take a minibus up, or walk via Siddha Cave, and Wikivoyage also mentions a short cable car. There are plenty of guesthouses. Dress modestly near temples and bring a jacket for the morning.
Stone and red houses.
Cloud filling the valley at dawn.
Big shade near town.
Above Dumre, on the Kathmandu to Pokhara road, Tanahun District, Nepal
By bus or car to Dumre on the Kathmandu to Pokhara road, then by minibus uphill.
One night is usually enough to see the street at evening and the mist at dawn.