Bandipur

Bandipur is a hilltop trading town in the Gandaki Province, situated at 1,030 metres between Kathmandu and Pokhara. The entire town centre is a pedestrian zone of immaculately maintained Newari brick houses, traditional inns, and temples that have stood since the 18th century when Bandipur was a thriving trade junction on the India–Tibet route. The cobblestone bazaar street is lined with carved wooden balconies and houses converted into boutique guest houses. From the Thani Mai hilltop shrine above town, views of Manaslu, Annapurna, and Dhaulagiri are outstanding. Bandipur is an easy stop when travelling between Kathmandu and Pokhara — 20 minutes off the main highway.