Introduction
Bandipur is a beautiful old Newari town situated high on a hill off the road between Kathmandu and Pokhara.The town was established as a funnelling point of trade by Newar traders from Bhaktapur in The Kathmandu Valley after it had been conquered in 1768 by the king at the time Prithvi Narayan Sha. Bhandipur grew as an important stopover along the India Tibet trade route.With them they brought their cultural heritage and architecture which basically has remained unchanged to this day.
Originally a simple Magar village in the early 19th. Century Bandipur developed into prosperous trading centre and a community with town-like features: substantial buildings, with their neoclassical façades and shuttered windows and streets paved with slabs of silverish slate.
Bandipur today has developed over the last few years into a favourite stop over for tourists who are often on their way from Kathmandu to Pokhara. It is a fascinating place and still unspoilt there are also some fantastic panoramic views of the Himalayas from here. The treks listed below center around the Bandipur region and commence from Bandipur.
Ethnicity:
Formerly a Magar village, Bandipur today is settled by a variety of Nepali ethnicities with different beliefs: the Bahuns, the Chettris, the Newars, the Damais, Kamis, Sarkis, Kasais, the Magars and Gurungs.