Bandipur, a popular tourist town in Tanahun, recently hosted foreign visitors who donned traditional Nepali attire and immersed themselves in local cultural dances such as Kaura and Chudka. Tourists from various countries, dressed in the ethnic outfits of the Newar, Magar, Gurung, and Chhetri communities, joyfully participated in these traditional dances, celebrating the rich heritage of the area.
Local hotel owners organized the event on Friday, offering visitors a chance to explore Bandipur’s unique cultural customs. Kisan Pradhan, the manager of Heritage Guest House and chairperson of the Bandipur Tourism Development Committee, noted that the tourists were deeply captivated by the local culture. “The foreign visitors tried to understand our customs and traditions, so we arranged for them to experience our culture firsthand with the help of locals. They seemed very happy,” Pradhan shared.
Dancing to traditional songs sung by the locals, the tourists were visibly delighted. Pradhan added, “Visitors to Bandipur are often enchanted by the unity and culture of the local communities.”
Bandipur has seen an increase in both domestic and international tourists recently. The village municipality has already declared “Visit Bandipur 2025” as an initiative to further promote tourism, aiming to attract even more visitors.
According to Pradhan, Bandipur is attracting tourists from countries like Japan, China, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, France, the United States, Germany, Denmark, Pakistan, Australia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, South Korea, Belgium, Thailand, Taiwan, Switzerland, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Iran, India, Greece, and Argentina.
Chairperson Surendra Thapa of the Bandipur Village Municipality shared that various programs will be organized throughout 2025 to promote tourism. “We plan to market Bandipur by reaching major cities like Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan, and Lumbini,” Thapa mentioned. Additionally, an international cycling competition is scheduled for January to attract even more visitors to Bandipur.
Thapa emphasized that Bandipur will continue to launch initiatives aimed at establishing tourism as a primary source of income. “We aim to create more programs that reflect Bandipur’s historic charm and unique identity as a protected cultural town,” he added.
The municipality has designated popular destinations such as Khadgadevi Temple, Thanimai Temple, Mahalaxmi Temple, Siddha Cave, and Mani Mukund Sen Walk (the “Mini Great Wall”) as primary attractions. Other notable spots, including Tundikhel, Mani Mukund Sen Palace, Padma Library, and homes built in traditional Bhaktapur style, further enrich Bandipur’s appeal. Visitors can also enjoy scenic spots like Tundikhel, Rani Ban, Ramkot, and Sunkhari, along with heritage sites such as Khadgadevi, Vindhyavasini, and Mahalaxmi temples.
Bandipur is easily accessible via a scenic uphill drive of eight kilometers from Dumre, which is 18 kilometers from Tanahun’s district headquarters, Damauli. The town offers breathtaking views of the Annapurna, Machapuchare, and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges, enchanting visitors with its natural beauty and serene surroundings.
Source: RSS
