Bandipur is three hours drive from Pokhara, five hours’ drive from Kathmandu, and 90 minutes from Besisahar—the traditional starting point of the Annapurna Circuit trek. To this end, it’s a great town to visit before or after an Annapurna Circuit or Manaslu Circuit trek. Perched on a saddle high above the Kathmandu-Pokhara highway, Bandipur consists of a single flag stoned street lined on both sides with traditional wooden Newari architecture. Once an important stop on the trade route to Tibet, the former merchants’ homes you’ll find in this town have today been mostly converted into guesthouses and cafes. However, a few traditional shops remain, and their 18th-century architecture remains utterly charming. Here, crimson bougainvillea flowers cascade off wooden balconies, and ancient temples peek out from every street junction. The complete lack of vehicles and their tooting horns is a particular joy, especially if you’ve spent any time in polluted and crowded Kathmandu.
