Bandipur aims at attracting 800,000 tourists

By Amar Raj Naharki,Tanahun, Nov. 24: Tanahu's historical and cultural settlement, Bandipur, has announced a goal to attract 800,000 tourists as part of its ‘Visit Year’ campaign. So far, over 500,000 tourists have visited the Bandipur area, and the sixth Bandipur Festival, scheduled from 27 November to 7 December, is expected to boost tourism promotion further.

At a press conference held in Bandipur on Saturday, Chairperson of Bandipur Rural Municipality Surendra Thapa informed that the Visit Year initiative has been launched to spread the tourist influx beyond the town market and into the villages, aiming to make the entire area more tourism-friendly.

According to Thapa, road improvements, staircase construction, and the ‘Bright Bandipur’ programme are being implemented to facilitate access and create a welcoming environment across all six wards of Bandipur. 

To offer visitors an experience of rural life, local art, culture, and homestays, infrastructure and services have been expanded to the villages, with notable destinations such as the Siddha Cave – said to be the largest in South Asia, Ramkot, Dharampani, Raniban, and the Manimukunda Palace area now more accessible.

The Chief Administrative Officer of Bandipur Kamal Bahadur KC said that the aim is to highlight not only the Bandipur market but also nearby tourist attractions equally. He expressed confidence that these efforts would bring about a qualitative change in overall infrastructure, services, and tourism management.

Ghanshyam Bhusal, Chair of the Bandipur Market Unit of the Tanahu Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the coordinator of the main organising committee of the festival, shared that the festival has been designed to directly benefit farmers by linking agricultural products and livestock to the market. According to him, local products, handicrafts, arts, culture, and tourism promotion will all be showcased in one place. 

Manakaji Shrestha, former president of the Tanahu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that Bandipur is becoming one of Nepal's most attractive hill destinations and that the Visit Bandipur 2025 campaign will inject new energy into local businesses and the homestay industry.

Bikram Piya, Principal of Bandipur Campus, noted that the expansion of tourism will create local employment opportunities, foster enterprise development, and improve living standards, highlighting that the Visit Year campaign represents an opportunity for community-based development.

Likewise, Kisan Pradhan, Chairman of the Bandipur Tourism Development Committee, revealed that an international cycling competition will be held in the upcoming month of Magh (mid-January to mid-February 2026) as part of the tourism promotion efforts.

Located at the triangle of major tourist hubs like Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Sauraha, Bandipur has gained popularity among tourists in recent years due to its olden houses, Bhaktapur-style architecture, Tundikhel, Thanimai, Raniban, Ramkot, Sunkhari, Khadgadevi, and Mahalaxmi Temples, as well as attractions like paragliding and rock climbing.

Bandipur, which can be reached with a 9-kilometre journey from Dumre at the Prithvi Highway, has recently been made more accessible by the newly operational cable car. Once deserted after the district headquarters moved to Damauli in 57 years ago, Bandipur is now bustling with activity again as tourism expands. This year’s Visit Bandipur campaign, driven by local businesses, operators, and the community, is expected to help establish Bandipur as a strong, long-term tourism hub.