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This study was carried out to find the traditional

settlement as well as to study the architecture within the

Bandipur which belongs in Tanahu districts. The study

carries detail information of that area.

Post-graduate student of Urban

design and conservation

BANDIPUR

The very first day of our tour started with a visit to one of the old settlement of

Bandipur.

Bandipur (बन्दीपरु) is a hilltop market place in Tanahu District, (Gandaki Zone)

of central Nepal. Because of its preserved, old time cultural atmosphere, Bandipur

is increasingly becoming a tourist town.

The town is located at 27.56 N latitude, 84.25 E longitude at an elevation of 1030m

from MSL. and on a mountain saddlement of (Mahabharata range) approximately

700m above the Marsyangdi River Valley, 143 km to the west of Kathmandu and

80 km to the east of Pokhara.

Since 1998 it is connected with an 8 km access road from Dumre (Kathmandu-

Pokhara highway). Until, then the city was isolated and connected with only an

unreliable road. during the monsoon only accesibility was by tractors. The

mountain saddle, just 200m long, is barely wide enough to accommodate the main

street lined by 2 –3 storey buildings on either side. At the backsides of these

houses the surface steeply descends and used as kitchen, gardens that are only

accessible by stone stairs.

Bandipur was established as a tunneling point of trade by Newar traders

from Bhaktapur in the Kathmandu valley after it had been conquered in 1769

by Prithvi Narayan Shah. They took advantage of its malaria free location to

develop into an important stop along the india-tibet trade route that passes through

butwal-kathmandu and keyrong. With them they brought their cultural heritage and

architecture of Kathmandu valley, which basically has remained unchanged to this

day. Originally, simple Magar villages till the early 19th.Century, Bandipur

developed into prosperous trading center and a community with town-like features:

a Substantial building, with their neoclassical façades and shuttered windows and

paved streets with slabs of slate shows the prosperity of the day.

Bandipur had its heyday during the Rana times (1846-1951), when, as a measure of

its power and prestige, it was granted special permission to have its own library

(still existing).

After opening of highways in the 1970s, trading fell into a steep decline with the

construction of the Kathmandu – Pokhara highway. The people moved down to the

valleys. For technical reasons the highway was logically built in the Marsyangdi

valley, leaving Bandipur isolated up on the mountain. In addition to that, and its

result of poor accessibility, Bandipur lost importance because the districts

headquarter of Tanahu was moved down to Damauli.

The tradesmen of Bandipur were forced to migrate to Dumre, Naryanghat,

Kathmandu valley and many even left for unknown points in the Terai.

The population declined considerably. On two occasions Bandipur has witnessed

some turmoil. The people were not easily and readily sidestepped by the

construction of the road and fought for a different route in the planning process.

In the 1970s, when the first demonstrations for democracy took place in Nepal, the

people of Bandipur stormed the little garrison. Several people were killed and the

soldiers fled. Again, when the district headquarters were to be moved, the people

demonstrated and occupied the administration. The civil servants fled during the

night. Even the king was flown in by helicopter to calm the situation. However, the

decline of the little town could not be reverted. Some relics of its wealthy past

remain. Although many houses are in bad repair, the typical Newari taste of

architecture is still preserved.

A distinctive feature of Bandipur Main Street is the covered veranda decorated

with colourful flower & plants extending almost along the entire length on the

northern side. Most of the buildings still have little shops in them. The slate

pavings in the main street have been destroyed by heavy vehicular traffic, for

which they were not made, but they can still be reconstructed along the edges and

in the smaller alleys. The library still exists and was carefully renovated in 2000.

Another relic is a soccer-field-sized Tundikhel to the northeast of the town and the

villages’ importance as Centre for academic activities for the people surrounding

villages.

Formerly a Magar village, Bandipur today is inhabited by multi-ethnic groups with

different beliefs: the Bahuns, the Chhetris, the Newars, the Damais, Kamis, Sarkis,

Kasais, the Magars and Gurungs.

One college is there in Bandipur Notre dame school is a better way for education to

providing to people. excellent panoramic view of the Himalayas with

Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh, Langtang Himal, with the Marsyangdi

Valley is the Mount Manakamana and Gorkha with its high perching palace;

relatively easy accessibility and, of course, old Newari town flair, make Bandipur

an interesting tourist site from which a few guesthouses and a hotel at the northern

end of the Tundikhel try to benefit.

It may well be that the seclusion of Bandipur saved the rural Newari architecture

of its beauty which otherwise would have been replaced by faceless modern box

found in many other towns of Nepal.

The various Newari and Magar festivals, which until recently have been held for

own purposes several times a year, can also be of interest to tourists. Sorathi and

Chutka dances are very popular.

Other attractions include the Bindyabashini temple and the library in the village

Centre, Thani Mai, Tindhara (“Three Taps” washing place at the southeastern

outskirts), Raniban (Queen's Forest), the downhill trek to the Siddha Cave and a

hike to Ramkot village. On Mukundeswari, the elevation at the western end of the

saddle is a little shrine and one has a view of Bandipur itself.

Some villagers grow oranges, quite well in the climate of that area. An hour’s walk

to the west of Bandipur is a silk farm.

Bandipur settlement with street and houses

Khadga devi Temple Classic building at the entrance of main market

from west