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Bandipur

Bandipur

Bandipur

Early morning breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast we proceed for Bandipur. its 80kms takes about 1 -2 hrs approx. One of Nepal's most charming towns, Bandipur is a living museum of Newari culture, a beautifully preserved village crowning a lofty ridge, its main street lined with traditional row houses. Time seems to have stood still here, although it has taken a lot of effort to preserve this magic while developing the town as a destination. Derelict buildings have been reborn as cafes and lodges, and temples and civic buildings have been pulled back from the edge of ruin. With its attractive 18th-century architecture, pedestrian zone and outdoor dining, it has a distinctly European feel. Check into the hotel &Rest of the day is free to relax or you may enjoy the environment of the location. Overnight at Bandipur.

History of Bandipur,

An ancient village of central Nepal.

Bandipur is a group of small villages located on hilly ridges of Tanahun district in the western region of Nepal. These hills, situated at 1000 meters above sea level and close to Indian Gangetic plains (Terai), were good locations with a very favorable environment for villages to groom, especially with its own spring water source. Even the name, Bandipur, in ethnic Magar language suggests ‘forest water’.

The oldest villages on the hilltop ridges of Bandipur, namely Baralthok, Silthok are of Magar ethnicity. Magar people are one of the ethnic people of the hills of Nepal. They ruled most parts of central Nepal from 800 to 1200 years ago, in the name of Bahrah Magrath (12 Magar States), with its capital as Tansing, today known as Tansen in Palpa.

The name of Bandipur village was first recorded in history more than 500 years ago during the times of King Mukunda Sen of Tansing, Palpa. Mukunda Sen became the king after his father Rudra Sen, who had captured the capital from the Magars. Then, Mukunda Sen became a great king by capturing most of the states and even expanding it further, all the way to the Koshi river in the east. It is mentioned in history that he even attacked Kathmandu, then known as Nepal.

On his way back to Tansing after his great wars, King Mukunda Sen is said to have stayed in Bandipur for some days to rest. One day he was walking around the villages as a stranger and stopped in an old woman’s house for an overnight. The old woman offered him different varieties of delicious food. He mixed everything into one and ate. Seeing that, the old woman got angry and told him that he should learn to enjoy the taste of food. Every variety has its own taste. She told him not to be like King Mukunda Sen, who is trying to unite everyone into one.

Hearing this, the King felt bad. He thought he had achieved great success; on the other hand, it was a great mistake. Legends say that the King repented his wars that night in Bandipur and left his sword in the old woman’s house. He went back to his capital, renounced his throne to his four sons and spent the rest of his life in seclusion in Devghat. His kingdom was divided into Palpa (Tansen), Butwal, Tanahun, and Makwanpur.

The sword was kept safely by the old woman if the man returned for it. But, after some time, she started having trouble in her house. So, she called for a Jhakri, Shaman, to check her house. The shaman found that the sword, which belonged to the stranger, was the problem. He said the sword is very powerful and must be taken out of the house immediately with religious rituals. Then a temple was made to house the sword. The sword still exists in Khadga Devi Temple in Bandipur and is worshipped by the ethnic Magar people every once a year during the eight-day of Dashain.