The Old Inn is a restored town-house, set in the charming village of Bandipur, off the main Kathmandu and Pokhara road. Once an important stop along the Indo-Tibet trade route, Bandipur still retains its old cultural charm, primarily because the tourist deluge went past it, to the nearby town of Pokhara. Still not very well known in the tourist market, it houses historic buildings, traffic free town square and nature trails with stunning views of the snow-capped high Himalayas.
Overlooking the historic flag-stoned bazaar, the Old Inn Bandipur, houses just 20 rooms. These are spread over two adjoining timber and brick Newari houses with adobe stucco façade and handcrafted wooden balcony that overlooks the Bazaar. Inside, the décor is traditional in style; wooden pillars and beams, narrow staircases and exceptionally low doorways and a courtyard overlooking a terraced garden. The overall feel is of an authentic, old world charm and hospitality.
During the day, guests at the Old Inn Bandipur prefer to take short treks, including a climb to Thani Mai view point which offers stunning 360-degree views, including of the Annapurnas. Another interesting site is Tundikhel, a flat plateau on the Indo-Tibet route where traders once exchanged their goods. Staff at the Old Inn can arrange a private tour to the local Silkworm Farm to see the full process of silk production and the Hindu temples of Bindebasini and Khadga Devi.
Amenities
24hr Room ServiceBar/PubConciergeGardenMultilingual StaffRestaurantWi-Fi AvailableStay The Old Inn Bandipur features just 20 guest rooms in two wings. The new wing houses 9 rooms spread over three floors, all with ensuite bathrooms. Whereas the 11 rooms in the original building have separate showers and toilets. All are designed in traditional Newari style with open-beamed ceilings, whitewashed brick walls and handcrafted wooden or cane furniture. There are no TVs or Wi-Fi, but with so much natural beauty and culture around, you won’t really need them.
ChildCare Families with children are welcome to stay at the Old Inn Bandipur. There is one large room that accommodates four-persons, which is ideal for families. Babysitting service can be arranged, upon request.
Dine The in-house restaurant at the Old Inn Bandipur serves delicious local cuisine. Breakfast has a choice of western or Bandipur-style with pancakes or eggs to order. Lunch generally comprises of home-made soup and buffet-style platters with salami, cheese, salads and French fries. Sumptuous dinners include a Nepali banquet with some western favourites. Meals are served on the ground level terrace, in the dining room or on the roof-top garden. All meals are included in price.
Relax The Old Inn Bandipur has a lovely rooftop garden with majestic views of the snow-capped mountains, in particular The Annapurnas. The house bar has a selection of wines, beers, spirits and soft drinks, as well as freshly-ground, local, organic coffee. In front of the Inn is a traffic-free flag-stoned bazaar, and at the back of the hotel is a lovely courtyard with enough space to relax.
Experience Bandipur is a small village known for its old time cultural atmosphere. The Old Inn Bandipur provides a perfect destination from which to explore its culture and easy access to its many nature trails. Climb up to Thani Mai from which on a clear morning, you will see the most spectacular 360-degree views of the Himalayas. Explore the 437m deep and 50m high, Siddha Gufa (cave) said to be the largest cave in Nepal and visit Tundikhel traders point on the old Indo-Tibet route.
Location Bandipur is located between Kathmandu and Pokhara at an elevation of 1030m. It is 143kms from Kathmandu and 80km from Pokhara.
Getting there Fly to Kathmandu via Delhi or the Middle East (13-hours), and a 5-hour drive.
When to go Nepal has a Monsoonal climate with four main seasons. Autumn and spring are the two most favourable seasons for visiting Nepal. Autumn (September to early December) brings in clear weather with sunny days and warm nights. Spring (March to May) with occasional rain falls. From June to September, is the monsoon season. Uncomfortable time to visit as the climate of Nepal at this time of year brings about hot weather and rain falls almost every day.
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