Tanahun, 4 Jan: Bandipur, the tourist town of Tanahun, has set a new milestone in the tourism sector. Driven by a campaign aimed at promoting Bandipur’s natural beauty and unique heritage to the global community, a total of 635,000 domestic and international tourists visited Bandipur within a one-year period. This figure is the highest ever recorded in the town’s tourism history.
Chairperson of Bandipur Rural Municipality, Surendra Bahadur Thapa, said the unity between the local community and tourism entrepreneurs has been instrumental in transforming Bandipur’s traditional Newari settlement, historic marketplace, Himalayan viewpoints, Siddha Cave, and trekking trails into world-class destinations. According to Chairperson Thapa, the long-term vision is to make Bandipur vibrant throughout the year by offering special attractions for tourists every month.
Tourism statistics show that out of the total number of visitors in the past year, 453,000 tourists stayed overnight in Bandipur, while more than 200,000 visitors came for day trips. Bais Bahadur Gurung, Coordinator of Visit Bandipur Year–2025, stated that although the initial target was to attract 200,000 overnight tourists annually, welcoming more than double that number is a major achievement for Bandipur. Among the overnight visitors, nearly 100,000 were foreign tourists, while around 400,000 were domestic travelers.
Vice Chairperson of the rural municipality, Panchamaya Gurung, noted that this unprecedented influx of tourists has significantly boosted the local economy, homestays, and hotel businesses. She added that the municipality is moving forward with plans to make tourism more sustainable by linking it with income-generation opportunities for local women and communities.
Similarly, Kisan Pradhan, Chairperson of the Bandipur Tourism Development Committee, said the town’s stone-paved market, the blend of Gurung and Newari cultures, and exceptional hospitality encourage visitors to return repeatedly.
Cultural programs organized to welcome the English New Year 2026 have further added to the festive atmosphere among tourists and locals alike. Tourism experts, including Ward No. 3 Chairperson Parmeshwar Bhattarai, stated that collective efforts are underway to strengthen infrastructure development and promote sustainable tourism in Bandipur.
