Beautiful Bandipur

Trip Start Aug 10, 2008
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35
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Trip End Ongoing


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Where I stayed
Namaste Guest House
(Bandipur hotels)

Flag of Nepal  ,
Wednesday, December 10, 2008

I left early morning and got a lift on the back of a motorbike - with all my luggage- the short distance to the bus park. After a short journey we reached Dumbre where we changed to a jeep for the short ride up the hillside to Bandipur. The driver waits until the jeep is full before leaving so it was pretty packed with people on the top, hanging off the back and side and stuffed inside - I was inside sat opposite a young girl clutching and stroking her (pet?) chicken!  

Bandipur was a beautiful place, no tourist shops, no traffic (vehicles are only allowed to the edge) and no one trying to sells good or tours. We spent a couple of nights here, walking around the hilltops for fantastic sunset views and down a steep slippery trail to a cave - the biggest in Nepal .(Shree Bimalnagar Siddha Gufa) It was pitch dark - my headlight was useless - and the 3 of us were the only ones in there - climbing over rocks and exploring around down tied on ladders and up ropes The moon is out early
The moon is out early
 . One of the brothers went hurling down one part so avoided that area! There were some nice small temples, huge spiders (the size of my hand!) and stunning views across the valleys and mountains. We met a local man that enthusiastically explained about the different vegetables and grains they eat, and how they make the local drink - Roxy. There were also one or two very small religious festivals taking place, with people taking offerings and sacrifices to small shrines, it was a lovely community. At dusk when we returned from walking it was a pretty magical sight to see the main bazaar filled with children running about and playing in candlelight (because of the power saving).  
 
As we left bandipur and took the jeep back down the hillside, I stood on the ledge, clinging onto the back of the jeep and counted 34 other people in and on the vehicle - I wondered what the record was...
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