Chitwan to Bandipur by private car
A private car and driver from Sauraha or Bharatpur up to Bandipur, the old hilltop bazaar town, in about 2½–3 hours. Go for the day, stay the night, or stop on the way to Pokhara.
The trip in numbers
- Driving time
- About 2½–3 hours
- Road
- Prithvi Highway to Dumre, then up the hill
- Pickup
- Sauraha, Bharatpur or Meghauli
- Drop-off
- Edge of Bandipur bazaar
- On to Pokhara
- About 2 hours more
- Best for
- A break on the Chitwan–Pokhara drive
Break the Pokhara drive in Bandipur
Bandipur is a car-free bazaar of old Newari houses on a ridge above the Pokhara road. On a clear morning you can see a long line of Himalayan peaks from the town.
Tourist buses don't stop there, so most visitors change to a local bus at Dumre. With a private car you go hotel to door, stay as long as you like, then carry on.
A popular plan: leave Chitwan in the morning, spend the afternoon and night in Bandipur, and reach Pokhara by lunch the next day.
Heading on? See Chitwan to Pokhara, or plan a longer loop with our Chitwan, Lumbini and Pokhara tour.
Frequently asked
How long is the drive from Chitwan to Bandipur?
About 2½–3 hours from Sauraha or Bharatpur. The last stretch is a winding hill road up from Dumre.
Can we stop in Bandipur on the way to Pokhara?
Yes. Bandipur sits just off the Pokhara road. Spend a few hours or a night there, then carry on to Pokhara, about 2 hours further.
Can the car drive into Bandipur bazaar?
The old bazaar street is for walking only. The driver drops you at the edge of the bazaar, a short walk from most guesthouses.
Is Bandipur a good day trip from Chitwan?
It works, with about 5–6 hours of driving in total. Staying one night is better if you want the sunrise view of the Himalaya from the ridge.