"A treasure, as long as it remains... " a Bandipur Travel Page by josephescu

Out of the many ethnic groups in Nepal (Pahari, Taman , Sherpa, Gurung, Kiranti, etc), the mingled socio-economical and religious societies developed by the Newars have evolved into the most advanced urban societies in Nepal. Apart from the chaotic Kathmandu Valley, there are several small Newari towns scattered on hilltops and mountain stretches, charming mixtures of old fashioned flavors, traditions, history and architecture, located in picturesque landscapes.

Untouched by modernization, laced with an abundance of ancient houses, temples and historical architecture, Bandipur is one of the best and most preserved examples of the medieval-era Newari towns.

And fortunately, the gore-tek crowds rush from Kathmandu directly to Pokhara, thus leaving Bandipur off the beaten track.

Bandipur was settled in the early nineteenth century by Newars from Bhaktapur, who took advantage of its malaria free location on a mountain stretch at 1000m to develop it into an important stop along the India-Tibet trade route. The Newars brought with them their rich cultural heritage and architecture - substantial buildings, with neoclassical facades and shuttered windows, which, bespeak past glories, defining the look and feel of the modern day Bandipur.

Bandipur had its heyday in the Rana times (1846-1951), when, as a measure of its power and prestige, it was granted special permission to have its own library (which is still going). However the town began to lose its edge in the 1950s, when the eradication of malaria in the Terai (southern plains) made travel easier there.

In the 1960s, the district headquarters was moved from Bandipur, and the completion of the road to Pokhara (called the “Prithvi Highway”) in 1973 shifted commerce a few kms down the mountain to Dumre, thus leaving Bandipur a semi-ghost town.

Other resources:
http://www.sitanepal.com/tourisminfo.php
http://www.bandipurtourism.com