Located 6km south of town on a scenic hilltop, this is far and away the best place to stay in this area, and a model of rural tourism. Returning to Nepal after years in the USA, the owners have lovingly crafted their own gaun (small village) of guest cottages using local materials and intelligent engineering – and made it earthquake-proof.
Nice touches abound, like the fire pit with views to Manaslu, slate baths, and long beds for Western travellers. The large dining hall offers a wonderful family-style buffet. All activities are included in the price, such as hikes to the hotel from Manakamana (five hours), onwards to the Gorkha Durbar (3½ hours), and explorations of Magar villages in the adjacent valley (four to five hours). Attention to detail extends down to the matching crockery handcrafted in Bandipur. Call ahead for directions.
