Within Tansen

Tansen Bazaar
Tansen is one of Nepal's most interesting and charming towns. Its size and setting, climate and natural beauty, its history and architecture, the palaces and temples and also mix of Nepali people cannot help but remind the visitor of Kathmandu valley. Newari houses and carved windows, Rana buildings, the Tundikhel parade grounds and pagoda style temples are impressive and unique in area so undisturbed by urban sprawl, traffic or pollution.

Centred on a large plateau set high on the hills surrounding the Madi Valley, Tansen spills up to the hilltop park of Shreenagar and down along the winding road that leads to the valley floor. The city is quiet and cooled by winds offering a pleasant climate and a comfortable environment.

City Walk
With its network of streets and courtyards, remarkable architecture and temples, Tansen is a great town for walking. The tourism office has maps and a brochure guide for walking-tours of the town.

Tansen Durbar
Tansen Durbar is an impressive Rana-style palace in the centre of the town. The four-storied square building has sixty-three rooms enclosing a small courtyard. Built in 1927AD by General Pratap Shamsher it has gone from being the seat of Rana Governors to being the secretariat of the Palpa District.

The second storey of the palace in the Gaddi Baithak throne hall still houses some important pieces of Palpa's history, including throne and ceremonial sword, and every year it is the site of a ceremony to mark the beginning of the spring season.

Sitalpati - Shady Rest Place
An octagonal building in the centre of town, providing both view and a cool spot out of the sun, Sitalpati was built in 1891-2 by Governor Khadka Shamsher. It stands in a large open circular courtyard, outside the impressive main palace gate, and is the meeting place of roads, people and their goods.

Mul Dhoka
Also known as Baggi Dhoka, this huge finely decorated doorway leads from Sitalpati to the palace grounds. At 30x12 feet, it is the largest doorway of its kind. Built in 1891/2 by Governor Khadka Shamsher, its size allowed for his entrance on an elephant and today it is a main feature of yearly chariot processions and festivals.

Tansen is, like Kathmandu, rich in a culture of Temples. From early in the morning one can hear bells ringing and the beat of holy drums.

Bhagawati Temple - Mark of Victory
Rebuilt by the ten Governor of Palpa, Colonel Ujir Singh Thapa during to mark the victory over British India troops in 1815 AD/ BS, the temple is an artistic two-storied pagoda style temple located in the heart of the town. Although the temple is small in structure it holds immense religious significance. Chariot processions every Bhadra Krishna Nawami in August see deity statues are taken out throughout the town.

Ganesh Temple - The God of Success
Built in 1920 AD/ BS and known as Siddi Binayak or Shreenager, the Ganesh Temple is dedicated to the elephant god of success and is most popular on Tuesdays, especially for students and those starting a new venture who come to make offerings of Laddu, sweet balls for Lord Ganesh.

Situated on the southern slope of the hill just above town, the temple is the site of a yearly festival during Bhadra, mid-August to mid-September, when there is a chariot procession. Some believe it to be as old as the Sen Kings of Palpa.

Surrounding Areas

Shreenagar - A Nature Made Tower
A 30-minute climb or a short drive from Tansen bazaar leads to a truly heavenly spot from which to gaze out on Nepal. The best time to enjoy the views is in the morning when the hill is covered with dense fog like a heap of cotton or in the afternoon before sunset.

At 1515 metres, the hilltop park and forests of Shreenagar abound in scenic and natural beauty and offer breathtaking views of giant snowcapped mountains - Dhaulagiri, the four Annapurnas, Nilgiri, Tukuche, Mansulu, Ganesh Himal and the famed twin fishtail peaks of Machhapuchhre.

To the south, the view extends from the stunning Madi valley and the sweep of the Tinau River valley to a wall of green mountains and gorges and out onto the wide expanse of the Tarai plains.

Shreenagar Hill is a forest of pine trees and open green parkland. Made up of viewpoints and picnic spots, camping facilities as well as meditation spots and statues of Buddha, the park is one of the most picturesque spots in Western Nepal.

Palpa Ranighat - Nepal's Taj Mahal
The Ranimahal palace is a spectacular site. Built in 1892 AD/1949 BS by Commander-in-Chief and Governor Khadka Shamsher in memory of his beloved Queen Tej Kumari. The complex including a huge main building surrounded by layered gardens, stone walls and a small shrine, set on a massive rock bed at the bank of the rushing Kali Gandaki river.

Ranighat is also a popular short trek. The trail runs along the Bharangdi Khola river featuring a scenic gorge, mountain brooks, steep forested hills and the rock side of Baikuntha Pahad and Hatti Dhunga, the elephant rock. There is tea, cold and local drinks, food and water to be found along the way.

Bhairav Sthan Temple / Palpa Bhairab
Situated 9 kilometres west of Tansen, reached in a two-hour trek or thirty-minute drive, the temple sits on a hillock and is well known for its huge trident. General Pratap Shamsher rebuilt the famous temple, replacing its gold plate brass roof and offering the brass trident. Worshippers visit the temple on every Saturday and Tuesday offering Rot rice cakes and sacrifices. There is a legend about the statue of Bhairab that is kept so hidden even priests worship from behind a curtain. Its sight is too unbearably frightening risking, potentially fatal. Devotees of Bhairab can see his silver mask.

Ghorbanda-kumal Gau - Potter's Village
To see the unique way of pottery making in Nepal you should visit the village of Ghorbanda, on the road to Pokhara, approximately one-hour walk from the United Missions Hospital.

Different from traditional western potter's workshops, where the relatively small potters wheel is driven by foot, the Kumal people (potters) spin a carriage-sized potter's wheel. They have to work fast, since, like a spinning top, after a short while the wheel begins to stagger and comes to a stop. The articles produced here are traditional water pitchers, pots and "Handa" (a vessel with holes in the bottom; used for brewing rokshi, which is Nepali brandy). Producing tiny bowls for organic samples for the United Mission Hospital nowadays generates an additional income.

Ridi Bazaar
One of the holiest places for Hindus in Nepal is situated in the vicinity of Tansen. Ridi, sacredly located at the confluence of the Ridi Khola stream and the river Kali Gandaki, is visited by pilgrims from Nepal and India to take holy bathes and worship at the temples. Additionally, like in Pashupatinath in Kathmandu, old people arrive and stay here to take their last breath in sight of this holy place and to get cremated at the banks of the holy Kali Gandaki.

Furthermore, Ridi is the locality for the biggest yearly fair in the area.

It is claimed that the most famous temple here, the Rishikesh Mandir, was established by Mukunda Sen, King of Palpa. The temple underwent several renovations and its original shape has been changed. The legend of the temple's statue is as follows:

While Mukunda Sen had a holy bath in the Kali Gandiki, he discovered the statue of the god Rishikesh in the water. The statue then was of the size and stature of an infant boy, but developed to adulthood since it was installed in the temple.

The walk down to Ridi will take approximately five hours; rewarded by beautiful landscape. To return to Tansen we suggest you take a bus.

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