Palpa District, one of the most beautiful destinations in Nepal, lies in Province No. 5, which is just 296 km away from Kathmandu. Tansen, the headquarter of Palpa, is an ancient hill town that allures with a tranquil atmosphere, and people come to enjoy life as time freezes. The altitude of the entire district ranges between 250 m to 2,000 m and is home to unique flora and fauna.

Lying 116.8 km via Siddhartha Marga from Pokhara, Palpa is a popular destination for hiking, sightseeing, exploring the ancient palace, and enjoying the banks of the Kali Gandaki River. With cobbled streets in the old bazaar, the shops are full of fascinating goods and similar yet different from the modern Lakeside of Pokhara.

Full of picturesque Newari houses, Tansen is a famous trading center of ancient Nepal where traders, mostly Newars, from Kathmandu arrived for trading and brought Newari art and architecture along with them. Tansen, the hub of the mid-west culture, lies midway from Indian Border and Pokhara.

The picturesque town of Tansen, dominated by Newars, is also home to Magar people, who have given the name to the city. In Magar language, Tansen means “northern settlement”. Being one of the twelve Magar regions of Western Nepal, Palpa was ruled by the Sen Kingdom for 300 years from the 6th century. Ethnic groups like Tamang, Limbu, Bhojpuri, Tharu, Gurung, Brahmin, and Chhetri reside there.

Must-visit places of Palpa include Rani Mahal – also known as the Taj Mahal of Nepal, which is full of historical significance and beautiful. Hiking to Shreenagar is always refreshing, with outstanding views from the top of the hill, which is just a 30-minute walk from the main road. Amar Narayan Temple and Tansen Durbar are also quite famous among tourists.

 Famous for craftsmanship, unique handmade crafts, Tansen is perfect for a visit at any month of the year with a maximum temperature of 28 degrees Celcius in summer and a minimum of 8 degrees in Winter. The maximum rainfall occurs in Palpa during June and July.

You can find regular bus facilities from Kathmandu and Pokhara. There is no direct flight to Palpa from Kathmandu, but you can fly to Pokhara or Bhairahwa and drive to Tansen within few hours. Accommodation facilities are moderate, and everything falls under a reasonable price. With outstanding facilities of Nepali means, you will find continental cuisines along with local dishes.

Place To Explore In Palpa

Rani Mahal: The Taj Mahal of Nepal

The Rani Mahal – recognized as the Taj Mahal of Nepal, lies on the lap of the beautiful district of Nepal, Palpa, on the banks of Kali Gandaki River. Known as Rani Ghat Palace, Rani Mahal does not appear like the Taj Mahal, but both share a background similar to full and determination. 

Built in 1893, the Rani Mahal was not accessible for a long time because of its isolated location. Still, today it is one of the famous touristic destinations, especially for those who want to witness what love can do. Rani means Queen, and Mahal means Palace in the Nepali Language. Constructed by Khadga Shamsher Jung Bahadur Rana – then General of Palpa, the palace was built for the King’s youngest and favorite wife – Tej Kumari, who died untimely with a wish to have her mansion.

Shumsher found this location perfect for the construction of the palace, which was only accessible via hike back then, and to construct it, the cliff on the site was chopped off. British Architect was behind the design, and the selection of builders was made from Palpa Army. With extreme struggles and will, the palace was built in four years with a name – the monument of love, which looks outstanding with the white appearance and blue lines. The King even named the nearby Ghats as Rani Ghat, and the forest as Rani Ban.

As the entire family of King fled to India in 1902, the palace remained abandoned for 20 years after completion of construction work, leading the robbery of the interior charms and decorations. You can visit the temple, but the inside is gutted, and the temple is a renovated work with Government’s control.

You can reach Rani Mahal with a private vehicle like a jeep or two-wheelers. Few public vehicles are running on this motorable road. It requires around a one-hour drive to reach the temple from Tansen. Locals and tourists also hike to the temple via foot trail from Kailashnagar near Batasedanda, which is around 3 km from Tansen.