Palpa District ( ne, पाल्पा जिल्ला, a part of

Lumbini Province Lumbini Province ( ne, लुम्बिनी प्रदेश, Lumbinī pradēśa) is a province in western Nepal. It borders Gandaki Province and Karnali Province to the north, Sudurpashchim Province to the west, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar o ...

, is one of the seventy-seven

districts of Nepal Districts in Nepal are second level of administrative divisions after provinces. Districts are subdivided in municipalities and rural municipalities. There are seven provinces and 77 districts in Nepal. After the state's reconstruction of admi ...

, a landlocked country of

South Asia South Asia is the southern subregion of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms. The region consists of the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.;;;;;;;; ...

. The district, with

Tansen Tansen ( – 26 April 1589), also referred to and commonly known as Sangeet Samrat () , was a Hindustani classical musician. Born in a Hindu Gaur Brahmin family, he learnt and perfected his art in the northwest region of modern Madhya Pr ...

as its headquarters, covers an area of and has a population (2011) of 261,180. Palpa District is not far from

Pokhara Pokhara ( ne, पोखरा, ) is a metropolis, metropolitan city in Nepal, which serves as the capital of Gandaki Province. It is the List of cities in Nepal, second most populous city of Nepal after Kathmandu, with 518,452 inhabitants living ...

and easily reached by bus. The ancient hill town of Tansen in this district offers a more tranquil atmosphere where laid back lifestyle is infectious. Walk down the cobbled streets in the old bazaar to discover a way of life. Explore the Shreenagar Hills or do a day hike to the Rani Mahal, once a vibrant palace on the banks of the Kali Gandaki River. Palpa was the seat of the Hindu Sen kingdom that ruled over this region from the 16th century for almost 300 years so Headquarter of Palpa is called "Tansen" (Nepali: तानसेन)

Geography and climate

Demographics

At the time of the

2011 Nepal census Nepal conducted a widespread national census in 2011 by the Nepal Central Bureau of Statistics. Working with the 58 municipalities and the 3915 Village Development Committees at a district level, they recorded data from all the municipalities an ...

, Palpa District had a population of 261,180. Of these, 62.08% spoke Nepali, 34.06% Magar, 1.97% Newari and 0.62% Kumal as their first language.2011 Nepal Census, Social Characteristics Tables
/ref>

Magars The Magar, also spelled as Mangar, and Mongar, are the third largest ethnolinguistic groups of Nepal, indigenous to Western Nepal and representing 7.1% of Nepal's total population according to the 2011 Nepal census. The original home of the Magar ...

form the majority in the district with 52.3% of the population. Khas Arya groups are the second largest with

Bahun Bahun ( ne, बाहुन) or Khas Brahmin ( ne, खस ब्राह्मण) is a caste ( ''Varna'') among Khas people of Nepal. Their origins are from the Indo-Aryan Khasa tribe of Nepal and South Asia. According to the 2011 Nepa ...

s at 17.5%,

Chhetri Chhetri (Kshetri, Kshettri, Kshetry or Chhettri), ( ne, क्षेत्री ; IAST: ''Kṣetrī'') historically called Kshettriya or Kshetriya or Khas are Nepali speakers of Khas community, some of whom trace their origin to migration fro ...

at 7.9% and

Thakuri Thakuri ( ne, ठकुरी) is a sub-caste of Khasas tribes in Nepal. It consists of the historical ruling class, and is made up of the descendants of the Great Khasa Malla kingdom rulers of the Baisi and Chaubisi principalities. The former ...

at 1.5%.

Kami are the deities, divinities, spirits, phenomena or "holy powers", that are venerated in the Shinto religion. They can be elements of the landscape, forces of nature, or beings and the qualities that these beings express; they can also be the sp ...

, Sarki and

Damai Damai ( ne, दमाइँ) is an occupational caste found among Khas people. They comprise 45 subgroups. Their surnames take after the subgroup they belong to. People belonging to this caste are traditionally tailors and musicians. They are ade ...

are 6.7%, 3.2% and 2.0% of the population. Other non-Khas groups include 3.5%

Newars Newar (; new, नेवार, endonym: Newa; new, नेवा, Pracalit script:) or Nepami, are the historical inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley and its surrounding areas in Nepal and the creators of its historic heritage and civilisation ...

and 2.6% Kumals.

Local bodies

* Tansen Municipality * Rampur, Palpa * Rainadevi Chhahara Rural Municipality * Ripdikot Rural Municipality * Bagnaskali Rural Municipality * Rambha Rural Municipality * Purbakhola Rural Municipality * Nisdi Rural Municipality * Mathagadi Rural Municipality * Tinahu Rural Municipality

Major rivers and khola

Kali Gandaki River The Gandaki River, also known as the Narayani and the Gandak, is one of the major rivers in Nepal and a left bank tributary of the Ganges in India. Its total catchment area amounts to , most of it in Nepal. In the Nepal Himalayas, it is notabl ...

* Tinau Khola * Ridi Khola * Purwa Khola * Jhumsa Khola * Dovan River # Barabisse khola # Dumre Khola

Major lakes

* Satyawati Lake (990m above sea level) * Pravas Lake * Sita Kunda

Gallery

Palpa, Kali Gandaki River Valley, Nepal.jpg, Gandaki River Valley in Palpa File:Palpa, Kali Gandaki River, Nepal.jpg, Gandaki River Valley in Palpa Palpa, Ranighat Palace, Rani Mahal, Nepal.jpg, Ranighat Palace Palpa, Mahabharat Range, Lesser Himalaya, Nepal.jpg, Mahabharat Range, Lesser Himalaya Tansen, Palpa, Mountains, Nepal.jpg, Mountains around Tansen Tansen, Lawns, Palpa, Nepal.jpg, Glades around Tansen File:View-of-Palpa-Madi_02.jpg, View of Palpa Madifaat ( rice field) & Damkada City during summer time Image:NepalPalpaDistrictmap.png, Map of Palpa District

Places of attraction

* Argali Palace was constructed by Juddha Shamsher *Forts like Kalika fort, Nuwakot fort, Bakumgadi Fort are historic place of attraction *Mahamritunjaya Statue of Lord Shiva situated at Barangdi which is the biggest in Asia among metal statue of Lord Shiva * Rambha Devi Temple a religious place east of

in Tahu VDC. * Ramdi is a religious place in the bank of Kali Gandaki River. On 1 Baisakh, there is a festival in this area. *

Ranighat Palace Ranighat Palace or Rani Mahal ( ne, रानी महल) is a historic Rana palace located on the banks of Kali Gandaki River in Palpa district of Nepal. This palace was constructed by General Khadga Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana in 1893. Hist ...

(Ranimahal) is also called Tajmahal of Nepal due to similar stories behind the construction of this palace. It was constructed by General Khadka for her wife Tejkumari in 1893 AD. *

Rishikesh Complex of Ruru Kshetra The Rishikesh Complex of Ruru Kshetra (Rishikesh Temple) is located in southwestern Nepal in the Palpa District, Lumbini Zone. It is an important Hindu pilgrimage as well as cremation site referred to in the Hindu epics.

Hindu pilgrimage and cremation site *

Rishikesh Temple The Rishikesh Complex of Ruru Kshetra (Rishikesh Temple) is located in southwestern Nepal in the Palpa District, Lumbini Zone. It is an important Hindu pilgrimage as well as cremation site referred to in the Hindu epics.

was built by the King Manimukunda Sen. According to Hindu mythology, this is the place where some part of body of Satidevei was cremated. It hosts a festival which occurs in 1st of Magh month when hidus come to take bath in Kali Gandaki River. * Shrinagar Hill is spot for viewing high Himalayas. Dhawalagiri, Tukuche, Nilgiri, Annapurana, Himchuli and other mountains can be viewed from this place. *

is a historic city with palaces, temples, stupas and historic architecture. * Vhairabsthan Temple is a Shiva temple with huge trident, believed to be largest in Asia. * Madanpokhara is known its vegetable farmings and viewing great Madi Valley.

Villages

* Satpokharee

References

External links

UN map of VDC boundaries, water features and roads in Palpa
{{Authority control Districts of Nepal established during Rana regime or before