Tansen is a
Municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality' ...
and the administrative center of
Palpa District
Palpa District (, a part of Lumbini Province, is one of the seventy-seven districts of Nepal, a landlocked country of South Asia. The district, with Tansen as its headquarters, covers an area of and has a population (2021) of 245,027.
Palpa ...
in the "hills" of central
Nepal
Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mainly situated in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China Ch ...
. It is located on the highway between
Butwal
Butwal (), officially Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City (), previously known as Khasyauli (Nepali: खस्यौली), is a sub-metropolitan city and economic hub in Lumbini Province in West Nepal. Butwal has a city population of 195,054 as per t ...
and
Pokhara
Pokhara ( ) is a metropolis, metropolitan city located in central Nepal, which serves as the capital of Gandaki Province. Named the country's "capital of tourism" it is the List of cities in Nepal, second largest city after Kathmandu, with 599,5 ...
, on the crest of the
Mahabharat Range
The Lower Himalayan Range, also called the Lesser Himalayas and Mahabharat Lekh or Himachal, is one of the four parallel sub-ranges of the Himalayas. It has the Great Himalayas to the north and the Sivalik Hills to the south. It extends from th ...
or Lesser Himalaya overlooking the valley of the
Kaligandaki River to the north. The highway bypasses the town center on the west, protecting pedestrian amenities in the central maze of steep, narrow, winding alleys lined with ''
Newari'' shophouses and temples.
History
Tansen was the capital of the ''
Magar'' Kingdom (''
Barha Magarat'') in Palpa, one of the most powerful regional principalities before the rise of the
Shah dynasty
The Shah dynasty (), also known as the Shahs of Gorkha or the Royal House of Gorkha, was the ruling Chaubise Thakuri dynasty and the founder of the Gorkha Kingdom from 1559 to 1768 and later the unified Kingdom of Nepal from 1768 to 28 May ...
. It even came close to conquering
Kathmandu
Kathmandu () is the capital and largest city of Nepal, situated in the central part of the country within the Kathmandu Valley. As per the 2021 Nepal census, it has a population of 845,767 residing in 105,649 households, with approximately 4 mi ...
in the 16th century under the leadership of Mukunda Sen. The
Palpa district
Palpa District (, a part of Lumbini Province, is one of the seventy-seven districts of Nepal, a landlocked country of South Asia. The district, with Tansen as its headquarters, covers an area of and has a population (2021) of 245,027.
Palpa ...
is home to the
Magar people, and the name "Tansen" has its origins in the Magar language, meaning "northern settlement." Local Magar kings lost influence in the 18th century and Tansen became a Newari bazaar on the important trade route between
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
and
Tibet
Tibet (; ''Böd''; ), or Greater Tibet, is a region in the western part of East Asia, covering much of the Tibetan Plateau and spanning about . It is the homeland of the Tibetan people. Also resident on the plateau are other ethnic groups s ...
via the Kaligandaki River and
Mustang
The mustang is a free-roaming horse of the Western United States, descended from horses brought to the Americas by the Spanish conquistadors. Mustangs are often referred to as wild horses, but because they are descended from once-domesticate ...
. Because it was a
district
A district is a type of administrative division that in some countries is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or county, counties, several municipality, municip ...
administrative center of the
Kingdom of Nepal
The Kingdom of Nepal was a Hindu monarchy in South Asia, founded in 1768 through the unification of Nepal, expansion of the Gorkha Kingdom. The kingdom was also known as the Gorkha Empire and was sometimes called History of Asal Hindustan, ...
,
Maoists
Maoism, officially Mao Zedong Thought, is a variety of Marxism–Leninism that Mao Zedong developed while trying to realize a socialist revolution in the agricultural, pre-industrial society of the Republic of China and later the People's Re ...
targeted Tansen several times during the
Nepalese Civil War
The Nepalese Civil War was a protracted armed conflict that took place in the then Kingdom of Nepal from 1996 to 2006. It saw countrywide fighting between the Kingdom rulers and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), with the latter making ...
, including a major assault on the historic ''Durbar'' (palace) compound in 2006.
Nearby ''Srinagar Danda'' (hill) offers a panoramic view of the high
Himalaya
The Himalayas, or Himalaya ( ), is a mountain range in Asia, separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. The range has some of the Earth's highest peaks, including the highest, Mount Everest. More than 100 pea ...
. From west to east, the Kanjiroba,
Dhaulagiri
Dhaulagiri, located in Nepal, is the seventh highest mountain in the world at above sea level, and the highest mountain within the borders of a single country. It was first climbed on 13 May 1960 by a Swiss-Austrian-Nepali expedition.
Annapur ...
,
Annapurna
Annapurna (; ) is a mountain situated in the Annapurna mountain range of Gandaki Province, north-central Nepal. It is the 10th highest mountain in the world at above sea level and is well known for the difficulty and danger involved in its as ...
,
Mansiri,
Ganesh
Ganesha or Ganesh (, , ), also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most worshipped Deva (Hinduism), deities in the Hindu deities, Hindu pantheon and is the Supreme God in the Ganapatya sect. His depictions ...
and
Langtang
Langtang Valley () also known as Lamtang Valley is a Himalayan valley in the mountains of north-central Nepal, known for its trekking routes and natural environment.
Administrative
The Langtang Valley lies in Rasuwa District, Rasuwa dist ...
groups are in sight. Other nearby attractions include Ranighat, a
Rana
Rana may refer to:
Astronomy
* Rana (crater), a crater on Mars
* Delta Eridani or Rana, a star
Films
* Rana (2012 film), an Indian Kannada-language action drama
* Rana, a 1998 Telugu-language action film directed by A. Kodandarami Reddy
* R ...
palace next to the Kaligandaki River, and Ridi Bazaar, a major
Hindu
Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...
pilgrimage destination at the auspicious confluence of the Kaligandaki and Ridi Rivers. A large ''
mela'' is held there on
Maghe Sankranti
Maghe Sankranti (, , Nepal Bhasa: ) is a Nepali festival observed on the first of Magh (Nepali calendar), Magh in the Vikram Samvat, Vikram Sambat (B.S) or Yele Sambat, Yele calendar marking the end of the winter solstice and the month of Poush. ...
(about January 14).
Tansen is the home of United Mission Hospital, located one mile east of the town center. The hospital was established in 1954 as a partnership between the people of Nepal and a coalition of 20 Christian organizations on four continents.
As of 2010, Mission Hospital has 160 beds, and the clinics there see over 100,000 patients per year. Mission Hospital is the oldest project of
United Mission to Nepal The United Mission to Nepal was established in 1954 as a co-operative missionary endeavour between the people of Nepal and a number of Christian groups working along the border in India. The mission grew to include many Christian organisations from ...
(UMN), a consortium of eight worldwide Christian denominations that was formed in 1952 to coordinate missionary work in Nepal. Presently there are about a dozen expatriate medical personnel assisted by a staff of about 300 Nepalese. Mission Hospital collaborates with Tansen Nursing School, considered to be among the best training programs for basic nursing education in the country. The 2007 book, "The Hospital at the End of the World" describes the workings of Mission Hospital from the perspective of a short-term Medical Missionary.
Climate
The town enjoys a moderate climate with temperatures rarely exceeding 30 Celsius (86F) or going below freezing.
Economy

Besides trade, local Newars are known for traditional metalwork and producing ''dhaka'' cloth used in traditional jackets and ''
topis''. The most important landmark is the octagonal pavilion "Golghar" in the middle of Sitalpati, the main market square.
Sites of Interest (Tourism)
# Tansen Durbar
# Rani Mahal
# Rambha Devi Temple
# Shreenagar
# Whitelake View
# Symbolic Gate (Muldhoka)
# Sitalpati
# Budhha Stupa
# Naran Temple
#
Bhagwati Temple
# Bhairav Temple
# Rishikeshv Temple
# Guffa Dada Telgha
# Dumre khola Dumre
# Jantilung Masyam
# Thulo chaupari Dumre
# Tudikhel (
Karuwa)
# Jogipani bolani pani kuwa
#
Bhairabsthan Temple
Bhairabsthan Temple () is a Hindu temple of Bhairab or Bhairava located about 9 km north west from the city of Tansen, in Palpa district of Nepal at an elevation of about 1470 m msl.
History
The temple was established by king Mukunda Sena ...
Sites of Interest (Religion)
#
Bhagwati Temple, Bhagawati Tole
# Bhairav Temple, Bhairavsthan
# Ganesh temple, Bhagawati Tole
# Mahachaitya Bihar, Taksar Tole
#
Amar Narayan Temple, Narayansthan
# Darlam Mahakali Temple, Darlamdanda
# Shivalay Temple,
# Mahamrityunjaya Shivasankar, Barangdi
# Bagnaskot, Bagnas
# Satyawati Lake
# Rambhadevi Tahu
# lipindevi temple, tansen 11samobari
World Heritage Status
This site was added to the
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...
World Heritage
World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an treaty, international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural ...
Tentative List on January 30, 2008 in the Cultural category.
2015 Nepal earthquake
The city was affected by an
earthquake on 25 April 2015. The United Mission Hospital in Tansen was expected to receive many patients in the aftermath of the severe shaking in the town similar to earthquakes that occur in Japan.
A presentation by missionaries was held on 6 May 2015 at the United Mission Hospital in Tansen to share their experiences during the earthquake.
Gallery
Palpa, Ranighat Palace, Rani Mahal, Nepal.jpg, Ranighat Palace
File:Darlam Mahakali Temple.jpg, Hindu Temple situated north side of Palpa District
File:Shitalpati.JPG, "Golghar" as the central monument in white, situated in the middle of Tansen, Palpa
Tansen 3, Palpa, Nepal.jpg,
Tansen, Paddy fields, Rice paddies, Palpa, Nepal.jpg, Rice paddies
Tansen at sunset, Palpa, Nepal.jpg, Tansen at sunset
Tansen, Landscape, Palpa, Nepal.jpg, View of Lesser Himalaya Range
Notable people from Tansen
*
Kamal Rana, Politician
*
Kumar Kashyap Mahasthavir
Bhante Kumar Kashyap Mahasthavir () (born Asta Man Shakya) (24 July 1926 – 26 February 2012) was a Nepalese Buddhist monk who was awarded the title of Tripitakacharya (Tripitaka Master).
In 1944, he was expelled from Nepal by the Rana dynasty, ...
, a Buddhist monk
*
Madhav Prasad Devkota, writer
*
Raameshwor Shrestha
Raameshwor Shrestha (Nepali:रामेश्वर श्रेष्ठ), popularly known by the name of Raamesh, is a progressive songwriter and singer of Nepal. He is most popular for his song Gaun Gaun Bata Utha.
Biography
Shrestha was born ...
, Singer and songwriter
*
Rajesh Hamal
Rajesh Hamal ( ; born 9 June 1964) is a Nepalese film actor and television presenter. He is considered one of the prominent figures in Nepali cinema and is often referred to by fans and media as "Maha Nayak" (Nepali for "The Great Actor"). Hamal ...
, Nepali film actor
*
Satchit Rana
Satchit Shamsher Jung Bahadur Rana (15 January 1934 – 4 May 2007) was the 34th Chief of Army Staff of the Royal Nepalese Army. He was a member of the Rana Dynasty of Nepal.
Early life
Rana was born in Tansen Durbar, Lumbini Zone, to Lie ...
, staff of
Nepal Army
The Nepali Army (), also referred to as the Gorkhali Army (; see '' Gorkhas''), formally known as "Royal Nepal Army" is the land service branch of the Nepali Armed Forces. After the Gorkha Kingdom was founded in 1559, its army was establis ...
*
Shweta Punjali, Musician
See also
*
Tansen Durbar
References
External links
{{Authority control
Palpa District
Hill stations in Nepal
Nepal municipalities established in 1957