Tansen municipality in Palpa is hosting two UNESCO World Heritage Tentatively Listed Sites namely the mediaeval town of Tansen and the Rishikesh complex of Ruru Khsehtra[1], Palpa has immense possibilities of further widening its recognition for cultural and religious tourism for local, regional and international travellers by inviting them for the exposure to history, art, culture, taste, traditions and sentiments of the local society.
The district is the hub of the culture of the mid-west having diverse and rich natural settings and beautiful climate that makes it a destination of historical, cultural and religious site. Enlisting of the Ranimahal, Shrinagar hill, Rambhadevi temple, Taalpokhara is some out of 100 new tourist destination of Nepal by the government also stresses the possibilities and opportunities in the tourism sector in Palpa. The district is rich in culture, heritage, art and diversity which prevails since the 15th century from the rulers like Sen, Magar and Rana regimes.
The major attractions of the district are ancient Tansen city, Rani Mahal, Shrinagar Hill Park, BhairabsthanVharibsthan temple, Ramdi, Rishikesh temple, Siddhababa temple among others. Equally popular products like Dhaka, Karuwa, agriculture, homestays, local herbs, bee production, and cultures of diverse ethnicity like Newar, Magar, Kumal and their unique feasts and festivals like Jatra, dance, rituals etc., provides an added advantage to these attractions.
Rani Mahal, an exquisite palace and cultural heritage constructed 120 years ago during the Rana regime is compared to Taj Mahal of India. Situated in banks of scared river Kaligandaki, this great historical monument is visited by a small number of tourist. However, it can provide adventurism activities like 7-kilometre trekking trail from Tansen, bird watching, fishing and riverside camp. Throughout the way, tourist can also enjoy meeting the locals, terraced farms, streams, waterfalls, narrow gorges, and swimming at the river. This famous landmark has been handed over to the Tansen Municipality by Department of Archaeology has been planned for revitalization as a top tourism destination in the district.
Tansen Durbar built-in 1927 is another grand palace in the town of Tansen which has now turned into museum attracting around 30 to 50 visitors daily. It is an attraction of tourist for its historical importance, artefacts, and Muldhoka, believed to be highest in the country.
Bhairabsthan, Siddhababa and Rishikesh temple attracts religious visitors during festival and Jatra so outlines archaeological importance. The place of historical significance is also famous for numerous temples, monasteries and sculptures including the Bhairab Temple, the Purankot Durbar, the Srinagar Durbar, the BanshaGopal, the Mukundeshwar Mahadev, the Amar Narayan Temple, the Ran-Ujjeshwari Bhagawati Temple. Ruins from the 15-18th century Sen period can still be located in Palpa.
[1] https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/np