Travel Nepa

About Tansen
Tansen, a pristine hill town 110 km south of Pokhara, situated at an altitude of 1371 m about midway down the Siddhartha Highway linking Pokhara with Lumbini, it has a unique geographic location and climate, and very friendly people.
The hill station is populated mainly by Newars, who make up 60% of the population .Typical Newar houses, pagoda style temples and stupas line the steep cobbled streets of Tansen giving an echo of old Kathmandu. The main bazaar abounds with vibrant hill people all busy on their own.
Its Specialties
The hand –woven pashmina cloth typical of the place is famous all over the kingdom. Many houses have both men and women weaving the famed Dhaka cloth. The specialty of this cloth is the many intricate patterns painstakingly woven by expert hands. The cloth is used for making topi (Nepalese cap) , shawl. Dhaka also makes excellent material for the traditional Newar blouse and children’s wear .The whole process of weaving the cloth is very fascinating.
The potters of this region are also famous for their skill in making earthen pots. The potters at work at Ghorbanda –Khorbari , situated a few kilometers north off the highway , is an interesting sight indeed. Tansen is also famous for its brass craft. Nepalese all over the country covet the typical Pal-Pali Karuwa, or bronze water jars , which are made here. These water jars are distinguished by the peacock figure on the lid. Also popular is the artistic bronze oil lamp stand, twa- dewa which makes and excellent decoration piece.
Its charm
Mahachaitya Vihar, a Buddhist monastic courtyard known for its intricate brass and bronze works, is situated at Taksar Tole and was built during 1930-40.There are many other Buddhist shrines like Ananda Vihar ,is one of the oldest Buddhist shrines in the palpa region where as Mahabodhi vihar is a new one where monks frequently preach and meditations are held. Parileyak Ban is a garden bearing one of the important aspects of Lord Buddha’s life .Here are images of Lord Buddha with a monkey and an elephant who were his companions during his three month’s wandering in the forest .This is also an ideal place for meditation.
The Amar Narayan temple, an important land mark of Tansen , is built in typical Nepalese pagoda style. A one –meter wide stone wall surrounds the temple complex which houses a temple of Lord Mahadev, ponds, parks, rest houses and a natural water spring. Another temple bearing similar architectural features is the Amarjung Ganesh temple. The Bhagwati temple built to mark the victory over a colonial British India force is located near the Tansen Durbar and is a pilgrimage site of Palpalis. There are plenty of other temples around the town along with a few courtyards and small stupas.
The most striking image in the heart of town however is the Tansen Durbar. Built in 1927, it was once the seat of the Rana governors. The north gate or the Baggi Dhoka is the biggest gate of its kind in Nepal and is often compared with the architecture of the Mogul Empire in India.
Other Attractions
Besides being an attraction in itself, Tansen is the launching point for short treks in Western Nepal. A trip to the surrounding villages gives an insight into the customs and tradition of the Magar community. Two typical Magar villages are Baugha Gumba and Chilandi situated to the northwest and southeast of Tansen respectively. A magnificent view of the virgin twin peaks of Machhapuchhre (6977 m) can be observed from Srinagar hill. The 1525 m hill ascending from the temple of Siddhi Ganesh, provides a breathtaking view of the Himalaya all the way from Kanjiroba to Langtang in the north and the plains of the Terai in the South. Ruins of summer houses of the Ranas can be found here. An added attraction is a huge Newar-style bronze lamp stand. Srinagar hill is a mere 30 minute hike or a 10 minute drive from the town of Tansen.
The famous Bhairavsthan of Tansen,the temple of the god of terror Bhairav, is situated 9km to the west .It is marked by the largest Golden Trident in Asia. A panoramic view of the Himalaya and the surrounding hills can be enjoyed from this temple situated atop a hill. Chadihan Bhairav, another Bhairav temple, crowns the Chandi Bhanjyang hill and is located 200m above Tansen .One of the major pilgrimage sites here; it also makes an excellent picnic spot because of the magnificent view of the Himalaya.
Another pilgrrmage site, famous all over Nepal, is the Rishikeshav shrine consisting of an image of Vishnu. It is situated in Ridi at an altitude of 700m on the banks of the sacred kali Gandaki River. The town of Ridi Bazaar is situated on the banks of the confluence of the Kali Gandaki and the Ridi rivers. A longer trek would be to Ranighat situated 7km north of Tansen and built in the memory of a Rana governor’s wife. The two-hour scenic trek is worth its while to see the summer house designed by the British and built by Nepalese soldiers. An attraction on an alternate route to Ranighat is a holy place for Hindus, Ramdi, and located 30km north of Tansen. Among the many big and small caves around Ramdi is the famous Golden Cave.
How To Get There
There are regular bus servive to tansen from Kathmandu and other major towns in Nepal .Taxis can also be hired at Pokhara .The road passes through many Magar villages.Tansen can be included in a circuit trip covering major destinations of western Nepal starting from Kathmandu and moving towards Royal Chitwan National Park,Lumbini, Tansen and the Pokhara.