Tansen is a hill station at an altitude of 1500 meters about 30 kilometers north of Butwal and 120 kilometers from Pokhara. This is a historic Newari town at a strategic position between the high Himalayas and the flatland Terai of Nepal. Although in Nepal’s mid-hills, the town can be reached just a 3 hours drive from the Indo-Nepal Border town of Sunauli. From Kathmandu, fly to Bhairahawa Airport in under 45 minutes, and then drive for 2.5 hrs to Tansen. The regular buses from Kathmandu take 7 – 10 hrs to reach Tansen., and it’s only a 3-hour drive from Pokhara and Chitwan. You can reach Tansen from the Indian cities of Delhi and Calcutta by taking the train to Gorakhpur, then a three hours drive, a total time taking 12-14 hrs. Tansen is a beautiful natural and cultural town. Moreover, from here you can view the Himalayas including Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, and Machapuchre, and witness cultural attractions.
There are no rickshaws or taxis in Tansen. But as it is a small town the best option is walking. The better hotels can arrange a vehicle or a motorcycle to hire. You can also rent a bicycle at some guest houses. Like most hill stations, Tansen lies on the side of a hill so walking at times can be demanding. The Amar Narayan Temple is a traditional three-tiered pagoda-style temple built in 1806. The Bhagwati Temple is near the Tansen Durbar and was originally built in 1815 to commemorate the victory over the British at Butwal. Srinagar Park is the jewel of Tansen, the peaks of Machapuchre/Fishtail, the Annapurnas, Gauri Shankar, and Dhaulagiri. Palpa Ranighat on the bank of the Kali Gandaki river for viewing the palace garden, stone walls, and a small shrine known as the Taj Mahal of Nepal. It is a 2-hour hike down from Srinagar Park.
Bhairabsthan Or Kal Bhairab is an easy trek of 6 miles from Tansen and brings you to a beautiful spot, the Bhairabsthan temple. Tanahu is a beautiful hill town, which is located only about 20 miles (32 kilometers) southeast of Tansen and is linked by a road. Souvenirs from Tansen: Palpali Brass Kuru was, Diwas, and statuary Dhaka Cloth.
