Tansen, Srinagar Hill and Ranighat

Tansen, Srinagar Hill and Ranighat is a two-day walking plan from the Magar hill town of Tansen in Palpa: a town and hill day to Sitalpati and the Srinagar view tower, and a long descent to Rani Mahal, the Rana palace at Ranighat on the Kali Gandaki. On our map the first day is 4.4 km with about 160 m of climbing and the second is 13.0 km with about 1,000 m of descent, mostly on the Rani Mahal road. Sources give 30 to 60 minutes from town to Srinagar Hill and 2 to 3 hours down to Ranighat, with a return climb of about 4 hours or a car, so the second day is a big one-way day. No permit or flight is needed, and October to November and March to April are best.

What the walk is like

Day one is gentle: the old lanes of Tansen, the white octagonal Sitalpati pavilion, the Palpa Durbar and the climb to Srinagar Hill for a view from Dhaulagiri to Langtang. Day two goes down the valley of the Barandi Khola, through terraces, forest and small farms, to Ranighat, where the restored Rani Mahal stands on a bluff above the river. Most walkers go down on foot and come back by car, since the climb back is steep and takes about 4 hours.

Day by day

Day one is 4.4 km, 2 to 3 hours including time in the town. Day two is 13.0 km down, 3 to 4 hours, and a car or the 4 hour climb back to Tansen. If you prefer a shorter day, drive to Batase Danda on the ridge and walk from there, as a 2008 trip report did, which gives about 3 hours down to Ranighat.

Getting there and away

Tansen lies between Pokhara (122 km) and Lumbini (85 km) on the highway between Butwal and Pokhara, with direct buses from Kathmandu, Pokhara and Bhairahawa; Bhairahawa is about two hours away.

Permits, guides and costs

No trekking permit or TIMS card is needed, and Palpa lies outside any national park, conservation area or restricted area, so no guide is required; one is optional. Costs are the two nights, the transfers and the car back from Ranighat; see the cost section for ranges.

Season and safety

Clear air in October to November makes the best views, and March to April is warm. The pebble trail and stone steps are slippery in fog and rain, and the valley is hot in spring. See our guide rule page for the rule in full.