Start in the old town at Sitalpati, the white octagonal pavilion in the main square, and wander the steep Newari lanes past shops selling dhaka cloth and brass pots to the Palpa Durbar and its Mul Dhoka gateway. Then climb to Srinagar Hill, which Nepal Traveller gives as 30 to 60 minutes from the town centre. On our map the town and hill loop is 4.4 km with about 160 m of climbing. From the view tower, Wikipedia lists the peaks from Kanjiroba and Dhaulagiri to Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh and Langtang, so go at dawn or dusk. Return to town by the same lanes.
Tansen, Srinagar Hill and Ranighat
A two-day walk from the Magar hill town of Tansen: the lanes and the Srinagar Hill view tower on day one, and a 13 km descent to the Rani Mahal palace at Ranighat on day two, with no permit.
- Days2
- Max altitude1,490 m
- Distance17.4 km
- Ascent298 m
- DifficultyEasy
- Best monthsOct–Nov, Mar–Apr
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Photo: Mithunkunwar9 · CC BY-SA 4.0
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Tansen, Srinagar Hill and Ranighat is a 2-day trek in the Palpa (Tansen) region of Nepal that climbs to 1,490 m. Foreign trekkers can find a partner for it on FindTrekkingPartner by posting a trip with their dates, budget and pace. Matches stay private until both trekkers agree, and the service is free. At mid-range rates a licensed guide costs about USD 19 per person over 2 days when four trekkers share, against USD 75 for one trekker alone. The best seasons are Oct–Nov, Mar–Apr. The Nepal Tourism Board April 2023 rule requires a licensed guide in national parks and conservation areas. Local practice differs (checked 19 October 2026): the Khumbu municipality opted out and issues its own trek card, and day hikes are rarely checked, but follow the rule and hire a guide; confirm with your agency. Last verified: October 19, 2026. Sources: Nepal Tourism Board, DNPWC, Department of Immigration.
Sources:Department of Immigration, NepalNepal Tourism BoardDepartment of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation
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Overview
Starts from Tansen2 days · max 1,490 m
Best seasons: Oct–Nov, Mar–Apr
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.
Highlights
- Old Tansen lanes with the octagonal Sitalpati pavilion and the Palpa Durbar
- Srinagar Hill view tower, 30 to 60 minutes from town, over Dhaulagiri, Annapurna and Langtang
- A long descent to Rani Mahal, the restored Rana palace on the Kali Gandaki
- Dhaka cloth and brass pots from the shops of the old town
- No permit and no flight
Route map
Route data from OpenStreetMap, not yet checked by our team. Use it for planning, not navigation.
Day by day
Leave early and head down towards the Kali Gandaki. Sources give 2 to 3 hours for the descent, and our map shows 13.0 km with about 1,000 m of descent, mostly by the Rani Mahal road through terraced fields and forest, so we allow 3 to 4 hours. Rani Mahal, built in 1893 by General Khadga Shamsher for his wife, stands on a wooded bluff above the river and has been a museum since its restoration in 2017. The climb back to Tansen takes about 4 hours and is steep, so most visitors arrange a car for the return, then rest in town.
What it costs
Estimated all-in cost per person: lodge and food by altitude, transport, permits, and the guide and porters. The more trekkers share a guide and porters, the less each person pays. As of October 2026.
| Style | 1 trekker | 2 trekkers sharing | 4 trekkers sharing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $30–$60* | $30–$60* | $30–$60* |
| Mid-range | $130–$220* | $80–$150* | $70–$120* |
| Comfort | $150–$240* | $120–$190* | $100–$170* |
Share a guide, save money
At mid-range, a solo trekker pays about $130–$220; four trekkers sharing one guide and two porters pay about $70–$120 each (44% less at the top of the range).
Breakdown for 2 trekkers sharing
| Item | Budget | Mid-range | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lodge and food | $30–$60 | $40–$80 | $50–$100 |
| Guide | — | $20–$50 | $20–$50 |
| Porters | — | $10–$30 | $30–$60 |
Budget uses public transport and no porter; mid-range shares one porter between two trekkers and a private vehicle; comfort gives each trekker a porter. A guide is included where one is required or the style is mid-range or comfort.
Nightly lodge and food (room and a dal bhat meal)
2 nights Below 2,500 m: room $2–$9, dal bhat $4–$7
Not included
No published price found for: Pokhara to Tansen by bus or car; Ranighat back to Tansen by car. Totals marked * leave these out; ask your agency. A homestay-based walk with no permit: the costs are the nights, meals and the car back from Ranighat. A guide is optional.
Cost sources
- PriceNepal: Nepal Travel Cost Guide 2026 (2026-05-14)
- Third Rock Adventures: Nepal trek budget planner (2026-05-09)
- Himalayan Partner: Guide and porter price in Nepal 2026 (2026-02-10)
- Shikhar Adventure: Annapurna Circuit trek cost (2026-02-03)
- Nepal Tourism Board: Trekking Permit (2026-10-18)
Estimates from operator guides, not quotes. Tips, insurance, gear and Kathmandu hotels are not included; USD at the platform exchange rate.
Photos
Frequently asked questions
Sources give 2 to 3 hours down, and our map shows 13.0 km, so we allow 3 to 4 hours. The climb back is about 4 hours, or arrange a car.
Possible but long. Srinagar Hill is 30 to 60 minutes from town and the Ranighat descent 3 to 4 hours, so most walkers split the two days.
Yes. The palace was restored in 2017 and has a museum inside. Ask in Tansen about any ticket and the opening time on the day.
October to November for clear views and March to April for warm days; the monsoon brings cloud and mud.
No. Palpa is not a restricted area, and the walks avoid national parks and conservation areas. A guide is optional.
Sources
Along the trail
Stays, medical help, water and sights on each day of the route.
1. Tansen
- Sangam medical hall · Medical · 1,281 m
- Ayush pharmacy · Medical · 1,273 m
- The Bajra · Stays · 1,277 m
- Laxmi Homestay · Stays · 1,331 m
- Horizon Homestay · Stays · 1,350 m
- Annapurna garden · Stays · 1,329 m
- View Tower · Viewpoints · 1,492 m
- Shreenagar View Tower · Viewpoints · 1,439 m
Show all 13 places
- The Bajra · Stays · 1,277 m
- Lumbini Medical College · Airports & transport · 873 m
- Hotel Tansen · Stays · 1,262 m
- Sangam medical hall · Medical · 1,281 m
- Ayush pharmacy · Medical · 1,273 m
- Rock Regency Guest House · Stays · 1,269 m
- Hotel Crown · Stays · 1,305 m
- Laxmi Homestay · Stays · 1,331 m
- Horizon Homestay · Stays · 1,350 m
- Annapurna garden · Stays · 1,329 m
- United Mission Tansen Hospital · Medical · 1,320 m
- View Tower · Viewpoints · 1,492 m
- Shreenagar View Tower · Viewpoints · 1,439 m
2. Tansen → Ranighat
- LMC Town Clinic · Medical · 1,277 m
- Indreni Restaurant and Lodge · Stays · 1,275 m
- Ashoka Guest House $ · Stays · 1,276 m
- Palpa District Hospital · Medical · 1,300 m
- The White Lake · Stays · 1,312 m
- Batasedaada · Viewpoints · 1,393 m
- Rice fields Valley · Viewpoints · 1,010 m
- Dew Camping Resort · Stays · 692 m
Show all 16 places
- Indreni Restaurant and Lodge · Stays · 1,275 m
- Ashoka Guest House $ · Stays · 1,276 m
- Upakar Medical Hall · Medical · 1,278 m
- LMC Town Clinic · Medical · 1,277 m
- The White Lake · Stays · 1,312 m
- Palpa District Hospital · Medical · 1,300 m
- Hotel Gauri Shankar · Stays · 1,294 m
- Bhattarai medical hall · Medical · 1,322 m
- City View Homestay · Stays · 1,330 m
- Amatya Homestay · Stays · 1,331 m
- Sunrise View Homestay · Stays · 1,332 m
- Hotel Srinagar · Stays · 1,420 m
- Batasedaada · Viewpoints · 1,393 m
- Rice fields Valley · Viewpoints · 1,010 m
- Ranimahal Fishing Resort · Stays · 877 m
- Dew Camping Resort · Stays · 692 m
Last verified on Oct 19, 2026Report outdated info