Nepal - The Medieval Town of Tansen

Tansen, the capital of Palpa district, is a typical traditional town of Western Nepal located at an altitude of 1372 meters on the southern slope of the Shreenagar hill. The history of Tansen started from around the 11th Century AD when the region was part of the Bara Magarat, the twelve territories administered by the Magar rulers. The town developed as a market centre for the Newari traders and artisans famous for their metal and dhaka (cloth) industry. Tansen is a testament to the living heritage and architecture of the Newari people. Various ruins can be found from the Sen Period (15th to 18th Century). The compact settlement boasts numerous temples, monastries and sculptures such as the Bhairab Temple, the Purankot Durbar, the Srinagar Durbar (Fort), the Bansha Gopal, the Mukundeshwar Mahadev, the Amar Narayan Temple, the Ran-Ujjeshwari Bhagawati Temple and the Tansen Durbar.