Nepal · Architecture

Palpa, an old artistic Newari town Trip with Kathmandu and Pokhara

8 Days Round trip from Pickup service provided in Pokhara. Easy pace

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The journey

Trip highlights

01 Explore the old artistic Newari town of Tansen in Palpa
02 Watch sunrise and mountain views from Sarangkot
03 Enjoy boating on Phewa Lake and visit Tal Barahi Temple
04 Visit Rani Mahal on the banks of the Kali Gandaki River
05 Discover Pokhara sights including Gupteshwor Cave, Devi's Falls, and the International Mountain Museum
06 Tour UNESCO-listed heritage sites in Kathmandu Valley
07 See historic landmarks including Tansen Durbar, Shital Pati, and Bhagwati Temple

Discover Nepal beyond the usual route on an 8-day journey through Kathmandu, Pokhara, and the artistic hill town of Tansen in Palpa. This itinerary combines heritage sites, lakeside scenery, mountain viewpoints, and historic architecture, with time to explore temples, palaces, museums, and traditional town streets.

From boating on Phewa Lake and sunrise views from Sarangkot to a full day exploring Palpa’s Newari character, the tour highlights both famous landmarks and lesser-visited cultural treasures. You’ll also visit UNESCO-listed sites in Kathmandu, including Swayambhunath, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Pashupatinath, and Boudhanath, while enjoying included accommodation, guided sightseeing, and private transport throughout the trip.

From boating on Phewa Lake and sunrise views from Sarangkot to a full day exploring Palpa’s Newari character, the tour highlights both famous landmarks and lesser-visited cultural treasures.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 8 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included

Transport Not included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Pokhara, Kathmandu, Tansen

Languages English, Japanese

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport

Our airport representative assists you at Tribhuvan International Airport and transfer to hotel and rest of time leisure activities and overnight at hotel
Meals not included
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel

Day 02

Kathmandu to Pokhara (05 hrs drive)

After breakfast our tour guide will assists you at your hotel and take private trip to Pokhara which is known as city of lakes and sightseeing Barahai Temple and boating around Fewa lake and transfer to hotel and overnight at hotel.
Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel

Day 03

Sarankot sunrise and drive to Palpa (5 hrs drive)

Early morning wakeup call and drive to sarangkot view point for the glorious view of sunrise and snowcapped mountains and back to hotel and after breakfast drive to Palpa. Overnight at hotel.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel

Day 04

Full day Palpa sightseeing

Early morning hike to Shreenagar Tower, enjoy view of glorious mountains and Palpa town and after breakfast Visit these sites:
Bhagwati Temple: Bhagawati Temple was rebuilt by Colonel Ujir Singh Thapa, the governor of Palpa in 1815 in commemoration of the victory over colonial British Indian Forces in the battle fought at Butwal. He took oath to build a large temple and organize chariot processions to Goddess Mahis Mardini if he gets victory in the battle.
Bhagawati Temple is three small temples of Shiva, Ganesh and Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom. Every August, a chariot procession of deities is paraded through the town with military honor to observe the historic battle.
Shital Pati: Literally known as “Cool Resting Place’’ this octagonal landmark was built by General Khadga Shamsher Jung Bahadur Rana during his tenure (1891-1902 AD) as western commanding chief of Nepal, based in Tansen, Palpa. Built in Mughal style, its unique architecture resembles a fort or a rook- shaped castle tower piece in a chess board. Shital Pati is believed to have been built a few years earlier than the Rani Mahal.
The Mul Dhoka (main gate) or Baggi Dhoka (gate for horse drawn carriage) as the locals call it, is probably the only one of this size and dimension in Nepal. The gateway leads to the famous Ranaujieshwori Bhagwati temple, regarded as the guardian deity of Tansen and to the Tansen Durbar square which since accommodated various district level government offices. There are fine woodcarvings on the buildings on both sides of the gate, examples of the fine Newari craftsmanship.
Tansen Durbar was built in 1927 AD by Pratap Shamsher Jung Bahadur Rana and formed the grand palace that was the seat of the Rana governors. Though in January 2006 during the Maoist insurgency it was destroyed, after the abdication of the king a few months later, the palace was one of the first government buildings to be restored
Amar Narayan Mandir: The large classic three-tiered pagoda style temple is sacred to the Lord Vishnu. It was built in 1807 AD by the first governor of Tansen, Amar Singh Thapa and is very beautiful with its carved wood deities. The erotic carvings on the wooden struts are remarkable. The temple is surrounded by one meter wide stone wall locally known as the Great wall of Palpa. In the vicinity of the temple, there are two other temples. Mahadev Mandir is found just below, sacred to Shiva and the other is to Vishnu Paduka.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel

Day 05

Rani Mahal sightseeing and drive back to Pokhara

After breakfast, drive for Rani Mahal:
Rani Mahal is a Rana palace located in the banks of Kali Gandaki River in Palpa district of Nepal. This palace was constructed by General Khadga Samsher Rana JBR in 1893, named after his wife as Rani Mahal (Literary translates as Queens Palace.
After sightseeing, drive back to Pokhara. Overnight at hotel.
Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel

Day 06

Half day Pokhara sightseeing and drive for Kathmandu

After breakfast, half day sightseeing of Pokhara valley which includes: Gupteshwor cave, Davis fall, International Mountain Museum and drive back for Kathmandu.
Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel

Day 07

Full day Kathmandu sightseeing and Farewell dinner

After breakfast our tour guide will assists you at your hotel and take a drive to UNESCO listed World heritage sites of Kathmandu valley which includes: Swyambhunath Stupa(Monkey Temple), Kathmandu Durbar Square(home of living goddess Kumari), Pashupatinath temple (ancient temple and holy place of Hindu and Buddhist followers), Bouddhanath Stupa (ancient Buddhist stupa )and at evening farewell dinner at Typical Nepali Restaurant with cultural show and overnight at hotel overnight at hotel
Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel

Day 08

Departure

Our office representative assists you at your hotel and transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport for your final departure to your next destination
Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation not included

The route