Rani Mahal, Taj Mahal of Nepal, RaniGhat Palace

Rani Mahal, Palpa

The palace was constructed in the 19th century on the banks of the Kali Gandaki River, halfway between Syangja and Palpa. The palace, which is 13 kilometres from Tansen, is situated on a sizable rock in a quiet and secluded area.

The Palpa-based Rani Mahal, also known as Ranighat Palace, is widely referred to as the Taj Mahal of Nepal. It may not be as aesthetically pleasing as the Taj Mahal, but it appears to have a similar history of love, devotion, and appreciation. The Palpa District of Nepal is home to this palace, which is situated beside the Kali Gandaki River’s bank. When it was finished in 1893, the palace was by itself in the middle of nothing. For those who wish to witness how far love can go, this is increasingly a well-liked tourist destination. The palace took five years to complete because every part of the structure was carefully planned out.

History

This magnificent Rani Mahal, which means “queen’s palace,” was built by the governor of Palpa, Khadga Shumsher. Tej Kumari was the youngest and possibly the most adored of his many wives. She asked for a Durbar to actually be built in her honor as her last wish before she passed away. This is when the great and most beautiful palace Rani Mahal’s building started and developed. He searched all over for the appropriate area to build after the death of his wife. Even though there was only one option for transportation at the time, he just happened to stumble into the current location. There was also a substantial cliff that needed to be scaled.

However, he was sure that this was the best location, and with his sheer willpower, he was able to go through all of the challenges and prepare the ground for a castle. Khadga Shumsher hired a British architect with a base in India after securing all the land. Then they chose the builders of the Palpa army. It was constructed over a period of four years and is now regarded as a “monument of love” throughout Nepal.

How to reach Ranimahal ?

The Rani Mahal is easily accessible from Tansen, Palpa. It will take about 30 minutes to get there, but a local bus departing at 2:00 pm costs 100 rupees per passenger. Every hotel in the town has a private jeep available. The least convenient form of transportation, it is also extremely busy with locals from nearby villages. At the Amar Narayan Temple, jeeps are available for 150 rupees ($1.50 USD) if you prefer to travel alone. They depart every day at 2:30 p.m., but it’s preferable to arrive by 2:00 p.m. to guarantee a space because they fill up quickly. You might be picked up by the same vehicle at 8:30 in the morning.

A walking

The same route that the jeep takes may be used by foot to get to the Ranighat Palace. From Tansen, the trip takes around two hours of downhill travel and four hours of uphill travel back. It could be worthwhile to hike here and take the jeep back if you intend to travel on foot.