Tansen, an ancient hill town, with it's architecture strongly influenced by Newari migrants from the Kathmandu valley. Situated at the southern slope of the Mahabharat Range, about half way from the Indian border to Pokhara and the Himalayas, this town offers an opportunity to experience genuine Nepalese culture, away from westernized places like Thamel in Kathmandu or Lakeside in Pokhara. Old artistic Newari houses and cobbled streets shape the townscape. The town's hill, Shreenagar, allows breathtaking views of the Himalayan range from Dhaulagiri in the west to Ganesh Himal in the east.
Tansen is the district administration headquarter of Palpa district, one out of 75 districts in Nepal, and it is Municipality since 1957. Tansen Itself is often referred to as Palpa, and it's people (population apprx. 13.000 in the core area) as Palpalese.
At an elevation of about 1350m (4430ft) above the sea level the town experiences a pleasant climate throughout the year. The daily maximum temperature, even in pre-monsoon times, hardly exceeds ever 310C (88F) and it is only in December/January the daily minimum temperature can fall below 100 (50F). The annual precipitation is about 1500 mm of which 90% falls in the monsoon time.