How to Travel to Tansen, Palpa (Bus, Tickets, Prices)
LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO TRAVEL TO TANSEN (PALPA)?
Don’t worry, I have travelled to Tansen both from Pokhara and Kathmandu, and here is everything you need to know to plan your trip.
Tansen is located in the Palpa District, in the south-west part of Nepal. It is about 300 km from Kathmandu and 120 km from Pokhara. Despite the distance, Tansen is well connected by daily buses from all the major cities in Nepal.
The type of buses that go to Tansen are Deluxe/AC buses. There aren’t tourist buses (sofa seat bus) going there but the Deluxe/AC buses are not too bad either.
Looking for things to do in Tansen? Check out the best things to do in Tansen, Palpa.
How to Travel from Kathmandu to Tansen by Bus
Tansen is about 300 km from Kathmandu and the bus takes about 14 hours to get there.
Usually, there are 2 buses going to Tansen per day: one in the morning at 6:30 am and one in the evening around 7 pm.
The buses are usually Deluxe, AC buses but there are no sofa seat type of tourist buses that go there.
The bus ticket from Kathmandu to Tansen costs Rs. 1,300.
Where is the Bus Stand in Kathmandu?
The bus to Tansen leaves from the Gongabu Bus Park, which is also called Naya Bus Park (see map below) in Kathmandu. The bus from the Gongabu Bus Park then goes on the Ring Road towards Kalanki.
It is also possible to get on the bus at a location on this route on the Ring Road (e.g. Swoyambhu) but you have to call the bus company/bus helper to confirm the pick up location. Usually, they give you the phone number when you buy your ticket.
If you want to make sure that you get the seat you booked, it is better to get on the bus at the Gongabu Bus Park. The buses to Tansen are not tourist buses so in practice the seats are not assigned like on the tourist buses. This is due to that people can buy bus tickets on the spot, get on the bus and sit in any seat that is free at that time.
How to Travel from Pokhara to Tansen by Bus
Tansen is about 120 km away from Pokhara by road and it takes about 6 hours to get to Tansen.
There is a bus that goes once a day from Pokhara to Tansen, leaving at 8:30 am. There are no tourist buses operating on this route, rather the Deluxe or AC type of buses.
The bus ticket from Pokhara to Tansen costs Rs. 800.
Where is the Bus Stand in Pokhara?
The bus to Tansen leaves from the Tourist Bus Park in Pokhara.
The Tourist Bus Park is maximum 30 minutes walk from Lakeside if you feel like walking. There are also lots of taxis in Lakeside early morning so you can also easily get a taxi to the bus park.
How to Travel from Chitwan to Tansen by Bus
If you are planning to visit Tansen from Chitwan, there are no direct buses.
Most tourists stay in Sauraha when visiting Chitwan and there is no direct buses from there. First, you will have to take a local bus from Sauraha to Bharatpur or Butwal. Then change to another bus to Tansen.
From Sauraha to Bharatpur, it takes about 1.5 hours by bus. Then, from Bharatpur to Tansen, it takes about 6 hours. There are only Deluxe, AC buses going on this route. There is no option to book a tourist bus.
Where to Get on the Bus in Chitwan? (Sauraha or Bharatpur)
In Sauraha, you will have to take a bus from the Tourist Bus Park. Then, once in Bharatpur, change buses at the Bharatpur Bus Park. (Option B: Take bus from Sauraha to Butwal and take a local bus from Butwal to Tansen).
How to Travel from Butwal to Tansen by Bus
Tansen and Butwal are very close to each other, only about 40 km away. There are local buses that go between the two towns every 30 minutes. The journey takes about 1 hour 45 minutes and the tickets costs Rs. 150.
Where to Get on the Bus in Butwal?
The bus to Tansen goes along the road Siddartha Rajmarg in Butwal. You will be able to get on the bus there or at the Butwal Bus Park.
Where to Get Off the Bus in Tansen (Palpa)
Once in Tansen, the bus will drop you at the Tansen Bus Park. It is a central location, close to the Palpa Durbar. Depending on where your accommodation is, it will probably be about 10-15 minutes to reach by walk.
Tansen is on a hill so many of its roads are uphill/downhill. If you have a lot of luggages, it could be better to take a taxi. If you do not have much luggage, it is pretty easy to get around the town by walking.
How to Buy the Bus Ticket to Tansen?
There are a couple options on getting a bus ticket in Nepal. Usually, these are the most common and easiest ways:
- Travel agency
- Through your hotel
- At the bus park
For browsing bus tickets: BusSewa.com
💡 Note: it is not possible to buy bus tickets in Nepal using an international bank card. You can only pay through Nepali digital payment apps, like eSewa.
Nevertheless, BusSewa is a good place to browse bus tickets, schedule and prices.
If you stay long-term in Nepal: check out my guide on how to set up eSewa to book bus tickets online in Nepal.
FAQ: How to Travel to Tansen
In Which District is Tansen?
Tansen is located in the Palpa District of Nepal. You will find that the town of Tansen is also often referred to as Palpa.
Tansen and the Palpa District are located in the Hilly Region of Nepal. They say Tansen has pleasant weather all throughout the year: not too hot during the monsoon and not too cold during the winter.
What is the Distance from Kathmandu to Tansen?
The distance from Kathmandu to Tansen is 300 km and takes about 14 hours to get there by bus. From Kathmandu, there is one bus that goes in the morning and another one that goes in the evening.
What is the Distance from Pokhara to Tansen?
Tansen is 120 km away from Pokhara and takes around 6 hours to get there by bus. There is only one bus daily that operates between Pokhara and Tansen, leaving Pokhara at 8:30 am.
How Much is the Bus Ticket from Kathmandu to Tansen (Palpa)?
The price of the bus ticket from Kathmandu to Tansen (Palpa) costs Rs. 1,300. This price is for Deluxe/AC type of buses, there is no tourist, sofa seat type of buses going to Tansen.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Tansen is well connected by other major cities in Nepal. Although it is located in the western region of Nepal, far from Kathmandu, it is definitely worth the trip.
There are regular, daily buses both from Kathmandu and Pokhara to Tansen.
Tansen is 300 km from Kathmandu and takes about 14 hours to get there by bus. While, Tansen is 120 km from Pokhara and takes 6 hours to get there by bus.
