The historical tourist spot Rani Mahal Palpa, located inside the Palpa district, has become a favorite of domestic and foreign tourists. This tourist spot, also known as the Taj Mahal of Nepal, is now visited by hundreds of tourists daily.
When former US President Bill Clinton came to India, he said after seeing the Taj Mahal, “Today I realized that there are only two types of people in this world. One is those who have seen the Taj, and the other is those who have not yet seen the Taj.
Perhaps, there are one-of-a-kind places in this world, but there is nothing like the Taj. Because a king has placed his heart in it.” From Clinton’s statement, we can easily guess what the structure of the Taj Mahal is.
The Taj Mahal, built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1653, is considered a symbol of love. Emperor Shah Jahan built the beautiful Taj Mahal in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz after her death.
History of Rani Mahal Palpa
Palpa’s Ranimahal is one of the famous palaces dedicated to love, like the Taj Mahal in India. It was built by General Khadga Shamsher, the Western Commander of Palpa Gounda during the Rana period.
In 1949 BS, when his beloved Queen Tej Kumari Devi died, Khadga Shamsher, who was emotional, made a final promise to the Queen to build a palace with a garden like the Taj Mahal in Agra, India, in her memory.
This palace, which was completed in 1954 BS after five years by British engineers in India, is known as the Taj Mahal of Nepal. Built on a steep rock on the banks of the Kaligandaki River, there are attractive embankments, gardens, and ponds in front of this palace.
The Kaligandaki flows in a serpentine shape, with blue water and white sand, and located on the banks of the river, this palace has now succeeded in attracting many tourists.
Ranimahal, a place of historical and archaeological importance, is located about 13 kilometers from the headquarters of Palpa district under Lumbini Province.
If we look at its history, during the Rana period, when Dhir Shamsher’s 17 brothers and sons, Bir Shamsher, became the Prime Minister, his brother Khadga Shamsher was the Commander-in-Chief. He was deposed 18 months after becoming the Chief and exiled to Palpa.
In 1945 BS, he was allowed to live as the Western Commander-General in Gounda, Palpa, with responsibility for areas including Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, Baglung, and Parbat, but in 1949 BS, his wife Tej Kumari died suddenly.
There is a history of the construction of Rani Mahal palpa as per the promise he made to his wife before his death. Many young men and women visit this palace on the banks of Kaligandaki, on the border of Palpa and Syangja districts, to witness their love to the peak of success. It is believed that if one’s name is written on the wall of the Rani Durbar, one’s love will remain immortal.
Built by British engineers in the Greek style, the Rani Mahal palpa is located on the western Kailash on a huge rock of the Kaligandaki River.
On the left side of the palace, there are two ponds made of carved stone for fountains in the Sheetal Party Durbar complex, and on the right side, there is also a guard post. On the left side of the palace complex, there are two temples of Shiva Linga and Ganga.
The palace looks attractive with the surrounding gardens and the Rani Pokhari. The four-story building is 56 feet wide and 112 feet high. The lush green forest around it makes the mind happy.
The forest on the other side of the holy river Kaligandaki, flowing through the north bank, is called Rani Ba, and the ghat here is called Rani Ghat. It is said that the people contributed their labor by making bricks, laying walls, carrying wood from the forest, cutting, and carving.
The palace is built from bricks made from special materials such as surkhi brick dust and sal wood. It took about five years to complete this palace. It is said that its construction period was prolonged because each piece of the building was installed only after a special study.
Tourists who have visited it say that this palace, which is full of dozens of rooms, beautiful ponds, mosques, beautiful gardens around it, and the structure of the guest rooms and artistic skills, can be compared to a piece of heaven.
Located in the alpa district, which is rich in unique natural beauty, abundant biodiversity, social diversity, and historical and cultural heritage, Rani Mahal palpa has become a major tourist destination in Nepal.
Although it can be reached from Palpa’s headquarters, Tansen, in about 20 minutes using transport such as buses and jeeps, the fun of hiking is also different.
You can reach here even after walking for about two hours. During the hike, the sound of various streams and rivers and the chirping of birds in the forest do not make you feel tired.
During the journey, if you look at a large stone in the shape of an elephant at a place called Haatidhunga, you will feel like you have seen a real elephant.
After a short walk, you will be able to see the waterfall from top to bottom while listening to the gurgling sound of Palpa’s famous Vaikuntha waterfall.
After some time, tourists will see their destination, Ranimahal. The high mountains around, the Kaligandaki flowing with a gurgling sound at the bottom, and the Ranimahal, decorated in white like a celestial nymph, fascinate everyone.
Now, various restaurants have opened around it. Due to this, the accommodation and food arrangements for tourists have also become organized.
The restaurant has also arranged overnight camps for tourists who come from far away to explore. Due to this, tourists who come here can spend their time with full entertainment.
Here are some other pilgrimage site of Nepal:
Gosaikund: https://kohinoorcreation.com.np/gosainkunda-trek-via-dupcheshwor/
