Amar Narayan Mandir

The Terai & Mahabharat Range


At the bottom of Asan Tole (the steep road running east from Sitalpati), the Amar Narayan Mandir is a classic three-tiered, pagoda-style wooden temple. The mandir was built in 1807 by Amar Singh Thapa, the first governor of Tansen, and it’s considered to be one of the most beautiful temples outside Kathmandu Valley. The carved wooden deities are exquisite; note the erotic scenes on the roof struts, and the alternating skulls and animal heads on the lintel.

Devotees come here every evening to light butter lamps in honour of the patron deity, Lord Vishnu.

At the start of the steps to the Amar Narayan Temple is the similar but smaller Mahadev Mandir, a Shiva temple.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby The Terai & Mahabharat Range attractions

1. Sitalpati

0.13 MILES

The main square in Tansen is dominated by (and named after) a curious octagonal pavilion, used for public functions in the days when Tansen was ruled by…

2. Baggi (Mul) Dhoka

0.14 MILES

The local governor used to ride out to greet his subjects on an elephant through this grand gateway south of Sitalpati.

3. Tansen Durbar

0.17 MILES

At the southern end of Sitalpati is the striking red Tansen Durbar, which has been nicely restored after being razed during one of the Maoist insurgency’s…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "nepal/the-terai-and-mahabharat-range/tansen-palpa/attractions/amar-narayan-mandir/a/poi-sig/1432421/357163",
      "destination": "The-Terai-&-Mahabharat-Range",
      "continent": "Asia",
      "country": "Nepal",
      "region": "The-Terai-&-Mahabharat-Range",
      "position": "superzone"
    }