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 the governors of the Shah regime. Today it’s a popular meeting spot for locals to have a chat. At the northwest corner of the square, the small, two-tiered Bhimsen Mandir is sacred to the Newari god of trade and commerce.
Several shops on the square sell dhaka, the fabric used for traditional Nepali jackets and topis (cloth hats), while to the west of the square, visit Karuwa Factory to see Tansen’s famed brass jugs being made.
