Rani Mahal Area Flooded as Rising Kali Gandaki Puts Historic Palace at Risk

Continuous rainfall has caused the Kali Gandaki River and the Barangdi stream to swell, flooding the area around Rani Mahal, one of Palpa’s best-known tourist attractions, and raising fresh concerns about the safety of the historic palace.

Several hotels, resorts and temporary shops operating around the tourist site have been inundated as water levels rose sharply. According to the Rani Mahal police post, the river has climbed well above the alert level.

Local resident Suresh Pandey said the water level around the palace increased rapidly after heavy rain caused the Kali Gandaki and Barangdi to rise.

The flooding has also renewed concerns about the long-term stability of Rani Mahal itself. The palace stands close to the Kali Gandaki River, where repeated erosion and landslides have gradually exposed and damaged parts of its foundation.

Foundation has already been eroded

The danger is not limited to the latest flooding. A study carried out with support from the District Administration Office in Palpa found that the foundation of Rani Mahal had been eroded by around three to seven feet over a period of 128 years.

A team of divers brought to the area about five years ago examined the palace’s foundation and confirmed that river erosion was threatening the historic structure.

The northwestern section of the palace has also faced landslide and foundation-erosion problems, increasing fears that continued river action could cause further structural damage.

Locals have repeatedly called for stronger riverbank protection around the palace. They say the absence of adequate embankment and erosion-control measures has left the site increasingly vulnerable during periods of heavy rainfall.

Flooding returns during heavy rain

The Rani Mahal area is particularly vulnerable when the Kali Gandaki receives large amounts of water from upstream districts, including Gulmi, Baglung, Myagdi, Parbat, Syangja and Mustang.

The river has been gradually cutting deeper into the area, with local residents saying the flow is increasingly affecting the side where Rani Mahal stands.

At the same time, hotels, resorts and shops have expanded around the tourist destination without a clear long-term plan for managing development and flood risk. The site falls within Tansen Municipality-13, Baughagumba, and is about 13 kilometres from Tansen.

A palace built in memory of a queen

Rani Mahal was built by then-General Khadga Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana in memory of his wife, Tej Kumari. Construction began in 1894 and was completed in 1897, corresponding to Bikram Sambat 1951–1954.

Built beside the Kali Gandaki, the palace has become one of Palpa’s most recognisable heritage and tourism landmarks. Its location beside the river is part of its distinctive character, but the same setting has also left the monument exposed to erosion and flooding.

With the latest rise in water levels, attention has once again turned to the need for protecting both the surrounding tourist infrastructure and the historic foundations of Rani Mahal before repeated flooding and river erosion cause irreversible damage.