Are you ready for the unforgettable experience in the Himalayas? If so, Mount Manaslu is one of the less explored and stunning treasure of Nepal. For those who have deep appreciation for the natural world, Mt Manaslu is likely a familiar name. But, do you know the exact location of this awe-inspiring peak? This is one of the world’s most iconic peak. It offers a mixture of beauty and thrilling challenges. So, where exactly can you find this majestic giant? Let’s dive into the detail of its location, specialty, and experience.
Where is Mount Manaslu Located?
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Where is Mount Manaslu located?
Mount Manaslu is one of the majestic peak in Nepal located at Mansiri Himal Range. This mountain is the eighth-highest mountain in the world which stands at the 8,163 meters. This is one of the historic and culturally rich region in Nepal. The Mansiri Himal Subrange is renowned for its breathtaking Glacial valley and mountain of spirit by locals. The name Manaslu was derived from Sanskrit word “Manasa”, meaning spirit or soul.
Where is Mt. Manaslu located at the map of Nepal?
Mt. Manaslu is located northwest of Kathmandu and 64 Km east of Annapurna. If you want to find this beautiful mountain in the map of Nepal, you should look for Gorkha Region. Mt Manaslu is located at the Gandaki region of Nepal. This Awe-inspiring peak is near the Tibetan border so, you can see the villages are greatly influenced by Tibetan culture and traditions. You can find the position of this mountain by tracing the Budhi Gandaki river.
Trekking in Manaslu region
Trekking in the mountain regions of Nepal has become very popular recently. Trekking to Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp is very famous in Nepal. The Manaslu Region Trekking is also gaining lot of appreciation due to its untouched natural beauty. Some of the famous trekking in the Manaslu Region are given below.
- Manaslu Circuit Trek
- Tsum Valley Trek
- Rupina La Pass
- Manaslu and Annapurna Circuit Trek
Manaslu Circuit Trek
The Manaslu circuit trek circles around Mt Manaslu. The highest point of this trek is Laky La Pass with the altitude of 5106 meters. You will see the panoramic views of mountain ranges throughout the trek. The trek offers you a chance to experience the traditions and cultures of a local villages. During the trek, you will pass through various forests, suspension bridges, and terraced fields. The Manaslu circuit Trekking Route goes through Annapurna conservation Area, Manaslu Conservation Area, and Manaslu restricted area.
Tsum Valley Trek
Tsum valley trek lets travelers through the untouched and isolated area of Manaslu region. While trekking at Tsum Valley you will get to experience the Tibetan Buddhism and their prayer practices. You will explore various Monasteries and stupas while exploring the Tsum Valley. This trek takes you through the traditional rituals and lifestyles of people un effected by modernization. This trek is less commercialized and a great way to explore the hidden corners of the Himalayas. While trekking to Tsum valley, you will walk through Buddhist monasteries like Rachen Gompa and Mu Gompa. You will also observe the daily life of the villagers in some traditional village like Nile.
Rupina La Pass
Rupina La Pass is a trekking pass through remote and rugged terrain. This area is rich in cultural diversity, traditional villages, monasteries and Tibetan culture. Rupina La Pass is one of the high altitude pass in the Himalayas of Nepal with the altitude of 4,720 meters. It falls in Manaslu conservation area. This trek path was opened for trekkers in 1991 AD. This trek path is gradually being highlighted to the trekkers. The Rupina La Pass is believed to have a history of its naming. Locals believe that a girl named Rupina vanished while tending her sheep and later the pass was named the Rupina La Pass.
Manaslu and Annapurna Circuit Trek
Manaslu and Annapurna Circuit Trek combines the Manaslu circuit with the Annapurna Circuit route. It is one of the longer and difficult trek in the Annapurna region. This trek includes long hours of walking each day. To complete this trek, it takes 13- 23 days. Although it is a long and exhausting trek, the amazing mountain views and cultural experience are worth it. This trek provides you with an opportunity to explore remote villages. This is one of the suitable trek for extended adventure seekers with fewer crowds compared to classic Annapurna circuit.
Major attractions of Manaslu Region
With the untouched beauty, the Manaslu region has many untold and hidden facts this region has added many attractions into its territory. Some of the main attractions of this region are described below:
Manaslu Conservation Area
Trekking into the Manaslu Region, most of the parts of trek falls through Manaslu Conservation Area. The Manaslu Conservation Area is home to many rare species like Red Panda, Snow Leopard, Lynx, Musk Deer, Brown Beer, Himalayan Marmot, Golden Eagle, Himalayan Griffon etc. This Conservation Area is habitat to nearly 2000 varieties of plants, 39 mammals, 201 birds, 3 reptiles, and 11 butterflies in same 11 types of forests.
To enter this conserved area trekkers or visitors must have the Manaslu Conservation Area Entry Permit. You can only obtain these permits through the registered trekking company in Nepal. The permit costs USD 30 for foreigners and USD 10 for SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) Countries.
Manaslu Restricted Area
If you are wanting to trek in the Manaslu region, you might be fantasizing of exploring its untouched and restricted areas. While trekking or exploring through the Manaslu Region, you will pass through various restricted villages like Deng, Namrung, Jagat, Sama Gaun etc. You will get a chance to Know more about hardship and lifestyle of locals living in these villages. You will also witness various mountain views from these villages. You will need Manaslu Restricted Area Entry Permit to enter these restricted villages. The permit cost varies according to the seasons.
Budhi Gandaki River
While trekking in Manaslu region, especially the Manaslu Circuit Trek, trekkers need to trek along the Budhi Gandaki River. This river is originated from Mt. Manaslu and joins the Trishuli river at Benighat. You will see Various Spiritual and religious places along the Budi Gandaki River while trekking.
Less Crowed
Compared to the famous trekking routes, the Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp trekking in Manaslu Region is less crowded. Trekkers can spend quality time with themselves while trekking in the Manaslu Region. Far from the busy city life one can find inner peace and refreshment while trekking in the Manaslu region.
Thrill and Adventure
Trekking to the Manaslu Region in Nepal, you will experience a thrilling and adventurous journey through the rocky and steep landscapes. Climbing or Trekking to Mt. Manaslu comes with lots of challenges, difficulties, and adventure. Due to its basic facilities and remote areas trekking in Manaslu Region is an adventurous and once in a lifetime journey.
Some Facts about the Manaslu Mountain
Manaslu is the eighth highest Mountain of the world often called as Killer Mountain. Manaslu Mountain is called killer Mountain due to its challenging terrain and high death rate. Some of the facts about the Manaslu Mountain are explained briefly below;
Unpredictable Weather condition: The Weather Condition of Mt Manaslu is very Unpredictable. Though the weather is believed to be dry and cold throughout the year, change in climate may arise within some minutes.
Avalanches: Avalanches in Mt. Manaslu is more often. The challenging land, heavy snowfall, and unpredictable weather condition are the major factor that triggers avalanches in the Manaslu Region. There was a big avalanche in 2022 that killed many climbers and trekkers.
Death in Mt. Manaslu: Mt. Manaslu has high death rate among mountains in Nepal. Mount Manaslu is known as fourth mountain with high death rate after Annapurna, Naga Parbat, and K2.
Tibetan culture: The lifestyle of this region is greatly influenced by the Tibetan culture and practices. Tibetan prayer style is widely approached in this region connecting it with the Ancient Buddhism practices.
Inquiries related to Manaslu Mountain
When was the first summit in Manaslu?
Although climbers attempted to climb Manaslu many times it was not successful. In 1950 H.W Tilman who was first European to lead an expedition to Annapurna range, concluded that Manaslu had direct route to its submit while he climbed the Larky La Pass. In 1953 group of 15 climbers set their base camp at Sama Gaun, and attempted to climb a submit by north but were failed. In 1954 a team of Japanese climbers faced hostility of locals at Sama Gaun village. As they believed that previous climbers offended the mountain goddess causing avalanche that killed 18 people and destroyed their famous spiritual site. Even the group of climbers who succeed on climbing the mountain, they also faced same hostility. But they were able to submit successfully by Toshio Imanishi from Japan and Gyaltsen Norbu a Sherpa in May 9 ,1956.
How far is Manaslu from Kathmandu?
The distance of Kathmandu to Manaslu is relatedly 120 Km. Your journey towards Manaslu starts with a scenic drive from Kathmandu to Maccha Khola. It will approximately take 7-8 hour of drive to reach Maccha Khola. You can hire a private jeep or travel by local bus according to your own preference. Manaslu Region Trekking is one of the nearest trekking route from capital city Kathmandu. Trek in this region can be finished within short time. Trekking into the Manaslu region is perfect for trekkers with limited time.
How was Mount Manaslu formed?
Mount Manaslu was formed by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates around 50 million years ago. When these huge plates crashed, the land got squeezed and pushed upward, which created Himalayas including Manaslu. During these period of time rain, wind, ice, and rivers shaped the mountain, carving deep valleys and steep slopes. The plates are still moving causing mountains grow taller. This beautiful mountain is composed of metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. These rocks were once part of the ancient ocean floor.
Why is Manaslu called Mountain of spirit?
Manaslu is also considered as Mountain of spirit because locals of this region believe that it is their spiritual guardian. Whether climbing to its peak or trekking to its base camp, Manaslu is a place where adventure meets spirituality. This region is full of spiritual energy and ancient Buddhist practices. Manaslu has been center of attraction for pilgrimage and meditation for centuries. One can know their inner power while trekking into this region.
Why is Mt. Manaslu famous?
Mount Manaslu is famous for its height, stunning scenery, rich culture, spiritual significance and many more. The unique Himalayan culture along with untouched natural beauty is one of the center of attractions of this region. Manaslu is believed to be more than just a mountain, the challenging trekking trails, deep spiritual aura and lifelong experience makes it perfect choice for adventure seekers. Manaslu is famous for trekking into its remote areas, the highest Larky La Pass, Unique Gurung and tamang cultures, and glacial valleys.
Where is Manaslu Base Camp located?
Manaslu Base Camp is located at the foot of the majestic peak. The journey to the base camp takes you through dense forests, high altitude landscapes, and remote villages. The altitude of its base camp is 4,800 meters. The base camp is surrounded by many other towering peaks. It is also the starting point for climbers to summit eighth highest peak in the world. While trekking to base camp you will get to experience the culture and traditions of villagers, and know more about the history of this region.
What are the challenges in Mount Manaslu?
Manaslu is considered one of the most difficult to climb and dangerous mountain of the world. It requires advance mountaineering skills involving steep ice and snow slopes. This mountain has high risk of Avalanches. The weather conditions at Manaslu is totally unpredictable, with strong wind, and extreme coldness. It requires great mental and physical endurance capacity to trek or climb to its top. Health service facilities is very rare in this region.
