Manaslu, Summit in Gorkha District, Nepal.
Manaslu is a granite summit in Gorkha District, Nepal, rising to 8,163 meters above sea level and marking the eighth highest point on Earth. The massif dominates the landscape of the Mansiri Himal region and shows steep rock walls plus extensive glaciers running from base to summit.
Japanese climbers Toshio Imanishi and Gyalzen Norbu reached the summit first on May 9, 1956, establishing a long tradition of Japanese expeditions to this peak. Several earlier attempts had failed before this route through the northeast face brought success.
The name comes from Sanskrit and means Mountain of the Spirit, reflecting the deep connection to Buddhist monasteries and prayer flags in surrounding villages. Pilgrims and locals regard the peak as a sacred place that plays a spiritual role in their daily lives.
Climbers need several official permits, including authorization for the restricted zone and the conservation area, to gain access. Six technically demanding routes are available, with each requiring specific skills in high-altitude mountaineering and glacier travel.
The peak hosts six different climate zones ranging from subtropical foothills to high-altitude pastures, providing habitat for rare species such as snow leopards. Red pandas inhabit the forested mid-elevations, where dense undergrowth and bamboo forests offer shelter.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
