Where Is Mount Manaslu Located?

Where Is Mount Manaslu Located? Discover Its Location and Highlights

Mount Manaslu is located in the sub-Himalayan mountain range, Mansiri, in the Gorkha district of Gandaki province in Nepal. The mountain stands at an elevation of 8,163 m (26,782 ft) above sea level. It is among the 14 highest peaks in the world that are above 8,000 m and sits in eighth position in the list.

Manaslu is similar to another famous mountain in the country, Machhapuchhre (Mt. Fishtail) by its look, which is situated in the Kaski district of the same province and sits at an altitude of 6,993 m (22,943 ft). This majestic mountain also gave its name to the route, region, and protected area: the Manaslu Circuit Trek, the Manaslu Region, and the Manaslu Conservation Area.

The entire region that surrounds the Manaslu Mountain is considered a restricted area by the Government of Nepal because the place is rich in culture that is highly influenced by ancient Tibetan Buddhists and is home to some endangered animals, such as snow leopard, Himalayan tahr, and blue sheep. Thus, to preserve and protect all these valuable things and limit the influx of tourists in the region, the government announced it as a restricted area.

It was a Japanese climber, named Toshio Imanishi and his team, including Nepali climber, Gyalzen Norbu Sherpa, who successfully summited the peak for the first time on 9th May 1956. In spite of the fact that it is underrated and not as popular as Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest, 8,848.86 m/29031.69 ft) and Mt. K2 (8,611 m/28251.31 ft), climbing Mount Manaslu is still a dream of some climbers worldwide who are aware of its beauty.

So, when it comes to climbing, it is not considered technically hard, nevertheless, it is challenging to climb like the other famous mountains already mentioned due to some reasons. Below are some reasons that make the journey to Mount Manaslu tough, including the preventive methods:

Difficulty

Yes, Mt. Manaslu is not that technically difficult to climb compared to Mt. Everest and Mt. K2. However, you are more likely to encounter unexpected things along the trail to the summit, such as steep sections, icefalls, and crevasses, making your journey challenging. Therefore, you really need to be aware of and study more about these things while making plans for your expedition.

In addition to this, you are also required to have proper climbing skills and equipment knowledge to avoid any difficulty on the way because mountaineering is not an easy game to play. Hence, the more you train hard for one of these outdoor recreational activities the more chance you will have to summit it and come to the base camp safely.

Height

As the height of Mount Manaslu is above 8,000 m in elevation and its name is already listed in the 8th position of the table of highest mountains in the world, you can now imagine how likely you are to be developing the kinds of altitude sicknesses: Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), High-Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE), and High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), in your body during the expedition.

Among these sicknesses, AMS is a mild one and the other two are life-threatening if you do not apply some medication immediately. The main thing is you need to climb slowly with no rush to prevent them and even if somehow you develop any of them in the body, then the only medication for you is to descend to at least 500 to 1,000 m in such a harsh situation, where oxygen levels are more increased and symptoms can enhance.

Avalanches

Avalanches in the mountains are mostly common and so unexpected. It can occur anytime without giving any warning signal. Thus, you may also have the chance to face a natural disaster like an avalanche during your expedition to the Manaslu summit. It is one of the most dangerous natural calamities and unfortunately, if it happens while you are progressing on the way to the summit, snow and icefall can bury you alive.

So, if you are mapping out to climb this mountain with your team, then you better check the weather forecast frequently for the dates of your adventure daily at least a week before. Doing so will help you minimize the avalanche risk in Manaslu, as you will get a lot of information regarding the level of rain, snowfall, wind conditions, etc.

Limited Emergency Support

Like all the other great mountains, especially in Nepal, Manaslu also lies in one of the remote areas. It is not even as much commercialized as Everest (8,848.86 m/29031.69 ft), Kanchenjunga (8 586 m/28,169.29 ft), and Annapurna I (8,091 m/26545.28 ft). As a result, the options for rescue are very limited here.

During your expedition to its summit, if you, unfortunately, face some natural casualties, injuries, or altitude sickness, then the condition will be dangerous or even worse than we all expect. Heading to such a destination after knowing all the negative things about it, you should be fully prepared for the worst to come to you at any time and keep yourself alert. You better not waste your time being careless, as your life is all on your own.

Weather Condition

The weather in the upper section of the Manaslu Region is cold even during summertime. The weather is not guaranteed here and can change all of a sudden without any alarm with heavy snowfall, storms, and wind, making your expedition even difficult.

In terms of the best seasons for mountaineering, they are spring and autumn, with March to May falling in spring and September to November falling in autumn. However, even during the time of the best season, the weather can suddenly go against your favour. You can never stay relaxed, especially when you are in a high-altitude place or climbing a mountain.

As mentioned earlier, we cannot stop bad things from happening due to weather; however, we can at least reduce its risks. Therefore, you should keep checking the weather forecast every day during your Manaslu climbing campaign.

Where is Mount Manaslu located in map of Nepal

Mount Manaslu is located in the Gorkha district in map of Nepal, one of the districts in the western development region of the country and part of Gandaki province. There are numerous beautiful villages, such as Jagat, Sama, Samdo, Lho, Barpark, and many others in the lap of Manaslu. All these villages are inhabited by the ethnic groups: Gurung, Tamang, and Tibetan, showcasing their cultural beauty around the area.

What type of mountain is Manaslu?

Manaslu mountain is one of the 14 peaks considered the eighth-highest mountain in the world. The category of 14 peaks only consists of peaks that stand above 8,000 m. It is situated at an altitude of 8,163 m (26,782 ft).

As for the mountain range, it is one of the peaks in the Mansiri, a sub-Himalayan mountain range. It looks captivating from far away like the other renowned mountains in the world. Furthermore, it offers incredible views of its surroundings from the summit, drawing the attention of the climbers worldwide.

Despite the fact that it is stunning in looks, it equally dangerous mountain when it comes to expedition. Yes, the peak is not technically hard to climb compared to Everest and K2, but it has a high risk of avalanches and crevasses along the way to the summit. It has claimed the lives of around 90 mountaineers to date. For that reason, it is labelled by the name of Killer Mountain as well.

How was Mount Manaslu formed?

Speaking of the Mount Manaslu formation process, it was formed along with the other peaks in the Himalayan Mountain Range around 50 to 60 million years ago after the event of a collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates. The event caused the Indian Plate to move from Africa to Asia and crash with the Eurasian Plate. For millions of years, the land of the modern-day, Southasia, was forced to uplift due to the pressure of that massive collision.

What is Mt. Manaslu famous for?

Mt. Manaslu is especially famous for its rank in the list of 14 peaks, a category of mountains equal to or above 8,000 m. The height of the peak is 8,163 m (26,782 ft), making it the world's eighth-highest mountain. Besides that, it offers astonishing views of its surrounding landscapes from the top. In addition to this, it is also famous for being a killer mountain, as it has already claimed the lives of around 90 mountaineers to date, especially due to avalanches.

How to reach Manaslu for an expedition?

To embark on the adventure, you should first know the Manaslu Expedition access trails. You can reach the starting point of the expedition from anywhere in Nepal. However, after you land at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and if you have a plan to go for the expedition directly from the capital city, then you can take a public vehicle to Gorkha from the New Bus Park, Gongabu. Alternatively, you can also reserve the vehicle for your team if you don't prefer to go with the locals.

The typical starting point for the expedition is Soti Khola (710 m/2,329 ft), and to get there you will need to drive roughly 7 to 8 hours to Arughat, which is approximately 125 km away from Kathmandu. Upon reaching there, you need to change your vehicle and take a jeep ride to Soti Khola if you are travelling on a public bus. Alternatively, you also have the option to go further and reach Machha Khola (930 m/3,051 ft) by driving a few hours extra. Doing so will save you a day.

Your expedition begins the very next day from the place you stay overnight to Sama. During the journey, you will pass through several beautiful villages: Jagat, Pewa, Namrung, and Lho. Sama is an ideal destination for acclimatization and also the gateway to the Base Camp, an official point for the Manaslu Expedition.

Manaslu Mountain Climbing Route

In terms of the climbing route to Mt. Manaslu, there are a total of five routes. They are the eastern ridge, west face, northeast face, southern face, and southeast face. Among these, the northeast face is renowned as the standard route, which most climbers follow to summit the peak.

They follow this route because it is easier. But it doesn’t mean that you can climb the Manaslu with no worries by going through the northeast face. It is considered the easiest one just compared to other remaining paths. Nevertheless, it is still way tough than our expectations.

The trail commences from the base camp with no place to take rest or recover in case something bad happens during the climb. Additionally, unexpected things like especially avalanches, crevasses, etc can be encountered along the trail at any time.

To reach the base camp, mountaineers typically reach Soti Khola first by a few hours of driving from Kathmandu or from the city where they are currently staying and from there, they start the trek to Sama Gaun by walking for a few days via some other villages. Finally, from Sama Gaun the Manaslu expedition officially begins.

Is a permit required to climb Mount Manaslu?

Yes, a permit is required to climb Mount Manaslu. Nevertheless, there is not just one but four different permits you will need for its expedition: Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP), Manaslu Restricted Area Permit (RAP), Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP), and Trekkers' Information Management System (TIMS) permit cards.

Now, you might be wondering why ACAP is required to climb Manaslu. It is because after you finish your expedition, you follow the Manaslu Circuit Trek route, where you will cross Larke Pass (5,106 m/16,752 ft), the highest and main point of the trail. After crossing it, you will enter the Manang district of the same province, which lies on the boundary of Annapurna Conservation Area.