Manaslu Region
Manaslu is the eighth highest peak in the world with 8163m height. Located close to the boundary with Tibet, the valleys to the north and east of Manaslu were restricted areas, some 100 km northwest of Kathmandu until the early nineties in Nepal. Now it is open for domestic & international tourists. Visiting together with the splendid scenery around Manaslu makes this one of the typical yet undamaged trekking escapades in the Himalaya.
The Manaslu Region has multi-ethnic varieties in terms of tradition and culture. Altitude has greatly influenced the general ethnic structure. The reduction in the Hindustic-Aryan population with increasing elevation is clearly noted in this region. In the southern region, the ethnic societies are Hindus like Brahmins. Similarly, in the Manaslu Region climatic dissimilarity in terms of temperature and precipitation is obviously noted within the short vertical distance of 100 km trail between Arughat and Samdo. There is extreme climatic disparity with tropical climate in the south to freezing climate in the north. With an average temperature of 30°C in summer, whereas the southern part is warmer and 10°C in the winter, the northern part is very cold.
The wide-ranging forest types of the Himalaya ranges are gifted with massive floristic diversity. It is actually the fullness of the country. Vegetation types in altitudinal zones are clearly noticeable in the Manaslu Region. There is a vibrant diversity of vegetation from tropical riverine forests to tundra vegetation due to the great dissimilarity in climate and elevation. Vegetation changes are clearly noted in this region. Total of 110 bird species have been known in this area.
Manaslu Conservation Area was established on December 28, 1998. Manaslu, a mountainous area in northern part of Gorkha District, has a delicate but diverse natural resources and rich cultural environment. It covers a 1,663 sq. km. area. There are around 9,000 inhabitants living in this area and 33 mammals, 3 reptiles, 110 birds, 11 butterflies and 2000 species of plants. Manaslu has many offers to give to the trekkers from the stunning set of the regal Himalayan ranges and high altitude glacier lakes to rich cultural and biological diversity.