Manaslu Conservation Area

Manaslu conservation area was established as a conservation area in the year 2055 BS (1998 AD). Up until 1991, this area was not accessible to the tourists. Only after the year 1991, this area was made open for tourists. Lately, the Nepalese government has handed over the responsibility of managing this area for 20 years to NTNC (National Trust for Nature Conservation).

 

Location

 

Covering the area of 1663 sq. km., this conservation area is located in the Gorkha district. It shares a border with Tibet towards the north and the Annapurna Conservation area towards the west.

 

Climate

 

Manaslu conservation area ranges from the elevation of 600m. to the top of the 8th highest Mt. Manaslu at 8163m. This area comprises of mountains, glaciers, and watercourses. The climatic zone ranges from subtropical to temperate. The temperature in this area varies with the climatic zone. However, the summer temperature is up to 34 degrees Celsius in the subtropical zone. In the temperate zone, the temperature can fall up to -6 degrees Celsius in the winter.

 

Getting There

 

To reach this beautiful conservation area, we have to start from the headquarters of province-4. From Gorkha, through the banks of the Budhigandaki River and crossing Larke Bhanjyang (5106 m.), around 10 days of trekking takes us to the beautiful conservation area of Manaslu.

 

Wildlife and Vegetation

 

 

Home to the Snow Leopard, Musk Deer, and Red Panda; there are about 110 species of birds and 3 species of snakes in the area. Covered by more than 200 species of flora, this area protects the Impeyan Pheasant and Crimson Horned Pheasant species of birds.

 

Local Population at the buffer zone

 

In this area with a blend of nature and culture, about 7000 people from the Gurung community reside. Sharing the international border with Tibet, the people there have a lifestyle quite similar to the Tibetan people. They are dependent on livestock farming and agricultural occupation to suffice their living. However, in the winter season, the people migrate towards the lower areas in search of work.

 

Things to do

 

• Trekking
• Bird Watching
• Mountaineering
• Red Panda Tracking
• Snow Leopard Tracking
• Himalayan Thar,

 

Places to Visit

 

• Samagaun, a very old Tibetan village with numbers of Monasteries and Chortens
• Birendra Lake
• Pungen Monastery
• Larkya La Pass, highest point of Manaslu circuit trek
• Tsum Valley, also known as hidden valley

 

Protected Mammals
S.N	Name	Scientific Name
1	Red Panda	Ailurus Fulgens
2	Musk Deer	Moschus Cyrysogaster
3	Snow Leopard	Panthera Uncia
4	Lynx	Felis Lynx
5	Leopard Cat	Prionailurus Bengalensis
6	Great Tibetan Brown Bear	Ovis Ammon
7	Himalayan Brown Bear	Ursus Arctos
8	Assamese Monkey	Macaca Assamensis
9	Gray Wolf	Canis Lupus
Protected Birds
S.N	Name	Scientific Name
1	Impeyan Pheasant	Lophophorus Impejanus
2	Crimson Horned Pheasant	Tragopan Satyra

 

 

Itinerary

 

Itinerary based on Manaslu Circuit Trek

Day 01	Kathmandu to Soti Khola (Drive) 700m
Day 02	Soti Khola to Maccha Khola 930m
Day 03	Maccha Khola to Jagat 1340 m
Day 04	Jagat to Pewa 1600 m
Day 05	Deng to Namrung 2630m
Day 06	Namrung to Lho 2957m
Day 07	Lho to Sama Gaun 3530 m
Day 08	Acclimatization Day – Side Trip to Either Pungyen Gompa, Manaslu Basecamp or Birendra Tal 4400 m
Day 09	Sama Gaun to Samdo 3865 m
Day 10	Acclimatization Day – Side Trip to Tibetan Border 5100 m
Day 11	Samdo to Dharmasala 4460 m
Day 12	Dharamasala – Larkye La Pass – Bimthang 3590m
Day 13	Bimthang to Tal 1700m
Day 14	Tal to Kathmandu 1300 m

 

For more information:

• National Park of Nepal
• Tiger Encounter in Nepal
• Wildlife of Nepal