Ganesh Himal And Manaslu

Ganesh Himal And Manaslu

Fast facts

 

  • The highest peak in this region is Manaslu, which at 8163m is the 8th highest peak in the world (see map)
  • Ganesh Himal is named after the Hindu God of Good Fortune. The Tiru Danda offers breath taking views of it.
  • The area is highly diverse, being home to Brahmin, Chhetri, Tamang, Magar, Tibetan and Gurung peoples
  • Manaslu was first climbed on May 9, 1956 by Toshio Imanishi from Japan and Gyalzen Norbu of Nepal
  • The region shelters endangered animals such as the snow leopard and red pandas – especially in the northern reaches as Buddhist Lamas prohibit the killing of animals.
  • A hidden gem here is the Tsum Valley. Really worth a visit.
  • Tiru Danda ridge often brings you above the clouds. It’s been described as ‘a  walk in the sky’ giving great views of the Annapurnas, Manaslu and nearby Ganesh Himal.
  • The view from the Larkya La is just astonishing. It looks straight out over four converging glaciers to the huge wall of 7,000m and 8000m peaks of Himal Chuli and the Annapurnas.

 

 

Introduction:

 

Ganesh Himal is named after the elephant-headed Hindu God of Good Fortune, also worshipped as the ‘Remover of Barriers’. The peaks of the Ganesh Range (Yangra/Ganesh I, Ganesh Northwest/Ganesh II, Salasungo/Ganesh III and Pabil/Ganesh IV) form a stunning subsection of the Great Himalayan Trail and the name comes from a ridge on the south face of Ganesh IV tmagarhat is reminiscent of an elephant’s trunk. Although it has no peaks over 7,500m, the Ganesh Himal towers above the surrounding valleys of the Buri Gandaki in the west and Bhote Koshi in the east.

 

Lying across the Buri Gandaki valley, just to the west of the Ganesh Himal section is Mansiri Himal, home to one of the most beautiful peaks in the whole Himalayan Range. At 8163m, stunning Manaslu is the 8th highest peak in the world and you really feel this immensity when you trek here and see it towering over the surrounding peaks, including Himal Chuli at 7893m.

 

Manaslu, the world’s 8th highest mountain (8,163m), marks the halfway point of the Great Himalayan Trail. Its Sanskrit name means ‘Mountain of the Spirit’ and this spirit certainly reflects into the peaceful villages and valleys around it.

This whole area is little touched by the modern world, little visited by foreign trekkers and offers scenery as diverse as the ethnic groups you will meet along the way. When trekking in this region you will generally begin in the lush, low elevation valleys growing rice and bananas, inhabited predominantly by Hindu ethnic groups of Indo-Aryan origin. From water buffaloes and lush fields along the rivers, you ascend in elevation to the middle hills where you begin to encounter communities of Tibeto-Burmese origin who practice Hinduism, Buddhism or a mixture of both with ancient Shaman practices still remaining. The fascinating Gurung, Magar and Tamang cultures give way eventually to the Buddhist Tibetan cultures in the moon-like landscape of the north near the border with Tibet. This section of the region is actually behind the main Great Himalayan Range and part of the Tibetan Plateau.

Trekking in this region can be accessed from the high trail from the east or west; through Gorkha (stopping to visit the famous Gorkha Palace, ancestral home of the Kings of Nepal); or most commonly and easily through Arughat.

Since 2010, the Manaslu Trek has been a tea-house trek and the permit fee reduced to just US$50 per week

 

 

 

Trekking around Manaslu and Ganesh Himal areas

 

  • Tamang Heritage Trail trek

The Tamang Heritage Trail is unique because it offers a closer look at village life that is less developed and travelled. It’s away from the crowds and makes a good extension to the Langtang trek

 

  • Tsum Valley

Trekking in Tsum Valley is not only a journey to a beautiful, inspiring and secret hideaway…but also a journey back in time, where ancient Tibetan traditions and cultures are still alive and being practiced today. It’s a genuine ‘off-the-beaten trail’ gem of an experience.

 

 

  • Manaslu circuit trek

The circuit of Manaslu (8163m) as a great and accessible GHT section taking around 20 days. It’s one of Nepal’s best kept secrets: Mountains, raging rivers, Buddhist culture and incredible views.