Manaslu, also known as Kutang, is the eighth highest mountain in the world at 8,163 meters (26,781 ft) above sea level. It is located in the Mansiri Himal, part of the Nepalese Himalayas, in the west-central part of Nepal. Its name, which means "mountain of the spirit,” comes from the Sanskrit word “manasa,” meaning "intellect" or “soul.” It was first climbed on 9 May 1956 by Toshio Imanishi and Gyalzen Norbu as a member of the Japanese expedition, so it is also called the Japanese Mountain. It is located 64 km east of Annapurna in the Gorkha District of Nepal. This region offers a variety of trekking options. In 1991 the Nepal government allowed trekking in this region. The trekking trail follows an ancient route along the Budhi Gandaki River. We can observe 10 peaks over 6500 meters in height, including a few over 7000 meters. The highest point in the Manaslu trekking route is Larkya La, with an elevation of 5106 meters. Apart from climbing Manaslu Mountain, trekking is also familiar in this region as part of the Manaslu Circuit.
The Manaslu Conservation Area was established in 1998 under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act. This area covers 1663 square kilometers (642 sq km) and is managed by the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC). The main theme of this region was “to conserve and sustain management of the resources and rich cultural heritage, including the promotion of ecotourism.”