Manaslu is the Himalayan eight-thousander whose name means “Mountain of the Spirit.”
Manaslu stands at 8,163 metres in Nepal’s Gorkha District. Its name derives from the Sanskrit word manasa, commonly associated with the mind or spirit. The mountain is also known locally as Kutang, while “Manaslu” became the name widely used in international mountaineering.
The Japanese expedition of Toshio Imanishi and Gyalzen Norbu made the first confirmed ascent on 9 May 1956. Japanese climbers had attempted the mountain earlier, but local opposition and difficult conditions delayed a successful summit expedition.
Manaslu is the eighth-highest mountain in the world. It is often grouped with Nepal’s other major eight-thousanders, including Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Cho Oyu. Its long ridges and avalanche-prone slopes make it a demanding climb despite its lower ranking than Everest.