Manaslu is the world’s eighth-highest mountain and the highest major Himalayan peak located entirely within Nepal.
The mountain rises to 8,163 metres in Nepal’s Gorkha District. Its name comes from the Sanskrit word manasa, commonly translated as “intellect” or “soul,” which gives Manaslu the informal association “Mountain of the Spirit.”
The first successful ascent took place in 1956, when Toshio Imanishi and Gyalzen Norbu reached the summit as members of a Japanese expedition. The mountain’s long ridges and steep faces make it a demanding climb, while its approach passes through culturally important Himalayan communities.
Manaslu should not be confused with Dhaulagiri, which is higher at 8,167 metres, or Annapurna I, which is the tenth-highest mountain. Both are also entirely within Nepal.