Manaslu is the world’s eighth-highest mountain, with an elevation of 8,163 metres.
The mountain is located in Nepal’s Mansiri Himal, part of the Himalayas. Its name derives from the Sanskrit word manasa, often associated with the spirit or intellect, giving Manaslu the poetic description “Mountain of the Spirit.” The peak has long ridges, glaciers and steep avalanche-prone slopes.
Japanese climbers made the first successful ascent in 1956, with Toshio Imanishi and the Sherpa Gyalzen Norbu reaching the summit. Their expedition followed several earlier attempts and faced strong local opposition because the mountain was regarded as sacred. Manaslu is now a popular goal for climbers seeking an eight-thousander, but its avalanche exposure and technical terrain remain significant. It is sometimes confused with Dhaulagiri, which is taller and ranks seventh.