Manang district lies in the western part of Nepal, which covers an area of 2246 sq. km. It is one of the remotest district of the country, rich in culture and nature, making it a major trekking destination in the Himalaya. The region falls on the famed Annapurna Circuit trek and is visited by more than 14,000 trekkers annually along with the same number of supporting staffs.

GEOGRAPHY

Physically, the district is divided into three distinct regions namely:

1. Nyeshang Valley
2. Gyalsumdo Valley and
3. Nar Phu Valley

The Nyeshang and Gyalsumdo Valley fall on the circuit trekking trail where tourism business has become the main source of income for the people whereas Nar and Phu Valleys had been restricted areas for foreigners for a long time. Now the governmebt has opened most of the restricted areas for foreigners including Nar and Phu.

The trek to Nar and Phu provide magnificent views of Kangaru Himal, Ratna Chuli, photogenic landscapes, allows experiencing living culture and way of life of locals. It also covers some of the famous climbing peaks such as Himlung, Pokhar Kang etc. It is one of the main habitats of the endangered.

MOUNTAINS

Manang is proud of various elements. One of them is our spectacular mountain scenery. As part of the Annapurna Circuit trek, Manang valley is special for the mountain rising directly from the valley floor, which averages 3,400 meters (11,000 feet) in elevation. The Manang Valley is surrounded by mountains over 6,000 meters (20,000 feet) high on all sides.

These includes:

• Lamjung Himal (6,932 meters or 22,740 feet)
• Pisang Peak (6,091 meters or 19,982 feet)
• Annapurna I (8,091 meters or 26,538 feet)
• Annapurna II (7,939 meters or 26,040 feet)
• Annapurna III (7,555 meters or 24,780 feet)
• Annapurna IV (7,525 meters or 24,682 feet)
• Gangapurna (7,454 meters or 24,449 feet)
• Tarkekang or Glacier Dome (7,202 meters or 23,623 feet)
• Chulu East (6,558 meters or 21,510 feet)
• Tilicho Peak (7,134 meters or 23,400 feet)

Manang district lies in the western part of Nepal, which covers an area of 2246 sq. km. It is one of the remotest district of the country, rich in culture and nature, making it a major trekking destination in the Himalaya. The region falls on the famed Annapurna Circuit trek and is visited by more than 14,000 trekkers annually along with the same number of supporting staffs.

RIVERS AND LAKES

Many Himalayan rivers take their courses through Manang cutting steep and narrow valleys. Marshyangdi, Naar and Dudh khola are the main rivers in Mannag. The Marshyangdi runs east-west creating an elongated valley that includes many settlements. The rivers flowing from the north tend to have very strong currents creating more narrow valleys. Thus there are less settlements along these valleys.

There are also several lakes in Manang, mostly the result of glacier erosion. Tilicho Lake in the south id located 4915m above sea level and is very isolated. During winter the lake is almost frozen, but in spring and summer as the snow begins to melt and wild flowers bloom the area is a wonderful place for foreigners, full of beautiful landscapes with a covering of natural floral carpets.

FLORA

Due to the range of geographical ad climatic regions in Manang there is a very diverse variety of flora. The more tropical parts of the area is filled with terraced paddy fields most of the year, and it is also famous for its winter crop of oranges that can be bought along the trails in the foothills. As you progress further into the higher regions the vegetation changes to more temperate plants and trees eventually changing into pine forests. In the rain shadow to the north, the landscape is quite barren, being an extension of the Tibetan plateau, and mostly only stunted bushes and shrubs are found.

FAUNA

Manang is home to many different varieties of birds and animals. It is known for its musk deer, which were hunted to near extinction for their musk. From December to early March, the Nyeshang Valley is covered with thick snow. This is when the snow leopard, descends from its rocky lair high in the mountains in search of blue sheep, its natural prey. A special package has been developed for visitors for the winter months. Local guides will lead interested groups to likely snow leopard haunts, where sighting of this elusive creature are more likely.

MAJOR SETTLEMENTS

Nali Cave

It takes 1:30 hours walk to reach the cave southest of Pisang village. This is cave where monks meditate for 2-3 months every year. The trail goes through Nali Kang, a beautiful playeau and offers you magnificent views of Pisang peak, Julu peak and ghyaru village. People used to live in Nali Kang. Fossils found here show there were very old settlements.

Yaktong

It takes 3 hours walk to reach Yaktong to the southeast of Pisang village. This walk provides the exciting experience of a jungle walk and also helps you prepare for Thorong Pass by acclimatizing yourself. At Yaktong. Do not miss the colorful big flat stone in a gorge. The combinations of colors over a stone look like a rainbow. Even the respected monks of the region have said that this place might be a natural God that spreads peace and harmony in the world.

Pisang Setlement

Situated at an altitude of 3100 meters, Pisang is one of the main villages on the Annapurna trekking route. There are two villages, Upper and Lower Pisang. Lower Pisang is a new settlement that used to be called Tonga thirty years ago. Today it is one of the important stops. Upper Pisang is totally untouched by modernization but Lower Pisang (Tonga) is highly influenced by tourism. Gurung, Ghale and Tibetan migrants are living in the village. Their main occupations are agriculture, livestock husbandary, seasonal business, foreign trade and tourism.

Ghyaru Settlement

Ghyaru lies at an altitude of 3670 meters. A Tibetan monk came to Ghyaru by yak thousands of years ago. The Lama built a gumba. His yak died a few days after he arrived. Later, the yak’s body degraded and only the horn remained. In the Manangi mother tongue, Yak horn is called ‘Yak Ru’. The word ‘Yak Ru’ corrupted and became Gyhyaru. This is how the village got its name. Inhabitants of Ghyaru are mostly Gurungs, Tibetan migrants and a few Ghales. People mostly live on agriculture, livestock husbandry, foreign trade and tourism.

Ngawal Settlement

Ngawal is an enchanting historical and traditional village of Manang District, which falls on the Annapurna trek. It is situated at the base of Kangla, a pass approximately 5100 meters. Ngawal is at an altitude of 3650m. From here, the GHALE kings ruled the Nyeshang valley thousands years ago before the political unification of the country of Nepal. Ghale, Gurung, Lama, Tibetans and migrants from Nar and Phu have carved a living out of Ngawals steep terraces and barren mountains. Manangi people prefer to call the village PANGBA. Here, people live on agriculture, livestock husbandry, tourism and seasonal business in other cities.

Braga Settlement

Wonder and fear fill the heart of those who visit Braga. Built into a wall of towering cliff, the settlement has been tightly structured for protection against all possible dangers of the Himalayan frontier. Inhabited by six hundred people, its aged monasteries tell the tale of a warm and pious people who have survived the odds.

Gangapurna Lake

Gangapurna Lake in named after Mount Gangapurna that feeds the lake with its glacier. These waters are easily approachable from Manang, the most prominent settlement of the Nyeshang people. Loved by the local people for its milky look, it is in close proximity to the yak grazing grounds.

Mringchho Lake

The lake is 30 minutes walk to the wst from both Upper and Lower Pisang. It is surrounded by beautiful pine forests and said to be religious site where a bird always cleans the lake by picking floating leaves.

Ga Tso/Ga Kyu Tso

The glacial lake across from Manang village is called Ga Tso or Ga Kyu Tso. Ga means “Himal” and Tso means “Lake”. Kyu means “water” in both the Manangi and Gurung languages. Hence the name “Snow Mountain Lake”. Ga Tso turns a deep turquoise in the right sunlight. The Manang Village burial grounds are near the lake. They are sacred and it is best to view them from a distance so as not to defile or disturb their sancity.

Gunsang

In the direction of Thorong La, is a small settlement called Gunsang. How few changes have taken place over the centuries may be seen here. The cultural practices, children, women and men at work, local art and architecture, are a window into the rural Himalayan lives in Manang.

Milarepa Cave

The Lord Milarepa is known to many Buddhist and Bompo communities of the Himalayas. As he wandered across the land, he found this cave complex and meditated and lived there for many days. A hunter of the Nyeshang people, gumba Dorje brought food and comfort to the saint and ne, in turn, gave Dorje and his people much wisdom. The Lord’s caves are honored with meditation, offerings and an annual festival.

Puchan Prha

Himalayan lore explains that a clear view of the Himalayas removes webs of worry and evil, heals the body, and lifts the mind. Puchan Prha is a hill that offers wondrous views of mountains. The Manangi people go here to heal and celebrate their bodies and souls.

Papachong

A wide meadow pasture that once used to be a farming area during the months of July, August and Septembernow lies covered with wild flowers.

Khangsar Settlement

Khangsar is the western most village of Manang district located alongside the Khangsar Khola beneath the imposing peak of Tilicho. The local name for Khangsar is Ngaba, meaning “the place where five people originally settled down”. This was formerly a pasture area for yaks, as was Tenki, but now there are many houses and fields of wheat and buckwheat. Another local interpretation of the name Khangsar is “new settlement”. It is about two hours walk from Manang valley. The settlement offers an authentic rural experience. It’s one of the good sites for a day long trip while in Manang.

The Kecho Lake (Ice Lake)

Alpine meadows, grazing yak, Himalayan pheasant, wild sheep and spectacular panoramas make the hike to the 4,800-meter Kecho Lake a perfect stroll on a restful day. The Nyeshang people believe that around the lake are hard-to-see palaces of their gods. They make annual journeys to Kecho to catch a glimpse of these divine waters.

Kargyu Gumba

Kargyu Gumba is among the earliest and clearest monuments that points to the rise of Buddhist religion in the Land of the Nyeshang People. Believed to be have been constructed in the eleventh century, the gumba is an interesting study of early Nyeshang architecture, art and religious practices.

Braka Gumba

This gumba, believed to be at least 500 years old, is situsted in Braka valley and is a place of the Khangu-pa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The monk Marpha, who in the 11^th century thought to make Tibetan Buddhism more spiritual, inspired Khangu-pa’s mysterious and powerfully atmospheric gumba amongst the local people.

Praken Gumba

Half way up the northern cliff that rises above Manang in a cave is a Tsamkang (heritage) where a lama conducts a short puja on trekkers about to cross the Thorong La. The lama ties a piece of red ribbon around your neck for good luck (not free of cost). Even without the puja the steep climb up here will help visitors to acclimatize and the views across the valley are stupendous.

Pocho Gumba

Situated hill on a hill, this is one of the oldest and most important monasteries in Manang. The gumba is situated 30-40 minutes walk from Manang village. Important religious ceremonies like the five-day meditation festivals called Nyung-Ney ceremony takes place here.

Urgen Thekchho Chholing Gumba

Situated north of the village, the Gumba is still under construction. On completion, it will house a great collection of Buddha Statues, Thankas, holy books and Tibetan traditional items. Special carpenters and painters were brought from Kathmandu and India to design the woodwork and wall paintings.

Karma Samten Chokor Ling Gumba

His Holiness the first Gyalpo Rinpoche, a disciple of the great Wangyal Rinpoche, was born in Braga in 1913. He studied and completely mastered all the shastras and tantras of Dzogchen tradition from his guru Wangyal Rinpoche. He established Karma Samten Chokor Ling Gumba at Portoche, ten minutes walk to the west of Ngawal to give his followers teaching and guidance for practicing Buddhism.

Tare Gumba

About an hour’s walk away from Khangsar en route to Tilicho Lake, there exists one of the oldest gumba of the district. This Gumba is situated in a peaceful environment and has a collection of some of the oldest scriptures of Buddhism. This monastery is believed to be 1000 years old and is a very important monastery of the local people. It is wildly believed that offering prayers here will keep one safe and will make ones trip to the Tilicho Lake and across the Thorong Pass a success.