Major attraction of Manang

Manang Youth Society

Manang village:

Location:  4-5 hours from Pisang.

Special feature: Manang is a charming village with all facilities of home. There are many places for day hiking to the surrounding hills to enable you to acclimatize and enjoy the spectacular culture and natural beauty of the  area.

Ice Lake:

Location: 3-4 hrs. walk from Manang village on local trek.

Special feature: The view of Annapurna range and natural beauty of the lake are magnificent as is a walk in yak pasture and habitat for snow leopard.

Lake near by Pisang Village

Gangapurna Lake:

Location: Easy 15 min. walk from Manang village to local trek.

Special feature: Spectacular view of Gangapurna peak and glacier.

Gangapurna Lake

Tilicho Lake:

Location: 3 days from Manang on the Khangsar/tilicho trail.

Special feature: A trip to the highest lake in the world (4900m) is a good way to acclimatize with good views of Tilicho peak and surrounding valley. On the way up you pass Tare gompa, one of the oldest (500 years in the district).

Yakkharka:

Location: 3-4 hrs. walk from Manang village on the trekking rout.

Special feature: This small peaceful town is habitat for the endangered snow Leopard and unique Blue Sheep. 

Thorong-la Pass:

Location: 2 days walk from Manang village on the trekking rout.

Special feature: The most popular trekking pass as 5416 meter from sea level.

Thorong-la Pass

Tal village:

Location – Situated at the gateway of Manang district from Lamjung district on the trekking trail.

Special feature – A relaxing, peaceful small town at the gateway of Manang district. Tal is hometo a beautiful waterfall that flows all year round.

Hot spring:

Location – Dharapani, Latemrang and Chame.

Special feature – Water remains hot all year round for a rejuvenating natural shower or to ease those aching muscles after a long days hike.

Sworga dwari (Gateway of heaven):

Location: Between Bratang and Pisang on the trekking route.

Special feature: Spectacular sheer rock face rising from the Marshyandi River.

Gyaru and Ngwal:

Location: 1.5 to 2 hours walk from Pisang off the trekking trail.

Special feature: traditional village, situated high on the hillside, with some of the most spectacular view of all of Annapurna.

Gyaru and Ngawal village

Braka Gompa:

Location: Braka village,on the trekking trail.

Special feature: This historic Buddhist gompa is typical of the district and a testament to a traditional culture of more than 500 years.

Braka Gomba

Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP)'s Activities

Jomsom

The Annapurna Conservation Area is Nepal's largest protected area covering 7,629 km2 (2,946 sq mi) in the Annapurna range of the Himalayas across the Manang, Mustang, Kaski, Myagdi, and Lamjung districts. The area ranges in altitude from 790 m (2,590 ft) to the peak of Annapurna I at 8,091 m (26,545 ft).

The multifaceted problems of ACA have been addressed through an integrated, community based conservation and development approach, an experimental model which has been in the vanguard of promoting the concepts of “Conservation Area” through an “Integrated Conservation and Development Programme” approach in the country and abroad.

Annapurna Conservation Area Project's Activities: together with local communities

• Visitor centers: in many places, info + leaflets on local villages and culture, local guided tours, festival dates
• Check posts: in many places
• Mustang Eco museum at South end of Jomsom, local culture, nature, geology
• Garbage/pollution control: awareness, incinerators, clean-up campaigns, toilets
• Conservation: tree planting, soil conservation, river bank protection, biodiversity survey and protection.
• Alternative energy: micro hydro plants, solar water heaters, lights, etc
• Trail improvement: widening, paving, bridges, signs, etc
• Agriculture and gender development
• Community infrastructure
• Health services support
• Conservation education
• Heritage conservation
• Lodge management and training
• Training for guide and porters
• Signs and notice board
• Safe drinking water stations.

Destination Manang

Manang awe inspiring natural beauty and rich cultural heritage make this a truly an unforgettable part of the world. Manang  district is one of the remotest district of Nepal,  and covering an area of 1914 km2, is about a third of ACA area of responsibility. The 5000 residents are physical defined by three regions.

1. Nyesang – which extends Pisang to Khangsar

2. Gyalsomdo – Which extends Tal to Chame

3. Naar Phoo Valley – North part of Manang, which is just opened for foreigners.

1. Nesyang – The upper valley of Manang district, known locally as Nyesang, extends 20 km from Pisang (3200m)to Khangsar (3730m) and lies at an average elevation of 3500m. The inhabitants known as Nyesangpa or more popularly Manangi are said to have migrated from Tengur in Tibet and have settled the area for some hundreds of years. The population of Nyesang also includes Ghale, Gurung and immigrant Tibetan people, although the culture and traditions of the area are strongly motivated by Lamaist Buddhist practices, evidenced by the streaming prayerflags and mani wlls as well as the many Gompa of the area (the oldest of which predate the 14th century). Traditionally the people of the region have been great traders, a fact certified by royal warrant in 1984 during the region of Gorkha Kings. Since that time Manang people have been involved in trading herbs, animal product and other local commodities on the national and international stage. With the decline in urban opportunity and local development of the tourism industry, many Manangi families have moved their enterprises back to Nyesang with particular in hotels, restaurants and shops catering to the tourist trade. Although tourism has become increasingly important to the prosperity of the region, agriculture remains the basic of the local economy and way of life. Barley, Wheat, Buckwheat and Potato are the main crops, which are harvested once a year (march-November). The Nyesang valley also forms important pasture land for grazing yaks, cows, goats, sheep and horse.

2. Gyalsomdo : Gyalsomdo is the southernmost region of Manang district, extending from tal to Chame,  situated in Marshyandi gorge.  The people of the region are mostly Gurung, followers of pre- Buddhist Bonpo religious tradition. However, Ghale, Lama, Gurung, Ghotiya, kami and immigrant Tibetan people have made home in Gyalsomdo. In the past, Gyalsomdo was an important center for the salt trade crossing Larke pass.  Today, the local economy is dependent on agriculture, livestock, wage labor and tourism.

3. Nar –Phoo:  The Nar –Phoo region is the northernmost area of Manang district bordering China (Tibet) and comprising the  very important in this physical isolated region, and like the Nyesang the people of Nar –Phoo are strong adherents to Lamaist Buddhist.