Manaslu Conservation Area (MCA) is the third and the youngest conservation area in Nepal. It was declared a conservation area in on December 28, 1998. The Government of Nepal handed over the management responsibilities to the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation for the next 10 years. It is the second conservation area the trust is managing besides the Annapurna Conservation Area. The Manaslu Eco-tourism Development Project has been working in the region since 1997. Bordering the Annapurna Conservation Area to the west and Tibetan Plateau on the north and the east, the Manaslu region lies in Gorkha District to the west of Kathmandu.
Manaslu Conservation area is a habitat for 33 species of mammals including the elusive snow leopard, musk deer, and the Himalayan thar, 110 species of birds, 11 species of butterflies and 3 species of reptiles. There are approx 2000 species of plants, 11 types of forests and over 50 species on useful plants. The bio-climatic zones vary from sub-tropical to Alpine. The altitude rises from a mere 600m to the summit of Mt. Manaslu (8,163), the eighth highest peak in the world.
The main objective of the conservation area is to pass on benefits of tourism to the local community and reduce unfavorable environmental impacts through the development of eco-tourism.
Entry Fee per Person Per Day:
For Nepalese Nationals, Free
For SAARC Nationals, Rs. 200/-
For Other Nationals, Rs. 1000/-
Access:
Manaslu Conservation area can be reached from Arughat between Gorkha and Dhading. Arughat by bus or car in about five to seven hours from Kathmandu. Another entrance is at Daraundi in Gorkha from where the normal route can be reached hiking via Sirdiwas.
Note:
Entrance fee not required for children under 10 years.
Park Entrance fees is regulated by Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (Phone: 4220850).
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