Manang

Manang Manangbhot
Recent view of the village. Note the use of electricity and glass windows, both exceptional in this area.
Manang Location in Nepal
Coordinates: 28°40′0″N 84°1′0″E / 28.666667°N 84.016667°E / 28.666667; 84.016667Coordinates: 28°40′0″N 84°1′0″E / 28.666667°N 84.016667°E / 28.666667; 84.016667
Country	Nepal
Admin. division	Gandaki Zone
District	Manang District
Elevation	3,519 m (11,545 ft)
Population (1991)
- Total	391
Time zone	Nepal Time (UTC+05:45)

Manang is a town in the Manang District of Nepal. It is located at 28°40'0N 84°1'0E with an altitude of 3,519 metres (11,545 ft).^[1] At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 391 people living in 120 individual households.^[2]

It is situated on the broad valley of the Marshyangdi River to the north of the Annapurna mountain range. The river flows to the east. To the west there is the 5,416 metres (17,769 ft) high mountain pass of "Thorong La". To the north there is the Chulu East peak of 6,584 meters. Most groups trekking around the Annapurna will take resting days in Manang to acclimatize to the high altitude, before taking the Thorong La pass. The village is situated on the northern slope, which gets the most sunlight and the least snow cover in the winter. The cultivation fields are on the north slope with terraces.

There are no roads, only trails where most heavy goods are transported on mule trains or carried by porters. 2.5 kilometers to the east of the town there is a small airport serving the whole valley. The airport is fairly recent. It did not exist in 1985. The development of a road linking Manang to the Annapura conservation area was finished in February 2011. It has brought many benefits to the villagers and the area.

Besides catering to the trekking groups there is some agriculture and herding activity (yaks). There is a medical centre which specializes in high-altitude sickness.

Main street of Manang with yaks

References

1. ^ Manangbhot, Nepal Page - Falling Rain Genomics
2. ^ "Nepal Census 2001", Nepal's Village Development Committees (Digital Himalaya), http://www.digitalhimalaya.com/collections/nepalcensus/form.php?selection=1, retrieved 15 November 2009 .

• Map of Annapurna Range