Instead of focusing on the mountains this is the story of ordinary people who suffer from being forgotten that is told here. This is a problem that hardly comes to the attention of the media. The locals of this Himalayan region are unfortunately the most affected as they are getting a mix of the global influences, poor governance, lack of economic security, and changing cultural lifestyles that happen to be the biggest problems. What is more, apart from being separate, these problems actually support one another and gradually change the mountain environment. So, this is not a mountain story. It is a story of a fragile system that is being gradually depleted without anyone knowing it.

War Beyond Borders

The Manaslu region, which is very far away physically from the visible clashes between Iran, Israel or the strategic moves of the USA, may appear to be geographically isolated. In fact tourism being the mainstay of the local economy, has become very fragile to the external factors. Holding back the growth of trekking tourism due to the collective effects of political tensions, rising prices of fuel, and change of international travel patterns are a few of the factors.  Also, irregular air services to Nepal have added to the situation by delaying the arrival of tourist and impacting the flow of visitors during peak seasons. The government needs to improve the reliability of the aviation industry, increase the accessibility of flights, make the tourism circuit more diverse, beyond trekking seasons, and improve its ability to handle global shocks.

Manaslu and other such regions will continue to be impacted inordinately by matters beyond their control, even though they are very important to the tourism identity of Nepal. As far as the mountains are concerned, they stand firmly and silently while the world around them is very dynamic and changing rapidly with the disruptions coming in quietly through different flight routes, digital screens, and changing human desires.

The Burden That Remains
In numerous villages, the results of those changes are easy to see. Older people now transport heavy materials that young people moved in previous years. For many women daily life involves carrying stones and working in fields to maintain their homes this situation is not a form of social progress but it is a way to survive. The hard work that had been a source of pride is no longer desirable.

By combining those factors, a gap is growing in the community. There is a reduction in the number of individuals who work in mountain industries. Because of this the economy is dependent on visitors and the future of rural work is not certain.

Roads to Nowhere?

On paper, connectivity promises progress. In practice, it is a more complex narrative. The trekking economy that once thrived off foot-based travel is beginning to decay. Vehicles skirt trails, visitors shorten trips, teahouses sit less full. Even local guides & porters, who are already laboring on an extremely small revenue margin are being pushed to compete for a rapidly declining number of jobs.

The Economics of Absence

Permits, tourism and services are the money-spinning sectors of Manaslu. But the reinvestment is hard to track.

Basic needs remain unmet:

· Proper & safe working conditions for guides & porters

· Potable water

· Formalized waste management systems

· Insurance and proper training guidance for high-risk labor

Guides and porters continue to undertake life threatening journeys with minimal protection. This is not merely an economic oversight it is a legal and moral failure.

Equally concerning is the opacity surrounding taxation. Many local residents remain unaware of tax collection system and what they get in return. The social contract, foundational to democratic governance, feels distant here.

Manufacturing Emergencies

Genuine emergency has been turned into a moneymaking exercise. The helicopter rescue scam that made the news in Nepal, it reveals how contrived evacuations can be put to work to defraud insurance companies and siphon off resources meant for real crises, all while chipping away at the ethics of the tourism industry.

The consequences of such behaviour are not just isolated anymore. They are having an effect on how the world views Nepal, It is more than a matter of reputation. The scandal makes government more responsible and need of better ways of investigation and regulation. To put some credibility back into mountain tourism and win over trust, we need firm enforcement and independent oversight, and guides must be made to answer for their actions.

Building Without Trees

Manaslu’s architecture is a story in itself. Wood-built houses and hotels, timber-based structures are also popular and widely present in the region. But stone construction is slowly returning even in newer hospitality developments as a viable and sustainable alternative.

Stone built homes can be very good under mountain conditions with the right design, especially if they have built-in insulation between layers and efficient heating systems to keep the warmth in a harsh climate. But sustainability isn’t just about the materials. Wider environmental systems Water supply, waste management and energy access continue to be uneven and fragile.

Fragile Progress
What emerges from Manaslu is not a singular crisis but a convergence: Development without direction. Modernity without inclusion. Revenue without redistribution. Youth without responsibility. Governance without accountability. Manaslu does not need rescuing from its terrain. It needs accountability from its systems. Only then can this mountain remain more than just a destination a place where dignity matters as much as survival.

Writer is Law Student @Kathmandu School of Law, lavishgurung@gmail.com