Birendra Lake (Birendra Tal), Manaslu, Nepal

Birendra Tal might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think about the Manaslu region. Most trekkers know Samagaon, Larkya La Pass and Manaslu Base Camp, while Birendra Lake gets mentioned almost as a side note. That is a little unfair. The lake lies above Samagaon beneath the Manaslu Glacier, and getting there gives you a very different look at the landscape than you get by following the main Manaslu Circuit trek route.

There is also something quite different about seeing Birendra Lake in person. The colour of the water, the ice and rock around it, and the huge mountains above Samagaon give the place a character that is difficult to appreciate from a distance. It is a short side trip on the Manaslu Circuit Trek, but calling it “just a short hike” does not really explain why trekkers remember it. So, is Birendra Tal actually worth adding to your Manaslu trek itinerary, or is it just another beautiful lake that looks better in photographs?

Where is Birendra Lake Located?

Birendra Lake, also known as Birendra Tal, is located in Chum Nubri Rural Municipality, Gorkha District, Gandaki Province, Nepal, within the Manaslu Conservation Area. The lake lies just above Samagaon in the upper Nubri Valley, at the foot of the Manaslu Glacier. It is part of the high mountain landscape along the Manaslu Circuit Trek, close to the trail leading toward Manaslu Base Camp.

The lake lies at approximately 3,691 metres above sea level. Its location above Samagaon makes Birendra Tal one of the most accessible high altitude lakes in the Manaslu region, without requiring a separate multi day trek. 

How High is Birendra Lake? Elevation and Coordinates

Birendra Lake, or Birendra Tal, is at approximately 3,691 metres (12,110 feet) above sea level. Published measurements differ slightly, with some sources placing the lake closer to 3,639 metres. To understand in general, the altitude of Birendra lake in Nepal is between 3,600 to 3,700 meters. 

The coordinates of Birendra Lake are approximately 28.5958° N, 84.6283° E. In degrees, minutes and seconds, that is approximately 28°35′45″N, 84°37′42″E. These coordinates place Birendra Tal above Samagaon in the Manaslu region of Gorkha District, close to the Manaslu Glacier.

How Did Birendra Lake Form?

Birendra Lake is a glacial lake in the Manaslu region, created by water from the glaciers around Mount Manaslu. The lake formed in a natural hollow where meltwater could collect behind a ridge of rocks and debris left by the moving ice. This type of lake is known as a moraine dammed lake, and Birendra Tal is one of the better known examples in the Nepal Himalayas.

Birendra Lake developed within a glacially shaped basin and has changed in size as the surrounding glacier landscape has evolved. Historical satellite observations show substantial changes in the lake and the Manaslu Glacier over the past several decades. Research shows that its surface area increased considerably between 1988 and 2024, while the Manaslu Glacier became smaller and its lower end moved away from the lake. 

There is another reason Birendra Lake has that distinctive blue green color. Water coming from the glacier carries extremely fine particles produced when moving ice grinds against rock. This glacial rock flour remains in the water and affects the way light is reflected from the lake. That is why the color of Birendra Tal can look so different from an ordinary mountain lake. 

History and Origin of the Name Birendra Tal

Before it became known as Birendra Tal, the lake was locally known as Yamcho Taal, a name associated with the traditional Tibetan language and culture of the Nubri Valley. The name Birendra Lake came later, after King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev visited the Manaslu region in 1977. Sources say that people from Samagaon named the lake in his honour, and Birendra Tal became the name used for the lake afterward.

The name also connects the lake with a period when Nepal's royal family had a strong public association with nature conservation. King Birendra's reign included the establishment and expansion of several protected areas, including Langtang National Park and other wildlife reserves. That conservation history gives some additional context to the name, although there is no solid evidence that the lake was named Birendra Tal specifically because of his conservation work. The name itself is tied to his visit to the Manaslu region.

Birendra Lake and Manaslu Glacier

The Manaslu Glacier once extended directly toward Birendra Lake, but today the glacier terminus and the lake are separated by exposed rock. The present glacier terminus is around 4,110 metres, while Birendra Tal is around 3,691 metres, creating a clear elevation difference between the two. Even with this separation, glacier meltwater continues to contribute to the lake, while ice and snow from the glacier can also reach Birendra Tal through avalanches.

In April 2024, an ice and snow avalanche from the Manaslu Glacier entered Birendra Lake and displaced lake water, sending flooding downstream toward the Budhi Gandaki River. It shows that the Manaslu Glacier and Birendra Lake remain closely linked within the same high Himalayan glacial system, even though the ice no longer reaches the lake itself. 

Changes in Birendra Lake Over Time

Birendra Lake has grown considerably alongside changes in the Manaslu Glacier. Research tracking the lake from 1988 to 2024 found its area increasing from about 0.09 square kilometres to 0.22 square kilometres, while the parent glacier decreased from about 25.84 to 21.56 square kilometres during the same period. The lake had already reached almost 0.25 square kilometres by 2000, after which its size remained relatively stable for a number of years.

A major change has also occurred in the way the lake responds to events around the glacier. With the Manaslu Glacier now separated from Birendra Tal, sudden ice and snow falls can send large amounts of material into the lake. On 21 April 2024, an ice and snow avalanche entered Birendra Lake, pushed water out of the lake and caused a small glacial lake outburst flood along the Budhi Gandaki River. The event also left ice and debris across the lake surface and was followed by a small reduction in its area.

The 2024 Birendra Lake Outburst and Flood Event

On 20 April 2024, an ice and snow avalanche from the Manaslu Glacier entered Birendra Lake. A larger avalanche followed on 21 April, displacing water from the lake and sending a sudden surge toward the Budhi Gandaki River. The event did not involve a breach or collapse of the lake's moraine dam. Instead, the falling ice and snow entered the lake and displaced water, producing the downstream flood.

The resulting flood damaged a wooden bridge between Samdo and Samagaon and carried ice and debris downstream. The event was not caused by a complete collapse of the lake's moraine dam. Instead, the falling ice and snow displaced lake water and triggered the flood.

The event is also relevant to Birendra Lake weather and Birendra Lake temperature, since changing snow and ice conditions influence the surrounding glacial landscape. It remains an important event in the Birendra Lake trekking guide because it demonstrated the potential for sudden water surges from avalanche activity around the lake. 

Birendra Lake Depth, Volume and Surface Area

The Birendra Lake depth is estimated at about 19.11 metres on average, based on satellite imagery and an empirical volume area relationship. This is an estimated average depth rather than a direct measurement of the lake's deepest point.

The estimated Birendra Lake volume is approximately 4.7 million cubic metres. A 2025 study calculated this volume from a measured lake surface area of about 0.246 square kilometres. The figures provide a useful indication of how much water Birendra Tal holds, particularly when examining its response to an avalanche or sudden water displacement.

The lake's physical measurements are not fixed. Its surface area, water volume and depth can change with glacier melt, debris accumulation and major events such as the 21 April 2024 outburst. 

Where Does Birendra Lake Get its Water from?

Birendra Lake is fed by the Manaslu Glacier, with its water supply changing through glacier melt, snowfall and seasonal conditions. The lake sits within the upper Budhi Gandaki River system, and water leaving Birendra Tal flows into the river below.

The connection with the glacier has changed over time. The Manaslu Glacier has retreated from the lake, leaving exposed rock between the glacier and the shoreline, but meltwater still reaches Birendra Tal. Ice and snow avalanches can also add water and material to the lake. 

This makes Birendra Lake more than a lake sitting beside the Manaslu Circuit Trek. Its water level and condition are closely tied to what happens higher up around the glacier.

Is Birendra Lake a GLOF Risk?

Birendra Lake is considered a potential GLOF hazard in the Manaslu region. The main concern is not that the lake is expected to burst, but that a large ice or snow avalanche could fall into the water and create a powerful surge. Research has identified three possible avalanche source areas above the lake, with estimated avalanche volumes large enough to potentially trigger a future outburst.

A 2025 hazard assessment modelled possible Birendra Lake GLOF scenarios using 10, 15 and 20 metre moraine breach heights. In the largest scenario, the simulated flood traveled about 45 kilometres downstream, with a peak discharge of about 3,768 cubic metres per second at the lake. These are modelled scenarios, not a prediction that such a flood will occur.

The risk is therefore best described as possible rather than imminent. The condition of the Manaslu Glacier, future avalanche activity and the stability of the moraine outlet will all influence how that risk changes. This is also why Birendra Tal is relevant to wider discussions about changing glacier conditions along routes such as the Tsum Valley Trek and Nar Phu Valley Trek.

How to Reach Birendra Lake

Birendra Lake is reached on foot from Samagaon. The Birendra Lake hike is about 2.5 km each way and takes around 1 to 2 hours, depending on trail conditions. The route heads toward the Manaslu Base Camp area through open alpine and moraine landscape.

There is no road access to Birendra Tal. The lake is commonly visited as a side trip from Samagaon and can be included in a Birendra Lake Manaslu Circuit route without adding a separate trekking itinerary.

Final Thoughts 

Birendra Lake, Nepal, is a glacial lake in the Manaslu region that has changed as the surrounding glaciers have retreated. Its surface area has increased over recent decades, while the Manaslu Glacier has become smaller and separated from the lake. The April 2024 avalanche and resulting flood also showed the effect that sudden events in the glacier can have on Birendra Tal. These changes make Birendra Lake an important example of the environmental changes taking place in the high Himalayas.