Swayambhunath

Swayambhunath — the “Monkey Temple” — is one of the oldest and most sacred Buddhist sites in Nepal, built on a hilltop overlooking the Kathmandu Valley over 2,500 years ago. The self-arisen stupa is said to have emerged spontaneously from a lotus flower in the primordial lake that once covered the valley. The all-seeing eyes painted on all four sides of the spire are an iconic symbol of Nepalese Buddhism. The site contains numerous shrines, temples, and smaller stupas representing all aspects of the Buddhist cosmos. It is particularly associated with Manjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom, who is said to have drained the lake to make the valley habitable. The surrounding resident monkey population adds a lively, irreverent quality to the place.