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Swyambhunath

The most sacred Pilgrimage sites Swayambhunath is 3 km west of Kathmandu city, is one of the oldest Buddhist Stupa of Kathmandu valley which is almost 2500 years old. The Swayambhunath temple bear the greatest aesthetic value, as the collective blessing of all the Gods and Goddesses revealed the Swayambhunath in the pre-historic age. The Stupa is also colloquilly known as the “Monkey Temple” as there are many Monkeys living around it. The Swayambhunath Stupa is a solid hemisphere of brick and clay, perched on a sacred hilltop. It represents the entire world and is crowded with votive stupa, gilded peacocks, Taras, thunderbolt (Vajra), Mandalas, Tibetan Monasteries and a temple of Harati Ajima. The Stupa has the eyes of the Lord Buddha adorned on all the four sides of the spire base symbolized Wisdom and Compassion. Above each pair of eyes is another eye, the third eye represents the cosmic rays emanate from the third eye which acts as message to heavenly beings. The thirteen golden pinnacles on the top of it symbolises the way to Nirvana. The swayambhunath is swarming  with Hindu and Buddhist devotees and Red-rob Monks circle the complex spinning the prayer wheels, show the greatest religious harmony. It also offers the equally amazing view of kathmandu valley.

Swayambhunath Travel Guide
Location - 3 kilometer west of Kathmandu valley

Getting there –There are alternatively two ways to reach the sacred hills of Swayambhunath. The most commonly used is to get there with a taxi, and it deposits you to the southern entrance of it, from where just make a few stone steps. Alternatively, if you wish to climb the 365 stairs from the main entrance (eastern stairway) gate of Swayambhunath but it is very interesting.

Attractions: Colorful prayer flags, red-rob Monks, Prayer wheels view of Kathmandu valley and Himalaya range.

Unique feature: 365 steps lead to the Stupa, which was constructed on 17th century.

Important days- Every full Moon is special day for Buddhist and Hindus including Buddha Jayanti (the Birthday of Lord Buddha (April to May), Kojagrat Purnima (Sep to Oct) and Gunla are the major Buddhist festivals.

Around Swayambhuanth:There are various Tibetan settlements and shrines around the base of Swayambhunath including soveniours shops. The National History Museum, west of Swayambhuanth, has a large collection of butterflies, fish temples, birds and animals. Harati Ajima temple and the Dongakchhoeling DhewaDharma Old monastery are believed to be one of the antique and importance Monastery.

A smaller stupa stands on hill locks, with an adjacent monastery and an important shrine to Saraswati, the goddess of learning. The two or three Kilometer north- west of Swayambhunath will take you to Ichangu Narayan, an interesting Hindu temple.

When to go: Either you go in the morning or evening you will amuse with a great deal of crashing, chanting and trumpeting melody at Monastery and find absolutely jostling of devotees holding with plates of rice and flowers, offering it on the stupa and some older people play Hymns, the red robs Monks and devotes circumplating the Stupa by spinning the prayer wheels.