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The Buddhist Swayambhunath temple is located just outside Kathmandu city on a hill that overlooks the valley. According to legend, this hill rose spontaneously from a lake that once covered the valley, hence the name swayambhu, which means self-risen.
Stairway to Swayambhunath temple
The temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and for good reason. It’s breathtaking! The stupa’s white-washed dome is stunning in its size and perfect symmetry. The gilded spire that sits on the stupa’s peak is being worked on (hence the scaffolding) but that did little to dampen the building’s overall beauty. A short walk into the nearby streets took us past ornate and seemingly ancient buildings. The overall effect was one of serene history. It felt like we were visiting a historic Kathmandu, seeing what it must have looked like long ago.
Swayambhunath street
And, as if this all isn’t enough excitement, a mob of fearless rhesus macaques call the temple home and give it it’s nickname, the Monkey Temple. Despite rumors of thievery, they were on their best behavior yesterday. After 15 attempts I was only able to catch this one little guy – even after repeated promises of internet fame.
Monkey at Swayambhunath temple
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This entry was posted on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 2:53 am and is filed under Nepal. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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Dick
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Dick
About Us
You know the saying, “to fly by the seat of your pants?” Well, that's been our philosophy for most of our adult lives – before and after meeting, falling in love and marrying. We're now taking that idea on an extended round-the-world trip. Follow us as we share the good, the bad and the downright nasty of life on the road.
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