The most sacred and ancient Buddhist Stupa Swayambhunath

Swyambhunath bearing the meaning "self-emerged" is the most sacred and ancient Buddhist Stupa in Nepal.It was founded by the great-grandfather of King Manadev in the 5th century AD though it's origin however, date to a much earlier time, long before the arrival of Buddhism into the valley.It is lofty white dome with glittering golden spire with pair of big eyes on each of the four sides of the main Stupa symbolizing the God's all-seeing perspective.Swayambhunath stupa is also called the Monkey Temple because of the many hundreds of monkeys dwelling there.There are many chaityas, temples, painted images of deities and other religious objects like prayer wheels and flags for the Tibetan Buddhists to be seen.

According to Swayambhu Purana,Kathmandu Valley at the very beginning was a huge lake, out of which grew a lotus that radiated a brilliant light.The Bodhisatva Manjushri seeing that the valley could be a good settlement for the humans,cut a gorge with a sharp sword at Chovar and drained the water away leaving the valley of present day "Kathmandu". The lotus was transformed into a hillock and the blazing light became the Swayambhunath stupa.

Swayambhunath Temple

Stupa at Swayambhunath

Eyes of SwayambhunathPigeons on the white dome and dogs serenely lying around.

Stairway to Swayambhunath temple.It has 365 steps.

Shikhara , erected by King Pratap Malla
Prayer Flags
Small Stupas and prayer flags hanging around

Buddhist Monk behind the huge bell

Devotees spinning the prayer wheels

Bajra

Swayambhunath

Buddhist gompa at Swayambhunath

Buddha of light , Deepankar Buddha at Swayambhu

Wishing pool with statue of Buddha at Swayambhunath

Statues of Lord Buddha at the entrance area.

Swayambhunath hillock

Monkeys at Swayambhunath also called MONKEY TEMPLE

City view from the Swayambhu temple.