Discover the rich history of Swayambhunath Stupa Kathmandu Nepal, a UNESCO World Heritage site with incredible panoramic views.

Swayambhunath Stupa
It is the oldest Buddhist shrine. Looking east from here, one can see the almost entire Kathmandu valley spread out below. Swayambhunath is a best place to observe religious harmony between Nepalese Buddhists and Hindus. The stupa is one of the most ancient in this part of the world and its worshippers come from diverse ethical backgrounds. Situated on the top of a hill. It provides an excellent view of the Katmandu Valley. Huge prayer wheels and fine Buddhist paintings are displayed in the monasteries as well as the largest Buddha statue in the country.
Swoyambhunath literally means ‘Self-Existent One.’ Swoyambhunath is believed to have been established more than 2,500 years ago. An inscription dated 460 A.D. states that the construction was carried out by King Manadeva. By the thirteenth century Swoyambhunath had developed into an important Buddhist learning site.

This stupa is the oldest of its kind in Nepal and has numerous shrines and monasteries on its premises. Swayambhu literally means “self-existent one”. Believed to date back to 460 A.D., it was built by King Manadeva and by the 13th century, it had become an important center of Buddhism.
Find peace and prayers on the little hillock of Swaymbhunath northwest of Kathmandu Valley. The Buddhist temple of Swayambhunath, situated on the top of a hill, west of Kathmandu, is one of the most popular, holiest and instantly recognizable symbols of Nepal. The temple is colloquially known as the ‘monkey temple’ because of the large tribe of roving monkeys who guard the temple.
Swayambhu literally means “self-existent one”. Believed to date back to 460 A.D., it was built by King Manadeva and by the 13th century, it had become an important center of Buddhism. Legend has it that Swayambhu was born out of a lotus flower that bloomed in the middle of a lake that once spread across the Kathmandu Valley once was. The largest image of the Sakyamuni Buddha in Nepal sits on a high pedestal on the western boundary of Swayambhu beside the Ring Road. Behind the hilltop is a temple dedicated to Manjusri or Saraswati – the Goddess of learning. Chaityas, statues and shrines of Buddhist and Hindu deities fill the stupa complex. The base of the hill is almost entirely surrounded by prayer wheels and deities. Devotees can be seen circumambulating the stupa at all times.
Exceedingly steep stone steps that lead up to the shrine is quite a challenge. However, there is also a motor road going up almost to the top from where it is a short walk. A large number of Buddhists and Hindus alike visit Swayambhu throughout the day. This shrine is perhaps the best place to observe religious harmony in Nepal. The largest crowds of people are seen here on Buddha’s birthday which usually falls in May each year.
Some important monuments to see in this area
 The huge gold plated Vajra ‘thunderbolt’ set in the east side of the stupa.
 Buddha statue on the west side of Swayambhu.
 The Sleeping Buddha.
 The Dewa Dharma Monastery, noted for a bronze icon of Buddha and traditional Tibetan paintings.
 The temple dedicated to Harati, the goddess of all children. It is said that she was an ogress before Lord Buddha converted her to be the caretaker of all children.
Major Attractions
Climb 365 stairs to the stupa or simply go to stupa from car parking in few minutes.
The Stupa
Swayambhunath Stupa is a golden spire crowning a conical wooded hill. It is the most ancient and enigmatic of all the holy shrines in Kathmandu Valley. It has a lofty white dome and a glittering golden spire that are visible from all sides of the valley. Historical records found on a stone inscription give evidence that the stupa was already an important Buddhist pilgrimage destination by the 5th century A.D. i.e. before the coming of Buddhism in the valley.

Area surrounding the Stupa
The surroundings of Swyambhunarayan Stupa consists of chaityas, temples, painted images of deities and numerous other religious objects.

Harati Temple
The temple is dedicated to the goddess of smallpox and other epidemics. The presence of the Harati Devi temple signifies the intermingling of the pantheons of Hinduism and Buddhism in Nepal.

Palace of Peace
Atop Swayambhunath hill is another fascinating, though less visited temple, Shantipur, popularly known as the “Palace of Peace’. It is said that inside the secret underground chamber of the temple lives the 8th century Tantric master, Shantikar Acharya. The master, it is believed, has lived through centuries and has full control on the weather and the King of Kathmandu must go to him in times of drought.

Architecture
Amazing to look at, the architectural beauty of Swayambhunath Temple gives way to the feelings of reverence and adoration. The stupa consists of a dome at the base and a cubical structure with eyes of Buddha looking in all the four directions. There are pentagonal Toran present above each of the four sides with statues engraved in them. Behind and above the torana there are thirteen tiers. Above all the tiers, there is a small space above which the Gajur is present.

Mythology
According to Swayambhu Puran, the entire Kathmandu valley was once filled with an enormous lake, out of which grew a mystical Lotus. The valley came to be known as Swayambhu, meaning ‘Self-Created’ or ‘Self-Existent. The Bodhistava Manjushri had a vision of the lotus at Swayambhu and traveled there to worship it. In order to make the site more accessible to human pilgrims, Manjushri cut a gorge through the mountains surrounding the valley. The water drained out of the lake, leaving the valley in which Kathmandu now lies. The lotus was transformed into a hill and the flower become the Swayambhunath stupa.
Symbology

The dome at the base represents the entire world. When a person awakes (represented by eyes of mercy and self knowledge) from the bonds of the world, the person reaches the state a bit higher. After that, the person has to cross thirteen stages represented by the tiers before attaining Nirvana (salvation).