Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple)
स्वयम्भूनाथ
An ancient hilltop stupa overlooking Kathmandu, among the oldest religious sites in the valley and sacred to both Buddhists and Hindus — popularly known as the Monkey Temple.
Deity
Buddhist stupa
Location
Kathmandu
Bagmati
Tradition
Hindu & Buddhist
Main festival
Buddha Jayanti
Reached by a steep stairway of 365 steps lined with prayer flags and resident rhesus monkeys, Swayambhunath crowns a hill west of the city. Its stupa bears the painted eyes of the Buddha and is ringed by shrines, both Buddhist and Hindu.
The name means 'self-arisen'; legend ties the hill to the draining of the primordial Kathmandu lake. It offers one of the best panoramas of the valley and is inscribed within the Kathmandu Valley UNESCO property.
Highlights
Hilltop stupa with the eyes of the Buddha
365-step pilgrim stairway and resident monkeys
Shared Buddhist–Hindu shrines
Panoramic views over Kathmandu
How to reach
About 3 km west of Thamel; short taxi ride, then the stairway (or road to the top).
Best time to visit
Early morning for light and calm; Buddha Jayanti (May).
Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple), answered
Which deity is worshipped at Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple)?+
Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) is dedicated to Buddhist stupa (a Hindu & Buddhist site) in Swayambhu hilltop, west Kathmandu, Kathmandu, Bagmati Province.
How do I reach Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple)?+
About 3 km west of Thamel; short taxi ride, then the stairway (or road to the top).
What is the best time to visit Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple)?+
Early morning for light and calm; Buddha Jayanti (May).
What is the main festival at Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple)?+
The main festival at Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) is Buddha Jayanti.
Other temples & pilgrimage sites
Sources & data note
Temple histories, deities and festival associations are drawn from the Nepal Tourism Board, temple trusts and the Department of Archaeology. Altitudes and coordinates are approximate. Festival dates follow the lunar calendar and shift each year. Several sites (Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, Swayambhunath, Lumbini) are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List — see the heritage section for the formal listing.