About Swayambhu · Kathmandu, Nepal
Swayambhu Heritage
A hilltop Buddhist complex above the Kathmandu Valley, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.
A hill above the valley
Swayambhunath sits on a wooded hill west of the city of Kathmandu, in the Kathmandu Valley. It is a Buddhist religious complex made up of a great stupa, shrines, and temples, some of which trace back to the Licchavi period.
Its full name, Swayambhu, is often translated as “self-arisen.” The site has been a place of worship for well over a thousand years, and it is one of the oldest religious sites in Nepal.
The legend of the lake
Local tradition tells of a time when the Kathmandu Valley was a great lake. The bodhisattva Manjushri, associated with wisdom, is said to have drained the water, and the lotus that rose from the lake became the hill on which the stupa stands.
Geological evidence supports the idea that the valley was once a lake, which is one reason the legend is still told alongside the history.
A white dome and watching eyes
The stupa has a white dome, a symbol of the earth, topped by a gilded spire. Painted eyes look out in all four directions across the valley, and carvings of the five Buddhas (Panch Buddhas) appear on the four sides.
The site reflects Vajrayana Buddhism and the Newar Buddhist tradition, and it also includes Hindu shrines. Its art and architecture show how the two traditions have blended in Nepal.
Centuries of repair
In 1504 a Tibetan Buddhist master, Tsangnyön Heruka, was invited to renovate the stupa, which he completed within three months. In the 17th century, King Pratap Malla built the long stone stairway that visitors still climb today.
The stupa was thoroughly renovated in 2010, when the shrine was re-gilded with about 20 kilograms of gold. The 2015 earthquake damaged the site, and reconstruction and conservation work has been ongoing since then, supported by UNESCO and local authorities.
Everyday devotion
Pilgrims, monks, and visitors walk clockwise around the stupa, turning prayer wheels, lighting butter lamps, and offering incense. The hilltop is also home to many monkeys, which is why the site is widely known as the Monkey Temple.
For many people, the site is not only a monument but a living centre of worship, where rituals continue each morning and evening.
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