Swayambhunath | Buddham SHARANAM Gachchhami

About Swayambhunath

The Self-Arisen Stupa

Swayambhunath stands on a forested hillock to the west of Kathmandu, its gilt spire visible across much of the valley. The stupa complex is approached by a long staircase of 365 steps that ascends through rhesus monkeys and trees dense with prayer flags. At the top, the stupa itself opens to view — white dome, gold box, the painted eyes of Buddha gazing across the valley in every direction.

Its name means, roughly, “the self-arisen,” referring to the tradition that the stupa spontaneously manifested from a sacred lotus that bloomed in an ancient lake that the Kathmandu Valley once was. This account is the founding narrative of the valley itself as a sacred place.

About Swayambhunath

Historical Significance

The earliest documented reference to Swayambhunath in written sources dates to the 5th century CE, though the tradition holds that the site has been sacred since far earlier. The Newari Buddhist community has venerated it continuously, and it has attracted pilgrims from Tibet for at least a thousand years. Ashoka is credited by some traditions with building a shrine at the site in the 3rd century BCE, though this cannot be confirmed archaeologically.

Swayambhunath is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Property. It sustained significant damage in the 2015 earthquake and has been substantially restored.

5th Century CE

Earliest documented reference to Swayambhunath in written sources.

5th Century CE

Ashoka is credited by some traditions with building a shrine at the site.

1000+ Years Ago

Pligrims from Tibet have been visiting the site for at least a thousand years.

1979

Listed as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site (Kathmandu Valley).

2015

Severe demage caused by the earthquake

2016

Sulestantially restored and preserved for generations to come.

The Complex

The main stupa is surrounded by a complex of smaller shrines, votive stupas, and temples. The compound includes sanctuaries of Vajrayogini and other Vajrayana deities, as well as a modern library and monastery. Adjacent to the main complex, accessed via a different approach on the north side of the hill, is the Manjushri Stupa — associated with the bodhisattva Manjushri, who according to tradition cut the valley’s southern outlet with his sword to drain the ancient lake.

The natural setting of the site — the hill itself, the surrounding trees, the monkeys, the panoramic view of the valley — gives Swayambhunath a quality different from the urban density of Boudhanath. Many visitors find the hour around sunrise particularly arresting.

Image Gallery

Capturing Swayambhunath

Plan Your Visit

Travel Information

Swayambhunath, the “Monkey Temple,” sits on a hilltop just 3 km west of Thamel and offers sweeping views of the Kathmandu Valley. Visitors can climb the 365 steps or arrive by road to reach the Main Stupa, surrounded by shrines, prayer wheels, and monasteries. Major highlights include the Vajrayogini Shrine, the Manjushri Stupa, and panoramic sunrise views over the valley. Nearby attractions such as Kathmandu Durbar Square, Pashupatinath Temple, and Boudhanath Stupa make it a central stop in exploring Nepal’s spiritual heritage.

By Air Tribhuvan International Airport 20 minutes by taxi.

Nepal

Devadaha

The Kingdom of the Queen’s Birth

Nepal

Boudhanath

A living symbol of compassion, wisdom and peace.