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Swayambhunath - A journey up to the Buddhist temple and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Swayambhunath is one of the definitive experiences of Kathmandu. Mobbed by monkeys and soaring above the city on a lofty hilltop, the
Swayambhunath is a fascinating jumble of Buddhist and Hindu iconography. Even the 2015 earthquake failed to topple Kathmandu’s best loved temple, though a couple of outlying buildings crumbled in the tremor.
Visitors for whom the name was a tongue twister have called it “Monkey Temple” from the 1970s. Swayambhu, overlooks most parts of the valley giving visitors a panoramic view of the city. The stupa has stood as a hallmark of faith and harmony for centuries with Hindu temples and deities incorporated in this Buddhist site. The glory of Kathmandu Valley is said to have started from this point.
Resting on a hillock 3 km west of Kathmandu, Swayambhu is one of the holiest Buddhist stupas in Nepal. It is said to have evolved spontaneously when the valley was created out of a primordial lake more than 2,000 years ago. This stupa is the oldest of its kind in Nepal and has numerous shrines and monasteries on its premises.
Legend says that once the Kathmandu valley was a lake in which Swayambhu hill existed as an island. On top of that hill stood a natural crystal stupa. Buddha, when visiting the place, declared that it was a wish-fulfilling stupa and whoever is touched by the wind that passes over the stupa receives the seed of liberation from the cycle of existence.
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.
- Proficient English-speaking tour guide, including their food, accommodation, and salary
- Complimentary Icicles Adventure T-shirt, trekking map, and a certificate of achievement
- Coverage of all government taxes
- Access to all tour activities as outlined in the itinerary
- Air-conditioned transportation
- Payment of all official expenses
- Equipped with a first aid medical kit
- Nepal visa arrangement and International airfare
- Personal expenses such as phone calls, bar bills, laundry, etc)
- Entry fee and tips for guide and driver
Kathmandu Buddhist tour surrounds you by the eternal feeling of peace, enigma and fruitfulness while visiting around various monasteries, stupas.People from all the religion who would like to study, research or learn more about Buddha, Buddhism culture, tradition, rituals and lifestyle can join Nepal Buddhism pilgrimage tour regardless their age and interest. In short you will be sightseeing around Swayambhunath stupa, Kopan monastery, Boudhanath stupa and around Kathmandu valley.
It is not only religious tour but also cultural because it familiarizes you with all the important UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Kathmandu.
Old-world stupas fascinating structures are also the illustrations of religious harmony that prevails in Nepal. It is truly one of the most awe-inspiring tours of Nepal that is guaranteed to make you fall in love with the country’s facets and ambiance. With Icicles there shall be no room for the tour to get any better!
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
