Swayambhunath

Swayambhunath is a hilltop Buddhist stupa complex west of Kathmandu city centre, one of the oldest religious sites in the Kathmandu Valley. The stupa's white dome and gilded spire are crowned with the painted eyes of the Buddha, a widely recognised symbol of Nepali Buddhism. Hundreds of monkeys inhabit the surrounding forests, earning the site the informal name Monkey Temple. The hilltop provides a panoramic view across the Kathmandu Valley and is a favoured photography vantage at dawn.