Swayambhunath Stupa

Swayambhunath, also known as the Monkey Temple, is a sacred Buddhist site located on a hill in the Kathmandu Valley. The stupa is one of the oldest and most revered in Nepal, with a history dating back over 2,000 years. According to legend, the valley was once a lake, and the stupa was born from a lotus flower that bloomed in the lake. The site is home to numerous shrines, temples, and monasteries, and is an important center of Buddhism. Visitors can explore the stupa, which features Buddha's eyes and eyebrows painted on, and climb the steep stone steps to the top for a panoramic view of the city. The site is also home to a large number of holy monkeys, and is a great place to observe religious harmony in Nepal. Families can visit the temple dedicated to Harati, the goddess of all children, and see the huge gold-plated Vajra 'thunderbolt' set in the east side of the stupa