This is a bit more in depth on the Monkey Temple mentioned in an earlier post.
One of many memorable moments on this Nepalese adventure was to Swayambhunath – also called the “Monkey Temple”. Let me explain. Swayambhunath is an ancient religious site built on a hill overlooking the Kathmandu Valley with incredible views (on a clear day, which we had) of the entire city.
This too is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is likely over 2,500 years old – one of the oldest Buddhist sites in Nepal. Interestingly, this site is sacred to both Buddhists and Hindus, with various temples, shrines, and religious symbols and sculptures intermingled over the hilltop. Most visitors climb 365 steep stone steps to reach the main structures with each step representing a day of the year. Once we got to the top area of this complex we were greeting by dozens of monkeys!!! These monkeys are considered sacred and the community surrounding the area make sure these playful creatures are well-taken care of. It was a blast encountering groups of monkeys roaming freely at our feet – sometimes trying to snatch a snack or a water bottle out of the hand of an unsuspecting visitor. There were a few dogs roaming around as well and it was very clear that monkeys and dogs would rather not be tenants together…they mainly kept respectable distance from each other.
At the very top of the hill it was interesting to see a Buddhist stupa right next to a Hindu temple (I saw this in the city as well) and there were also ancient stone sculptures and small monuments dating back centuries.
The grounds really were lovely and a peaceful change from the hubbub of being in the center of the city.
Living La Vida Loca 