Swayambhunath Stupa UNESCO Tour
Swayambhunath Stupa UNESCO Tour, Swayambhunath, also known as the Monkey Temple and a self-existent flame, is one of Nepal’s top ten heritage monuments.
West of Kathmandu City, in the Kathmandu Valley, is the ancient temple complex known as Swayambhu (also spelled Swayambu or Swoyambhu).
Swayambhunath Stupa is the oldest and most enigmatic of all the holy places in the Kathmandu valley. It is a golden spire sitting atop a conical hill covered in trees. One can see its tall white dome and gleaming golden spire from every angle in the valley.
Mythical History of Swayambhunath Temple
One of Nepal’s most sacred Buddhist stupas is Swayambhu, perched on a hill 3 kilometers to the west of Kathmandu. It is believed that the valley spontaneously evolved more than 2,000 years ago from a primordial lake. There are several temples and monasteries around this stupa, which is the first of its kind in Nepal.
Swayambhu, regarded as a representation of harmony and love, is named after its existence. Dated to 460 A.D., according to some. King Manadeva had erected it, and by the 13th century, it had become a significant Buddhist hub.
Legend has it that a large lake with lotuses that glow like stars in the sky once filled the entire valley where Swayambhunath stood. Then, one day, the God Manjusri saw a Lotus in Swayambhunath and went to see it.
He cut a gorge at Chovar that drains the water and leaves it to dry where Kathmandu currently stands because he saw the valley as a place for a virtuous community and to make the site more accessible to human pilgrims.
Thus, a flower became a stupa, and a lotus changed into a hill. Swayambhunath resembles a lotus when viewed from the peak of Swayambhunath.
Swayambhunath’s Worshippers
Hindus, Vajrayana Buddhists from northern Nepal and Tibet, and Newari Buddhists from central and southern Nepal all worship at Swayambhunath.
Hundreds of pilgrims climb the hill’s 365 steps every morning before dawn, passing by the two lions and a golden Vajra (Tibetan: Dorje) guarding the entrance before starting a series of clockwise circumambulations of the stupa (Newari Buddhists circle in the opposite, counterclockwise direction).
There are two large eyeballs on each of the main stupa’s four sides. These eyes stand for God’s all-pervasive vision. Instead of a nose, the space between the eyes is filled with a symbol of the number one in the Nepali script, denoting that the Buddhist path is the only route to enlightenment.
The third eye, which is located above each pair of eyes and represents the knowledge of gazing inside, is another eye. Because it is believed that the Buddha is not interested in hearing prayers that laud him, no ears are displayed.
Swayambhunath: A UNESCO World Heritage Site
Getting to the stupa requires climbing 365 steps, which might be difficult but worthwhile because you can see Swayambhunath’s history and the lovely city where it is located, where many Buddhists and Hindus come to worship all day long.
The amazing custom may be fully appreciated in May, who is Lord Buddha’s birthday each year. Just keep an eye out for monkeys; you can feed them, but you won’t have any leftovers.
Since the fifth century, Swayambhunath Stupa in Kathmandu has been a significant Buddhist pilgrimage and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This location, which overlooks the Kathmandu Valley and provides beautiful panoramic views of the valley, is the perfect place to get away from the bustle of Kathmandu. Thousands of tourists have recommended Swayambhunath, which is perched on top of the hill, as a must-see location in Kathmandu.
Approximately 7 miles from Tribhuvan International Airport, Swayambhunath may be reached by bus in 30 minutes.
It should come as no surprise that you could spend all day here being seduced by this place’s surreal beauty. From a great distance, one can see the gigantic whitewashed dome with the Buddha’s all-seeing eyes and gilded spire.
But when you are standing right close to the tall stupa, you experience that sense. Watch in awe! Swayambhunath is a box full of marvel to a frequent visitor even as it is a box full of surprises for a new visitor.
Explore The UNESCO World Heritage Site – Swayambhunath Stupa
Buddhist Newars and Tibetan Buddhists revere Swayambhunath Stupa, one of Nepal’s holiest pilgrimage sites.
In the Kathmandu valley, Swayambhunath Stupa is the oldest and most mysterious of all sacred sites. From every angle of the valley, one can see its grand white dome and glistening golden spire.
According to historical documents found on a stone inscription, the stupa was a major Buddhist pilgrimage site by the fifth century A.D. However, it has much older origins, dating to a period long before Buddhism spread throughout the valley.
A collection of local stories from the 15th century, Swayambhu Patan, claims a miraculous lotus that grew out of the lake that previously filled Katmandu Valley and was seeded by a former Buddha.
Swayambhuu, “Self-Create or Self-Existent,” came to be the location’s name when the lotus inexplicably began to emit dazzling light. Saints, sages, and gods flocked to the lake to worship this mystical light for its capacity to bring about enlightenment.
Bodhisattva Manjushri had a vision of the brilliant Swayambhu light while meditating on Wu Tail Shan. To worship the lotus, Manjushree rode his blue lion through the mountains of Tibet and China. Manjushree was deeply moved by the strength of the radiant light and thought that if the water in the lake were to be drained, Swayambhu would be easier for human pilgrims to reach.
In a region known as Chovar, the Manjushree carved a gorge with a powerful sword, creating lake Madara. The flood left the valley where modern-day Kathmandu is located after draining away for four days and nights. The light then created the Swayambhunath Stupa, and the lotus became a hill.
Swayambhunath is one of the appealing locations offered by Incredible Mountains Travels in Nepal. Please get in touch with us if you intend to visit this famous holy place.
FAQs
Which God is Swayambhunath?
Vishnu is referred to as Swayambhu in the Mahabharata and the Ramayana.
Who built the Swayambhunath Stupa?
There are several temples and monasteries around this stupa, which is the first of its kind in Nepal. Swayambhu means “the self-existent one.” It is thought to have been constructed by King Manadeva in 460 A.D. By the 13th century; it had become an important Buddhist centre.
What is the story behind Swayambhunath?
Mythology. The Swayambhu Purana claims that the valley was originally completely covered by a huge lake from which a lotus sprouted. The name Swayambhu, “Self-Created,” began to be used for the valley. The name derives from a perpetual, self-existent flame (svyabhu) over which a later-erected spa was constructed.
Why is Swayambhunath called the Monkey Temple?
It all has to do with a family of monkeys living centuries in the northwest corner of the Swayambhunath temple complex. According to legend, they were created when the Buddhist “deity” Manjushri spent time on the hill where the temples are located.
What is the symbol of the eyes of the Swayambhu stupa?
There are enormous pairs of eyes looking out from the four sides of Nepal’s main tower of every stupa (Buddhist shrine). These are Buddha Eyes, also called Wisdom Eyes, and they gaze outward in all four directions to represent a Buddha’s omniscience (all-seeing).
How old is Swayambhunath?
Over 2500 years old, brimming with Buddhist and Hindu iconography, and providing a birds-eye perspective of the city, the famed stupa known as Swayambhunath Temple—more lately referred to as the Monkey Temple with troops of the hairy critters running amok—is also known as the Monkey Temple.
What is the old name of Swayambhunath?
The formal name of the stupa known as Swayambhunath is Swayambhu MahaChaitya.
Its original name, however, was “Singru-vihara-caitya-bhatjarika.”
Is Swayambhunath a world heritage?
One of Nepal’s major heritage monuments is the Monkey Temple, also known as Swayambhunath (self-existent flame). The temple has a distinctive structure, and in 1979 UNESCO inscribed it as a World Heritage Site. Visitors come to Swayambhu from around the world to enjoy harmony and calm.
Why is Swayambhunath important?
This stupa, the first of its sort in Nepal, is surrounded by numerous temples and monasteries. Swayambhu means “the self-existent one.” It is thought to have been constructed by King Manadeva in 460 A.D. By the 13th century; it had become an important Buddhist center.
How many steps are there in Swayambhunath?
To get to Swayambhunath Stupa, most people use the 365-step stone staircase, although you can alternatively climb the western side of the stupa. The vast views of the Kathmandu valley are stunning from up here.
Why was Swayambhunath enlisted in the World Heritage Site?
Lord Gautam Buddha, also known as The Light of Asia, is honored in the temple. The temple has a distinctive structure, and in 1979 UNESCO inscribed it as a World Heritage Site.