Blogs from Swayambhunath, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia - page 2

The Monkey Temple in Kathmandu outskirts was intense. Had a good view of Karhmandu but other than that ... ... read more

Our next stop was Swayambunath temple complex which is also colloquially known as the "monkey temple". It was pretty amazing, and defintely another 'must see'. It is apparently Kathmandu's most important Buddhist shrine (not sure where Boudanath Stupa fits in the rating scale, beacuse it would also certainly seem to lay claim to this?). Anyway, the temple is apparentlyaround 2000 years old. Its name means 'self created' . The legend goes that Kathmandu valley was once a great lake and a beautiful lotus grew in the center of the lake, and when the bodhisattva Manjusri drained the lake with a slash of his sword, this lotus flower settled on top of the hill and magically transformed into the stupa. Thus it is known as the Self-Created (swayambhu) Stupa. Walking up gthe steps to the stupa and ... read more

9 Jan - reluctantly say farewell to Pokhara with another early departure in case of any roadblocks. Thankfully, there's none this time. Half the group takes the small coach and the other half fly. Due to backpacker budget constraints, I'm on the coach. It's a great drive though through terraced farming land of the Terai and Kathmandu Valley. This 200km stretch from Pokhara to Kathmandu is the main road and therefore fairly busy. It's full of the now familiar site of brightly coloured trucks with slogans such as "Horn Please" and "See You", honking away and blasting out choking fumes while they chug up the narrow, winding hillside roads...you eventually learn to switch off when you pass a truck or bus lying overturned in the ditch, lol. Kathmandu, wow! It's like a mythical destination that I ... read more

Swayambhunath Stupa.... watches over the Valley from the top of a hillock on its western side just three kilometres west of the city centre. The stupa is one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Nepal and its establishment is linked to the creation of the Kathmandu Valley out of a primordial lake. Swayambhu is also known as Samhengu. It is also known as the Monkey Temple as there are holy monkeys living in parts of the temple in the north-west.. It is also one of the oldest and glorious Buddhist shrines in the world which is said to be two thousand years. The four sides of the stupa is painted with the eyes of Lord Buddha and the temple is also known as the watchful eyes of Buddha. Mythology behind this stupa is rather fascinating. If ... read more