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Shantipura Building

Part of the Swayambhunath Complex

Getting there: 60m North of Swayambhunath Stupa

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Listing from Wikivoyage: Kathmandu/West, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Updated 28 Sept 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.

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Swayambhunath
स्वय म्भू AKA the Monkey Temple
Perched on a hill overlooking Kathmandu, Swayambhu is a revered site featuring a grand stupa surrounded by Buddhist and Hindu iconography. According to legend, a former Buddha visited the valley, which was then a vast lake. The Buddha planted a lotus seed in the clear waters that bloomed after 84,000 years, crowned with an eternal flame. Drawn by the flame from Mount Wutai in China, the bodhisattva Manjushri drained the lake by cutting through the valley wall, making the site accessible for pilgrims. The stupa now stands where the lotus once blossomed, making Swayambhu one of Nepal’s most sacred Buddhist sites. The hilltop can be reached by climbing 350 steps, with a gentler but less scenic back route also available. A 30-minute walk from Thamel leads to the base, though a map is helpful due to several confusing intersections; taxis and bikes are also options. The site teems with monkeys—keep food hidden—and hosts ancient temples, souvenir stalls, cafes, and restaurants offering Nepali and Tibetan cuisine. For those with limited mobility, parking at the rear entrance minimizes the climb. Swayambhu is one of seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley and includes the Swayambhu Buddhist Museum.
Foreigners: Rs200 for single entry; Rs750 for a multiple entry pass
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The Natural History Museum
Natural Science Museum of Tribhuvan University
This museum has a sizeable collection of different species of animals, butterflies, and plants. The museum is noted for its display of species, from prehistoric shells to stuffed animals.
Mon-Fri
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Gompa and Huge Prayer Wheel
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Military Museum
Chhauni Rd