Description of the attraction
The large Buddhist temple complex Swayambhunath is located on an elevation in the northern suburb of Kathmandu. From here a magnificent view of the surroundings opens. A large staircase leads to the foot of the central stupa, surrounded by smaller steps, statues of deities, Buddhist monasteries, in which there are 365 steps - according to the number of days a year. Believers overcome them on foot. Tourists in style drive up by taxi directly to the entrance to the temple. The entrance to the territory of the Swayambhunath complex is paid. Money changers sit at the central aisle, exchanging bills for metal coins that can be thrown into the fountain in order to return here again.
The main stupa was built on the site where, according to legend, King Ashoka was. It is dated to 460. In the 13th century, this temple, around which small stupas began to appear, built with the money of wealthy believers, turned into a famous Buddhist sanctuary. In the first half of the XIV century, it was destroyed by the Mongol hordes, who for some reason decided that gold was hidden at the base of the stupa. During the reign of the Malla kings, the temple was restored and rebuilt. The facades of the main building are not oriented to the cardinal points. The ancient builders were of the opinion that earlier the North Pole was in a different place, and then it shifted by 60 degrees. One of the walls of the stupa is turned in the direction where the North Pole was supposedly located.
Many monkeys live in the vicinity of the temple, which behave peacefully if they are not angry. Swayambhunath because of this is called the Temple of the Monkeys.
