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Kathmandu Photo Gallery - Swayambhunath

I have been to Kathmandu many times over the years. Here are my best photos.

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 00 Swayambhunath Painting By Thubten Yeshe Sherpa, Namche Bazaar I bought a small postcard at Thame Gompa of this beautiful painting of Swayambhunath by Thubten Yeshe Sherpa from Namche Bazaar.

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 00 Swayambhunath Painting By Thubten Yeshe Sherpa, Namche Bazaar

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 01 Swayambhunath From Bhimsen Tower The Swayambhunath Monkey Temple complex sits on the top of a forested hill on the western edge of the Kathmandu Valley. This view is from the top of the Bhimsen Tower.

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 01 Swayambhunath From Bhimsen Tower

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 02 Entrance Gate A large, brightly painted gateway frames colourful statues of Buddha and the 365 steps to the Swayambhunath Monkey Temple near Kathmandu.

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 02 Entrance Gate

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 03 Buddha Statue At Entrance Gate A colourful statue of Buddha welcomes you to the bottom of the steps to the Swayambhunath Monkey Temple near Kathmandu.

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 03 Buddha Statue At Entrance Gate

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 04 Buddha Statue Flanks Steps At Back Entrance There is a parking lot at the back entrance to Swayambhunath in Kathmandu that significantly reduces the amount of stairs that need to be climbed. Peter Ryan is starting the ascent passing by one of large, brightly painted statues of the Buddha.

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 04 Buddha Statue Flanks Steps At Back Entrance

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 05 Monkey Swayambhunath in Kathmandu is also known as the Monkey Temple, and as we started up the steps we saw many of these Rhesus monkeys. “My, what big teeth you have”. “The better to bite you, my dear”. Did you know that Kathmandu has a rabies clinic? Well, now you know why. Be careful!

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 05 Monkey

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 06 Buddha Statues Flank Steps On Way To Temple Another set of colourful statues of Buddha give you an excuse for a rest part way up the 365 steps to Swayambhunath near Kathmandu.

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 06 Buddha Statues Flank Steps On Way To Temple

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 07 Final Steps To Swayambhunath Stupa Pairs of garudas (Amoghasiddhi), peacocks (Amitabha), elephants (Aksobhya), horses (Ratnasambhava), and lions (Vairochana) flank the stairs near the top of the staircase leading to the Swayambhunath Monkey Temple near Kathmandu.

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 07 Final Steps To Swayambhunath Stupa

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 08 Swayambhunath Entrance At Top Of Steps The first sight on reaching the top of the stairs is the Swayambhunath stupa flanked by two snow lions, with a giant gilded vajra above a mandala worked in a drum-shaped base.

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 08 Swayambhunath Entrance At Top Of Steps

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 09 Giant Vajra Close Up At Entrance To Swayambhunath Stupa At Top Of Steps A giant vajra (Tib. dorje) sits on top of a pedestal at the top of the stairs at the entrance to Swayambhunath near Kathmandu. The pedestal contains the 12 animals from the Tibetan calendar: hare, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, bird, dog, pig, mouse, ox, and tiger.

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 09 Giant Vajra Close Up At Entrance To Swayambhunath Stupa At Top Of Steps

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 10 Swayambhunath Full View The monkey temple Swayambhunath in Kathmandu shone beautifully in the late afternoon sun. The earliest record of this stupa's existence dates from a 5C stone inscription; however, scholars and archaeologists believe that there was probably a shrine here as far back as 2,000 years ago.

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 10 Swayambhunath Full View

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 11 Swayambhunath Buddha Eyes Close Up The three eyes of the Buddha adorn the Swayambhunath Monkey Temple near Kathmandu.

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 11 Swayambhunath Buddha Eyes Close Up

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 12 Swayambhunath With Monkey A monkey sits near the Swayambhunath Stupa nearby ready to grab whatever they can. Keep your eye out.

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 12 Swayambhunath With Monkey

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 13 Swayambhunath Torana Close Up A shield with one of the Dhiyani Buddha sits above each set of Buddha eyes at Swayambhunath near Kathmandu. Below are four Bodhisattvas.

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 13 Swayambhunath Torana Close Up

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 14 Swayambhunath Statue Behind Mesh There are five ornate shrines protected by heavy metal gates set into the base of the Swayambhunath stupa, each containing one of the Dhyani Buddhas. Each of the five shrines is surrounded by exquisite gilded copperwork done in the repoussé style of metalworking, for which the Kathmandu Valley is renowned.

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 14 Swayambhunath Statue Behind Mesh

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 15 Northwest Of Swayambhunath Stupa The Dongak Choling Gompa on the left and the Hariti temple behind to the right are viewed from south of the Swayambhunath Stupa near Kathmandu.

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 15 Northwest Of Swayambhunath Stupa

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 16 Hariti Temple The two-storied pagoda style Hariti Temple is one of the popular places for both Hindus and Buddhists in the Swayambhunath complex. The temple is dedicated to the goddess of smallpox and other epidemics.

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 16 Hariti Temple

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 17 Statue Swayambhunath near Kathmandu has a four-armed statue of Mahakala, the fierce manifestation of Avalokiteshvara, and the primary Dharmapala, or

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 17 Statue

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 18 Avalokiteshvara And Other Statues There are many clusters of statues surrounding the Swayambhunath Stupa near Kathmandu. Left: Avalokiteshvara standing. Right: four statues in a price of stone.

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 18 Avalokiteshvara And Other Statues

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 19 Kathmandu View from Swayambhunath From Swayambhunath on the forested hill on the western edge of the Kathmandu Valley, I had a great evening view of Kathmandu stretched out below.

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 19 Kathmandu View from Swayambhunath

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 20 Charlotte Ryan With Kathmandu View from Swayambhunath Charlotte Ryan poses at Swayambhunath Stupa near Kathmandu in 2005 with the ever growing city of Kathmandu below. This is the same position as in a 1991 photo on our first visit to Kathmandu.

Kathmandu Swayambhunath 20 Charlotte Ryan With Kathmandu View from Swayambhunath


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