Sitting quietly atop a hill on a sunny afternoon, Swayumbhunath temple is an imposing shrine with steep stairways that devotees and tourists climb in order to come to a place of peace and serenity. Situated on the western part of Kathmandu, it is half an hour away from Kamalpokhri, Kathmandu.

The presence of monkeys appears to be the reason behind it being commonly known as Monkey temple. The temple shows the ideal coexistence of Hinduism and Buddhism. The entrance leads to a large Vajra (a ritual object used in Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism as a symbol for indestructibility and thunderstorm). The entrance is free for the Nepali residents; however, the foreigners are charged a nominal entry fee. We were greeted by a magnificent white stupa that had a pair of eyes which symbolise Buddha overlooking the area.

The main compound consists of a stupa and various shrines for both the Hindus and the Buddhists. Apart from the eyes the stupa has a nose signifying unity and also a third eye which represents Buddha’s insight. The thirteen pinnacles on top signify the thirteen stages that human being has to go through to reach Nirvana.

We came across many monks who portrayed the picture of calm with their smiles, prayer wheels set in motion by a number of passing hands and people walking around them, offering prayers. The ambience of the complex instills a sense of peace in one’s heart. Though this place is one of the oldest religious sites in Nepal, one does not feel restricted by the old rituals and customs.

Now the time had come for us to leave the complex and as we were heading back, we came across some cafes in the vicinity, which offered some amazing views of Kathmandu valley. If one is interested in collecting souvenirs from their trip, the nearby stores are best option, as they have varieties of items to choose from.