Swayambhunath Monkey Temple: Kathmandu Guide, Fees & History

The Swayambhunath Monkey Temple sits high on a hill on the western edge of Kathmandu. Its whitewashed dome, crowned with a gilded spire, watches over the valley with a pair of painted eyes. This is Swayambhunath, the stupa most travellers know as the Monkey Temple. It is one of the oldest and most sacred Buddhist sites in Nepal, a place where Buddhists and Hindus worship side by side, prayer flags snap in the wind, and hundreds of rhesus macaques treat the ancient shrines as their playground.

Whether you have one day in Kathmandu or a full week, the Monkey Temple in Nepal belongs on your list. This guide covers everything you need: what Swayambhunath is famous for, its history and legends, the famous stairway, the entrance fee and opening hours, how to get there, and the tips that make a visit far more rewarding.

Swayambhunath Monkey Temple at a glance

What is the Swayambhunath Monkey Temple famous for?

Swayambhunath is famous for three things that no other temple in Kathmandu combines.

The all-seeing eyes. Each face of the gilded tower above the dome is painted with the eyes of the Buddha, gazing out in all four directions. Between them sits a curled symbol that looks like a nose; it is the Nepali numeral for one, read as a sign of unity and the single path to enlightenment. A third eye above represents inner wisdom. These eyes have become a symbol of Nepal itself.

The all-seeing Wisdom Eyes of Swayambhunath watching over Kathmandu Valley.

The view. Because the stupa sits on a hilltop roughly 77 metres above the valley floor, it offers one of the best panoramas of Kathmandu. On clear mornings after the monsoon (October to December is ideal), you can see the city spread to the surrounding hills, with Himalayan peaks on the horizon.

The monkeys. Hundreds of rhesus macaques live on the hill, swinging from prayer-flag lines, sliding down the stair rails and raiding offerings. They are the reason foreigners gave Swayambhunath its nickname.

Swayambhunath history: how old is the Monkey Temple?

Swayambhunath is generally dated to the early 5th century CE. Historical records associate its founding with King Vrishadeva, the great-grandfather of King Manadeva, and an inscription from the Licchavi period records later royal work on the site. That makes the stupa well over 1,500 years old and one of the oldest religious monuments in the Kathmandu Valley.Over the centuries, the complex grew. Tibetan and Newar Buddhists both added shrines, the Malla kings expanded it, and in the 17th century King Pratap Malla is credited with building the long eastern stairway and the two tall shikhara temples beside the stupa. The monument has been repaired and regilded many times; a major renovation in 2010 applied more than 20 kg of gold to the spire.

Swayambhunath after the 2015 earthquake

Swayambhunath after the 2015 earthquake

The April 2015 Gorkha earthquake damaged most of the monuments on the hill, including the Pratappur and Anantapur shikharas and several monasteries, although the main stupa survived. Restoration was led by the Swayambhu Management and Protection Committee with the Department of Archaeology and UNESCO, and by late 2018 nineteen monuments in the complex had been rebuilt. Today the site is fully open, though you may still see small conservation projects with scaffolding.

UNESCO World Heritage status

In 1979, Swayambhunath was inscribed by UNESCO as one of the seven monument zones that make up the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site, alongside Boudhanath, Pashupatinath, Changu Narayan and the three Durbar Squares of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur.

The legend of the self-arisen stupa

The name Swayambhu means “self-arisen” or “self-created”. According to the Swayambhu Purana, the Kathmandu Valley was once a vast lake. A lotus bloomed in its centre and radiated a miraculous light, the eternal flame of the self-arisen Buddha. The bodhisattva Manjushri, seeing the light from afar, cut a gorge through the southern hills at Chobhar with his sword of wisdom. The water drained away, the valley became habitable, and the lotus settled on the hill where the stupa now stands.

Geologists agree on one part of the story: the Kathmandu Valley really was a lake in prehistoric times, which is why its soil is so fertile.

Why is Swayambhunath called the Monkey Temple?

The nickname comes from the large troop of rhesus macaques that live in the forest on the northwest part of the hill. Local legend says they descended from the head lice of Manjushri: when he let his hair grow long during his work creating the valley, the lice that fell from it turned into monkeys. Because of this, the monkeys are considered holy and are left unharmed.

Image proves why Swayambhunath is called the Monkey Temple

Many Newar and Buddhist locals prefer the names Swayambhu or Swayambhu Mahachaitya, and some find the “Monkey Temple” label disrespectful. Using the proper name is a small courtesy that locals appreciate.

Tips for dealing with the Swayambhu monkeys

• Keep food, drinks and plastic bags out of sight. The monkeys recognise packaging.
• Hold sunglasses, phones and loose items securely.
• Never feed them, stare them down or show your teeth (it is read as a threat).
• Keep young children close, especially on the stairs.

How many steps are there at Swayambhu?

The main eastern approach is a steep stone stairway traditionally counted as 365 steps, one for each day of the year. Some guides round it to “300 steps” and exact counts differ slightly, but expect a stiff 10–15 minute climb. At the base, you pass large painted Buddha statues; near the top, stone animals that serve as the vehicles of the Buddhas line the path.

If stairs are a problem, take a taxi to the western car park, from where a gentler road and a short flight of steps lead to the stupa platform.

What to see at Swayambhunath Monkey Temple

• The Great Stupa (Swayambhu Mahachaitya). Walk clockwise around the white dome, spinning the brass prayer wheels set into its base. The 13 gilded rings of the spire represent the 13 stages to enlightenment.
• The Great Vajra (Dorje). A huge gilded thunderbolt at the top of the eastern stairs, symbolising the indestructible power of enlightenment.
• Pratappur and Anantapur. Two slender white shikhara towers built by Pratap Malla in the 17th century, both restored after 2015.
• Harati (Ajima) Temple. A gilded pagoda dedicated to Harati, the goddess who protects children from disease. Both Hindus and Buddhists worship here; photography in front of the shrine is not allowed.
• Shantipur. A shrine linked to the tantric master Shantikaracharya, said to have ended a drought; its inner chamber is closed to the public.
• The five elemental shrines. Small temples to earth, water, fire, air and sky (Vasupura, Nagpura, Agnipura, Vayupura and Shantipura).
• Monasteries and the museum. Tibetan gompas ring the platform. A small Buddhist museum near the stupa displays stone and metal sculptures.
• World Peace Pond. A pond at the foot of the hill with a Buddha statue in its centre; locals toss coins into a pot for luck.

Swayambhunath Buddha Park and the White Gumba

On the western side of the hill, Buddha Park (Amideva Park) has three giant golden statues: Shakyamuni Buddha flanked by Avalokiteshvara and Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche). It is free to enter and makes a peaceful end to the visit.

Further up the ridge, the White Gumba (Druk Amitabh Mountain monastery) is a large white Drukpa monastery with superb sunset views over the valley. Check whether it is open to visitors on the day you go.

Swayambhunath Monkey Temple entrance fee and opening hours

• Foreign nationals: NPR 200 (about US $1.50)
• SAARC nationals: NPR 50
• Children under 10: free
• Nepali citizens: free

Tickets are sold at counters at the top of the eastern stairs and at the western car park. Keep your ticket handy, as it may be checked. Fees in Nepal are revised from time to time, so treat these as a guide and confirm on arrival. On Buddha Jayanti (Buddha’s birthday), entry is free for everyone.

Opening hours: the hill is a living place of worship and is open around the clock. Pilgrims start their circuits before dawn, and ticket counters are staffed through the day. The best times to visit are early morning (6–8 am) for prayers, butter lamps, and soft light, or late afternoon for sunset over the city.

How to reach Swayambhunath Monkey Temple from Thamel?

Distance of Monkey Temple from Thamel

The Monkey Temple is about 3 km west of Thamel.

• Taxi: 10–20 minutes depending on traffic. Agree on the fare before you get in (usually NPR 300–500). Tell the driver whether you want the eastern stairs or the western car park.
• Walking: 45–60 minutes via Chhetrapati and the Bishnumati River bridge. Using a maps app is easy, and the walk passes everyday Kathmandu life.
• Ride-hailing apps: Pathao and InDrive operate in Kathmandu and are usually cheaper than street taxis.
• Guided tour: Swayambhunath is a standard stop on Kathmandu UNESCO heritage day tours, often combined with Kathmandu Durbar Square, Boudhanath and Pashupatinath. A guide brings the symbolism and legends to life.

Festivals at the Swayambhunath Monkey Temple

Buddha Jayanti (April/May): the Buddha’s birthday, with thousands of pilgrims, butter lamps, and special pujas.

Gunla (August/September): the Newar Buddhist holy month, when devotees climb the hill every morning with music.

Losar (Tibetan New Year, February/March): colourful celebrations at the monasteries.

Etiquette and practical tips

1. Walk clockwise around the stupa and other shrines.
2. Dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees, and remove shoes before entering monasteries.
3. Ask before photographing monks or worshippers, and do not photograph inside shrines where signs prohibit it.
4. Do not sit or climb on statues, chortens, or shrines.
5. Wear good shoes; the stone stairs are steep and slippery after rain.
6. Bring small notes for the ticket, offerings, and water.
7. Shop wisely. Singing bowls and thangkas on the hilltop are priced for tourists; compare prices in Patan or Thamel.
8. Watch your bags around monkeys and in crowds.

Swayambhunath vs Boudhanath: do you need to see both?

Swayambhunath vs Boudhanath

Yes. Boudhanath is the larger stupa and the heart of Kathmandu’s Tibetan community, best for an evening kora among pilgrims. Swayambhunath is older, smaller, set on a hilltop with sweeping views, and mixes Buddhist and Hindu shrines in one compact complex. Together they give the fullest picture of Buddhism in the Kathmandu Valley, and both fit into a single sightseeing day.

Plan your visit to Swayambhunath Monkey Temple

Swayambhunath is where Kathmandu’s history, faith, and everyday life meet on a single hilltop: monks chanting, grandmothers spinning prayer wheels, monkeys stealing marigolds, and the whole valley stretched out below. Go early, climb the 365 steps slowly, and give yourself time to simply sit and watch.

Want to see Swayambhunath Monkey Temple with a local expert? Access Nepal Tours runs guided Kathmandu heritage tours covering Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, Pashupatinath, and the Durbar Squares. Contact us to plan your day.