White dome
And prayer flags.
Bijay Chaurasia — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Nirmal Dulal — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Vyacheslav Argenberg — CC BY 4.0 · Goutam1962 — CC BY-SA 4.0
An ancient religious complex on a hilltop west of Kathmandu whose name means self-arising. Buddhists count it among the holiest sites in the valley, and Hindus revere it too. Visitors call it the Monkey Temple for the monkeys that have lived on the hill for centuries. At its centre is a huge white dome topped by a gilded spire painted with a pair of great eyes gazing over the valley in all four directions, with strings of colourful prayer flags running from it everywhere. Around the dome are small shrines, prayer wheels that worshippers spin as they circle, and small monasteries. Visitors climb a long, steep stone stairway on the east side among trees and monkeys, or drive to the west side. The terraces look out over all of Kathmandu and the mountains ringing the valley. Foreigners pay NPR 200, per visitor guides. Keep food out of sight, as the monkeys snatch it. Temples and stupas are living places of worship: dress modestly, walk clockwise around Buddhist stupas, remove shoes where asked, and note that some Hindu shrines admit Hindus only. The clearest months are October to December and March to April; the monsoon runs from June to September.
And prayer flags.
All of Kathmandu.
A long climb.
Hilltop west of Kathmandu city
Monkeys have lived on the hill for centuries and roam among the shrines, so keep food out of sight.