One of the most ancient stupas in the Kathmandu Valley is Swayambhunath. It is about 5 k.m. from the city center and lies up on a hill. It is very difficult to ascertain when this stupa was actually built. Swayambhunath as the name suggests, is a deity who sprang all by himself. As visitors find it difficult to pronounce temple properly, they prefer to say it as “ The Monkey Temple of Kathmandu”. One can see large crowed of Monkeys in the temple and surrounding area.

Swayambhunath has a long history. People believe that Kathmandu valley was a big lake once upon a time and Swayambhunath stupa was an island on the lake. Popular legends and chronicles give Manjushri (A Bodhisattva and God of wisdom) the credit of inhabiting the kathmandu valley by cutting the Gorge of Chobhar) by his magic sword and allowing the water of the lake to drain out. But the present form of Swayambhunath stupa was built in the 17th century by Pratap Malla. The stupa is considered one of the oldest Buddhist shrines. The stupa suffered damage from earthquake and also destroyed by invaders of Bangal in 1346. Later on it was renovated.

There is couple of ways to enter Swayambhuath. Eastern entrace is the main entrance. At the entrance there are big statues of Buddha with red and yellow colors. All together it has 365 steps. Most of the Nepalese people consider each steep to be one day and believed that if they visit the temple with this belief they do not have to go the temple for the whole year. Many visitors go to Swayambhunath from the western side as they can avoid the 365 steps and only need to climb about 90 steps only.

Within temple area approaching from eastern side lies big Vajra or Dorje in Tibetan word and Thunderbolt in English. It has a stone base carved with the 12 animals and Anantapur are visible. These Shikhara temples and Vajra was built and donated by Pratap Malla.

Stupa:
The Stupa that forms the main structure is composed of a solid hemisphere of brick and earth supporting a softly conical spire capped by a pinnacle of gilt copper. Painted on the four – sided base of the spire are all seeing eyes of the lord Buddha. Between two eyes the point is considered as a third eye, or the eye of wisdom. The nose is considered Nepalese number one or symbol of unity. The thirteen steps considered as thirteen steps of Nirvana and pinnacles symbolize heaven.

Harati or Sitala Temple:
West of Swayambhunath stupa, is the temple of harari Mata or Sitala Mai. The Hindus call her Sitala Mai and Buddhist call her Harati. She is Goddess of small pox. People worship the Goddess to protect their children from small pox. Although small pox has already been eradicated in Nepal many people still believe that Goddess protect the children from different diseases. Many people still take their babies to worship the Goddess especially on Saturdays. The temple is two storied in pagoda styles.