Introduction
On our final day in Nepal, we operated under significant time constraints.
Having spent ample time exploring many regions of Nepal, we realized we had nearly neglected to visit the capital city, Kathmandu. Our intention was to explore it the prior day; however, we were sidetracked by the historic town of Panuati and the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Bhaktapur, resulting in limited time for Kathmandu.
Visiting Swayambhunath Stupa
To remedy our lack of exploration time, we arranged for a driver and aimed to cover as many prominent sights as possible. Given the traffic conditions, we prioritized and commenced our journey at Swayambhunath, famously known as the Monkey Temple of Kathmandu.
The reason for the temple’s nickname, the Monkey Temple, becomes apparent upon arrival—monkeys are abundantly present.
Surprisingly, they exhibit considerable discipline; however, having previously experienced an encounter with an aggressive monkey in Singapore (and receiving cautions against direct eye contact), I maintained a prudent distance from any monkeys in sight.
Observing the Monkeys
Upon climbing the stairs in pursuit of the stupa, we arrived at a square that provided a vista of the stupa in the distance.
The stupa is an impressive structure and holds significant cultural importance. It draws local inhabitants, as visitors can ascend a staircase leading to the area from the parking lot situated atop the hill.
Conclusion
The panoramic view of Kathmandu from this site is remarkable and merits the effort to reach it.
The fascinating behavior of the local monkeys is also worth mentioning, as they are often observed engaging in playful antics, such as diving into water pools, displaying uniquely interactive behaviors compared to monkeys elsewhere.
