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Swayambhunath (Devnagari: sometimes romanized Swoyambhunath) is an
ancient religious complex atop a hill in the Kathmandu Valley, west of
Kathmandu city. It is also known as the Monkey Temple as there are
holy monkeys living in parts of the temple in the north-west. The
Tibetan name for the site means 'Sublime Trees' (Wylie:Phags.pa
Shing.kun), for the many varieties of trees found on the hill.
However, Shing.kun may be a corruption
 of
the local Newari name for the complex, Singgu, meaning 'self-sprung'.Swayambhunath
is one of the most sacred sites of Buddhist pilgrimage in Nepal,
second only to Boudhanath.The Swayambhunath complex consists of a
stupa, a variety of shrines and temples, including a Tibetan
monastery, a museum and a library. The stupa has Buddha's eyes and
eyebrows painted on. Between them, there is something painted which
looks like the nose - but is the Nepali symbol of 'unity', in the main
Nepali language dialect. There are also shops, restaurants and
hostels. The site has two access points: a long stairway, claimed to
have 365 steps, leading directly to the main platform of the temple,
which is from the top of the hill to the east; and a car road around
the hill from the south leading to the southwest entrance.
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