Walking to the Monkey Temple Swayambhunath - Private/Small Group

3 Hours Round trip from PUMPERNICKEL BAKERY Moderate pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Walk from Thamel to Swayambhunath with a licensed English-speaking guide
  • 02 Visit Indrayani Temple and Shova Bhagawati Temple en route
  • 03 Climb the 365 steps from Bhagwan Pau to Swayambhunath
  • 04 Learn about Buddhist symbols, prayer flags, and local legends
  • 05 Explore shrines, temples, and stupas around the Swayambhunath complex
  • 06 See Harati Ajima Temple and Manjushree Temple
  • 07 Enjoy panoramic views over Kathmandu Valley
  • 08 Visit Amideva Buddha Park with its three giant Buddha idols

Discover Kathmandu on foot as you walk from lively Thamel to the hilltop sanctuary of Swayambhunath, one of Nepal’s most important spiritual landmarks. Along the way, visit lesser-known temples, learn about local beliefs and symbolism, and experience the city’s blend of everyday life, heritage, and devotion.

At Swayambhunath, explore shrines, stupas, and pagoda-style temples while your guide shares stories of Manjushree, Buddhist teachings, and the legends of the Kathmandu Valley. The climb is rewarded with sweeping views over the city and a deeper understanding of the culture and spirituality that shape this remarkable place.

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 3 Hours
Tour type Shared
Activity level Moderate
Accommodation Not included
Transport Not included
Wheelchair access Not applicable
City Kathmandu
Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Meeting Point | PUMPERNICKEL BAKERY

We will meet at Pumpernickel Bakery

Your guide will be available 10 minutes before each meeting time with a sign "Meeting Point - Amazing Kathmandu".

Pumpernickel Bakery is centrally located in Thamel and has excellent offerings, including great coffee, all-day breakfasts, delicious cakes, and bakery items that also cater to gluten-free and vegan diets.

Indrayani Temple

Our journey begins in Thamel and takes us to the famous Indrayeni Temple, located by the banks of the Bishnumati River. The goddess Indrayeni, revered as the  Lhuti Ajima (Golden Grandmother)  by the local Newar community, holds great cultural and spiritual significance. At the temple, you’ll have the chance to see the intricate erotic carvings on the struts, with our guide providing insights into their history and symbolism.

From there, we’ll continue on to the Shova Bhagawati Temple, another remarkable site on our path.

Shova Bhagawati Temple

The Shova Bhagwati Temple is another significant shrine on the way to Swayambhunath. Here, you will encounter the Ashta Matrikas (Eight Mothers) and the Nava Durgas (Nine Durgas), who are among the most revered goddesses in Nepali culture. These deities hold profound spiritual significance and represent the deep-rooted traditions of Nepal.

Bhagwan Pau

Bhagwan Pau as name for the feet of Lord Buddha is at the bottom of Swoyambhu hill, from where the main entrance which consists of 365 stairs begins. We will take a rest for a while, drink water and prepare ourselves to climb the 365 stairs to get to the top of the hill and explore SwayambhuNath Stupa.

Swayambhunath Stupa

This is our main attraction. Swayambhunath, self originated one. We will explore this neighborhood and know about origination of Swayambhunath as well as kathmandu valley, also go through lore and legends about Manjushree, Basics about Buddhism like prayer flag and five elements, four noble truths, eightfold paths and thirteen steps to nirvana. We will explore the various Shrines, Temples and stupas around the Swayambhu premises encircling the stupa itself.

Harati Ajima Temple

You will explore the unique Nepalese pagoda style architecture of the Temple and our experienced tour guide will tell the story how the demon named Harati became Mother Harati and why people around the valley worship her.

Manjushree Temple

A small temple dedicated to Maha Manjushree in Swayambhu Hill. We will go through legends about how Kathmandu Valley is turned into a city from a great lake and enjoy a panoramic view of western side of Kathmandu valley. From here we will climb down the swayambhu hill and go towards Amideva Buddha Park which houses 3 big Buddha Idols

Amideva Buddha Park

Amideva Buddha Park, featuring the 3 gigantic idols of Amitabha Buddha (Amideva) 67 Feet in center, Chenrezig and Padmasambhava 64 Feet in two sides. We will walk around this park and share the story of Siddhartha Gautam, who later became Gautam Buddha , Avalokitesvara and The Precious Master. This is the last place we stop at before going around the Swayambhu Hill towards Bhagwan Pau and back to Meeting point, where our tour ends.

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from PUMPERNICKEL BAKERY 1 city · 3 Hours

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Professional Guidance: Tours are led by a licensed, English-speaking tour guide who is knowledgeable and passionate about Kathmandu’s culture and heritage.

What's Not Included

  • Entrance Fees: Entrance fee Swayambhunath is 200 Rupees (about US$1.50) in cash paid directly to Temple authorities.
  • Meals: Lunch and other meals during the tour are not provided and are the responsibility of the participant.
  • Gratuities: While not mandatory, tips for the tour guide are greatly appreciated as a gesture of gratitude.
  • Travel Insurance: Participants are responsible for securing their own travel insurance to cover potential risks or unforeseen circumstances.

Know before you go

  • DRESS CODE
  • When visiting holy places in Kathmandu Valley, both men and women are encouraged to dress modestly out of respect for the cultural and spiritual significance of these sites.
  • We recommend not wearing revealing clothing or sleeveless tops. Shorts are acceptable but should reach just above the knee and be modest. For women, it is preferable to wear trousers or a long skirt.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
PUMPERNICKEL BAKERY, PUMPERNICKEL BAKERY, Paryatan Marg, Kathmandu
Tour start
PUMPERNICKEL BAKERY, PUMPERNICKEL BAKERY, Paryatan Marg, Kathmandu
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 3 hours finish where they began, in PUMPERNICKEL BAKERY.

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