Swayambhunath | Biggest Buddha Statue in Nepal | Buddhist Temple | 365 Stairs of swayambhu stupa...

Swayambhunath is among the oldest religious sites in Nepal, founded about the beginning of the 5th century CE.
Also known as the Monkey Temple as there are holy monkeys living in the north-west parts of the temple.
Pilgrims ascend the 365 steps from the eastern side that lead up the hill, passing the gilded Vajra (Tibetan: Dorje). The brass-plated dorje (thunderbolt), is one of the core symbols of Tibetan Buddhism. Known as the vajra in sanskrit, the thunderbolt is a symbol of the power of enlightenment, which destroys ignorance, but is itself indestructible.
The white dome represents the earth. Two giant Buddha eyes look out over the Kathmandu valley. Above the 13 re-gilded pinnacles use 20 kg of gold. The thirteen pinnacles on the top symbolise the 13 stages that humans must pass through to achieve nirvana.
Kathmandu Valley was once a lake, out of which grew a lotus, and the hill rose from the waters. The Lotus was transformed into a hill and the flower became the Swayambhu stupa. Swayambhu, meaning "Self-Arisen" or "Self-Created."
Swayambhu literally means "self-existent one". According to translations from an inscription dating back to 460 A.D., it was built by King Manadeva and by the 13th century, Swayambhunath had developed into an important center of Buddhism.
Legend has it that Swayambhu was born out of a lotus flower that bloomed in the middle of a lake that once spread across the Kathmandu Valley once was. The largest image of the Sakyamuni Buddha in Nepal sits on a pedestal on the western boundary of Swayambhu. Behind the hilltop is a temple dedicated to Manjusri or Saraswati - the Goddess of learning. Chaityas, statues and shrines of Buddhist and Hindu deities fill the stupa complex. The base of the hill is almost entirely surrounded by prayer wheels that were recently installed. Devotees can be seen circumambulating the stupa at all times.
The stupa sits atop the hill and the exceedingly steep stone steps leading up to the shrine is quite a challenge. However, there is also a road going up almost to the top and you can drive up. A large number of Buddhists and Hindus alike visit Swayambhunath through out the day. Swayambhu is perhaps the best place to observe religious harmony in Nepal.