Swoyambhunath, also known as the Monkey Temple, is one of the oldest and most sacred religious sites in Nepal. Located atop a hill in the Kathmandu Valley, it holds deep spiritual significance for both Buddhists and Hindus. The name “Swoyambhu” means “Self-Existent One,” and according to Buddhist mythology, the site originated from a miraculous lotus that blossomed in the center of a vast lake that once covered the valley. The Bodhisattva Manjushri is said to have drained the lake by cutting a g