A walk to Swayambhunath, the "Monkey Temple", and around Kathmandu centre

 


Swayambhunath is an ancient religious complex atop a hill with the characteristic stupa, west of Kathmandu city centre. It's around 2.5 kms from Thamel, so it is an easy and pleasant walk. The hill is overrun with monkeys, and so the site is also known by tourists as the "Monkey Temple". It was here, in 1991, when I first vitnessed someone being robbed by monkeys. This time, one of the monkeys managed to get hold of a cone of ice cream. 

The walk to Swayambhunath.








The religious complex of Swayambhunath.

















































The walk back and around the centre of Kathmandu between Thamel and Durbar Square. 



























Popular posts from this blog

Riyadh - Transport and districts (updated in July 2025)

Image
  Practical information and photos of Riyadh. Map of Riyadh and surroundings 1. King Khalid International Airport ; 2.  King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) ; 3.  Al Murooj and King Fahd Districts ; 4. Al Olaya ; 5. Al Batha ; 6.  Ad Dirah ; 7. Al Aziziyah  Transportation Center ; 8. Diriyah ; 9. Qasoor al-Maqbil ; 10. Camel Trail ; 11. Red Sand Dunes ; 12. Edge of the World,  Manjour Trail .  Since this post was first published, major developments have taken place in Riyadh: most importantly, the metro network has been inaugurated, and six lines are now in service. This updated information, current as of 2025, has been added to the original post. The two most important lines are the Yellow and Blue. The first connects the international airport to KAFD, and from there the other covers all the main areas of interest in Riyadh, all the way to the Transportation Center in Al Aziziyah. You can find detailed metro maps below. 
More »

Leshan (very basic) tourist information with map

Image
  Many visitors come for just a few hours on a day trip from Chengdu—but that’s a mistake. You need a full day to properly visit the Leshan Giant Buddha , see it from the river, and explore the nearby Oriental Buddha Park and Wuyou Temple hill. At a leisurely pace, it could easily take two days. You can also do a day trip to Emeishan from Leshan by public bus, but in my opinion, it's better to stay overnight there—perhaps in a monastery below the Golden Summit. So, for Leshan alone, you’ll need at least one night, preferably two. The city itself is quite sprawling, modern, and tidy, but it doesn't offer many attractions. The train station is a bit far from the center, but public transport is a good option to reach both the city center and the Leshan Giant Buddha. Below are the tourist basics. 
More »

Hiking to Damian Mountain and Xingping viewpoints near Yangshuo

Image
  On my last full day in Yangshuo, I went on another scooter trip—this time with the goal of climbing Damian Mountain, known for its iconic view of the mountains at a river bend. Across the river is Xingping, a village known for its “20 Yuan view”, and a ferry provides access. There is another great viewpoint. Further details and maps below. 
More »