A golden spire crowning a conical wooded hill, Swayambhunath Stupa
is the most ancient and enigmatic of all the holy shrines in Kathmandu valley.
Swayambhunath's worshippers include Hindus,
Vajrayana Buddhists of northern Nepal and Tibet,
and the Newari Buddhists of central and southern Nepal.
Each morning before dawn, hundreds of pilgrims will ascend the 365 steps
that lead up the hill, file past the gilded Vajra (Tibetan: Dorje) and two lions guarding
the entrance, and begin a series of clockwise circumambulations of the stupa.

The steps to Swayambhunath Stupa (Buddhist relic mound). 10/14/2000

© COPYRIGHT NOTICE,  This photo is the property of Chris Gavin unless otherwise noted.
Enjoy them freely, but distribution and/or publication (in any form) requires written permission! All rights reserved.