Postcards from Nepal: The Monkey Temple

Tourists visit religious complex in Kathmandu Valley for religious reasons.

The Monkey Temple in Nepal, which evokes images of animals in one’s mind, is actually an ancient temple surrounded by hundreds of monkeys. This religious complex stands atop a hill in the Kathmandu Valley, west of Kathmandu city.

The Tibetan name for the site means Sublime Trees, due to the many varieties of trees found on the hill.

Over a dozen pinnacles on the top symbolize the various stages that sentient beings have to go through to reach enlightenment or Buddhahood.

The scenic temple is surrounded with beautiful trees and well-maintained residential houses. Several stalls selling jewelry, gems and other artifacts have been set up outside.

Emirates, who has been running his shop at the same spot for over a decade, boasts that he has met tourists from almost every country.

“I knew Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan who usually visited this place,” he said.  Several tourists from across the world including the United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, India, Germany and other European countries visit the temple every year.

Tiwary, a tourist from India told The Express Tribune that his love for Buddhism had bought him to the temple.

“I did not come here to just capture photos. I found peace here,” he said. However, as winter starts creeping in and the number of tourists begins to decline, another vendor Santosh complains about the slow business. He said that he earned Rs 5,000-6,000 a day, which was not sufficient for his family.

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