Most visitors see only the top of Swayambhu, but the life of the hill also runs around its base. We start at Amideva Buddha Park on the western side, just off the ring road, where three golden statues of about 20 m stand side by side: Amitabha, the Buddha of Infinite Light, known here as Amideva, in the centre, with Shakyamuni Buddha on one side and Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion, on the other. Painted reliefs and smaller images line the walls around them.
From the park we join the circuit around the hill, the path that Newar and Tibetan Buddhists walk clockwise at dawn and dusk, often with prayer beads in hand. It passes long rows of prayer wheels, whitewashed chortens, stone carvings and small courtyards, and gives glimpses up the wooded slope to the stupa above. Your guide explains the five Buddhas of the Vajrayana tradition, their colours and gestures, and why you see them repeated all over the hill.
The walk covers a little over 2 km on mostly flat paths and paving, and suits seniors and young children. It takes about 1.5 hours with stops, and the park is free to enter, though donations at the shrines are welcome. Many guests add it before or after a visit to the stupa itself, using the western entrance to climb the short stair to the top, so the whole morning stays on foot.
Good for
- Families
- Seniors
- Photographers
- Pilgrims
- First-timers
Questions travellers ask
Where is Amideva Buddha Park?
Amideva Buddha Park lies at the western foot of the Swayambhunath hill, beside the ring road, about 10 minutes' walk from the western entrance to the stupa. It is roughly 3.5 km from Thamel, around 15 to 20 minutes by car. Many visitors combine it with the stupa on the same morning.
Is there an entry fee for Amideva Buddha Park?
No ticket has been charged for the park itself, and it is open to everyone, though donations at the shrines are welcome. The main Swayambhunath entry fee applies only when you go up to the stupa platform. Rules can change, so check current status before you travel.
Who are the three Buddhas at Amideva Buddha Park?
The central statue is Amitabha, the Buddha of Infinite Light, called Amideva in Nepal. On either side stand Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha born at Lumbini in Nepal, and Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion who is especially loved by Tibetan Buddhists. Your guide explains the gestures and symbols of each statue.
