Monkey Temple (Nepal)

It's commonly known as the Monkey Temple.
The formal, or official, name is Swayambhu.

Heaven help me, I'm going to quote Wikipedia here. It was the one place that I could easily find an explanation as to why monkeys are at this Buddhist Temple.

"Swayambhunath is also known as the Monkey Temple as there are holy monkeys living in the north-west parts of the temple. They are holy because Manjushree, the bodhisattva of wisdom and learning, was raising the hill which the Swayambhunath Temple stands on. He was supposed to leave his hair short but he made it grow long and head lice grew. It is said that the head live transformed into these monkeys." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swayambhunath) 

There are many monkeys. Not sure of the count, but they are abundant. And they seem to just mind their own business.

Not sure if the offering of rice is supposed to be be left alone for whichever god, or if it's just a bonus to make an offering to a god and the monkeys enjoy them afterward.

Photos of the temple itself ...

There are a couple of ways in to the temple area. The hotel's driver (name = Seta) dropped us off at the top.  Then we came down these steps ... I think he said there were something like 357 steps. I'll have to review my guidebook ...

Statues ...

A request to not sit on the statue for photos.

What I wish I had learned more about is the "Swoyambhu East Stair Family" -- who they are, and how they came to be keepers of these particular stairs.

And views of Kathmandu from this temple's hill: