The complex consists of a stupa, a variety of shrines and temples, some dating back to the Licchavi period.

Tsultrim Allione describes the experience:We were breathless and sweating as we stumbled up the last steep steps and practically fell upon the biggest vajra (thunderbolt scepter) that I have ever seen.

Behind this Vajra was the vast, round, white dome of the stupa, like a full solid skirt, at the top of which were two giant Buddha eyes wisely looking out over the peaceful valley which was just beginning to come alive.

He was supposed to leave his hair short, but he made it grow long and head lice grew.

Seeing that the valley could be a good settlement, and to make the site more accessible to human pilgrims, he cut a gorge at Chovar.

This seems to be confirmed by a damaged stone inscription found at the site, which indicates that King Vrsadeva ordered work done in 640 CE.

[3] However, Emperor Ashoka is said to have visited the site in the third century BCE and built a temple on the hill which was later destroyed.

In the 15th century, the Indian Buddhist monk and abbot of Bodh Gaya, Śāriputra led the recontruction of the stupa which was noted to be in a bad condition at the time.

Numerous Hindu monarch followers are known to have paid their homage to the temple, including Pratap Malla, the powerful king of Kathmandu, who is responsible for the construction of the eastern stairway in the seventeenth century.

[8] At around 5 a.m. on 14 February 2011, Pratapur Temple in the Swayambhu Monument Zone suffered damage from a lightning strike during a sudden thunderstorm.

[10] The stupa consists of a dome at the base, on top of which is a cube structure, painted with eyes of Buddha looking in all four directions.

This sign represents the unity of all things existing in the world as well as the only path to enlightenment through the teachings of Buddha.

Each morning before dawn hundreds of Buddhist (Vajrayana) and Hindu pilgrims ascend the steps from the eastern side that lead up the hill, passing the gilded Vajra (Tibetan: Dorje) and two lions guarding the entrance, and begin a series of clockwise circumambulations of the stupa.