Swayambhunath stupa of Kathmandu
The Swayambhunath stupa is one of the most recognizable symbols of Nepal, which is why I chose to feature a silhouette of it on the cover of my debut novel, Down and Out in Kathmandu: A Backpacker Mystery It is part of a large temple complex perched on a sliver of land rising high above the Kathmandu Valley floor, collectively known as the ‘Monkey Temple’ thanks to the colony of well-fed primates which reside there. The central stupa is topped by a gold-colored…