Swayambhu

Budget hostels near the Monkey Temple with local atmosphere and mountain views. You're isolated from tourist infrastructure and it gets very dark at night with poor lighting. Good for budget travelers who want local character and don't mind the 30-minute walk to Thamel.

The hilltop stupa known as the Monkey Temple sits above a residential neighborhood where hundreds of actual monkeys roam around the temples. The 365-step climb up gives you panoramic valley views on clear days. The area around the base is quieter and more local than Thamel - families going about their daily lives, a few budget hostels, small shops, local restaurants serving dal bhat, kids playing in narrow lanes. English is less common than tourist areas, though hostel staff speak it. The temple complex gets busy during the day with pilgrims, tourists, and aggressive monkeys that will grab anything loose - keep your bag zipped and don't make eye contact with them. The local feel and mountain views attract budget travelers who don't mind being 30 minutes walk or 10 minutes taxi from Thamel. It feels safe during the day with families around, but gets very dark and quiet after 8pm when people go inside. Street lighting is poor compared to central areas. Works if you want cheap accommodation with local character and can deal with being away from the tourist infrastructure.