23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
Silent Guardian of Swayambhunath

At Swayambhunath in Kathmandu, a young monkey paused on a ledge, framed by the serene gaze of the Buddha’s painted eyes. In the stillness of the temple grounds, animal life and spirituality blended into a single moment.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 02.2025
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Kathmandu, Nepal
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Copyright: © URSZULA KARGOL