हलेसी मारतिका गुफा
A limestone cave temple in Khotang held sacred by Hindus as Halesi Mahadev, by Buddhists as Maratika, and by the Kirat Rai as an ancestral place.
The Halesi-Maratika caves lie beside the village of Mahadevsthan in Halesi Tuwachung Municipality, in the hills of Khotang district between the Dudh Kosi and Sun Kosi rivers. The main cave is a large, roughly round chamber with a half-moon-shaped entrance facing east, and further caves lie beneath and around it. It is one of the few places in Nepal that three religious traditions treat as sacred at once, which is what makes a visit here distinctive.
For Hindus it is Halesi Mahadev, a shrine to Shiva sometimes called the Pashupatinath of the east, and it draws large crowds of pilgrims at Maha Shivaratri and Bala Chaturdashi. For Tibetan Buddhists it is Maratika, the cave of long life, and pilgrims come from across the Himalaya and beyond; a monastery stands near the caves. For the Kirat Rai of the surrounding hills it is an ancestral place connected with their oral tradition.
The site is now reachable by road, although the journey from Kathmandu is long. Visitors usually spend a night in the village, explore the cave complex with a local guide or caretaker, and continue to other hill towns of Khotang or towards the Dudh Kosi valley.
Hindu legend tells that Shiva hid in the cave while fleeing the demon Bhasmasur. Tibetan Buddhist tradition holds that Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) and his consort Mandarava practised here and attained a deathless state through long-life practice, an account recorded in his 12th-century terma biography; both are legends, not historical records. The Kirat Mundhum, the Rai oral tradition, links the cave with the ancestor figure Raichhakule, and local stories say a Rai hunter discovered it while searching for his dog.
Early worship at Halesi was led by Kirati priests. In 1804 (1861 BS) King Girvan Yuddha Bikram Shah granted land to a Hindu priest from Ramechhap, after which Shaiva worship became formally established. Today Hindu, Buddhist and Kirat practices continue side by side, and visitors should follow the customs of whichever shrine they are at.
Explore the cave complex
Walk through the main cave and the smaller caves around it; some passages are narrow and slippery, so take a torch.
Visit the monastery
The Buddhist monastery near the caves receives pilgrims practising long-life rituals; visitors are welcome if respectful.
Attend a festival
Maha Shivaratri (February or March) and Bala Chaturdashi (November or December) bring large fairs; expect crowds and full accommodation.
Forecast for 1,346 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Feb-Apr, Oct-Nov
Simple hotels and guesthouses in Halesi village serve pilgrims; some Buddhist pilgrims stay at monastery guest rooms. Book ahead at festival times.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Halesi is reached by road from Kathmandu, a long day or more, or from the eastern Terai. Small airstrips in Khotang have limited flights.
Nearest hub: Kathmandu (by road)
None needed
No trekking permit is needed. Temple donations and possibly a small local entry or guide charge may be asked; check locally.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against Halesi-Maratika Caves, Wikipedia.
A ridge walk of about 10 to 13 days through the Kirat Rai hills of Khotang and Bhojpur in eastern Nepal, past the sacred Salpa Pokhari lake to Silichung (about 4,150 m), with homestays and mountain views.
By bus or jeep via the BP Highway, Sindhuli and Ghurmi, a long journey of about 10-14 hours.
Hindus worship Shiva here as Halesi Mahadev, while Buddhists know it as Maratika, where Padmasambhava and Mandarava are said to have attained long life. The Kirat Rai also regard it as an ancestral place.
October to April is dry. Maha Shivaratri and Bala Chaturdashi bring large festivals; avoid the monsoon months.
No trekking permit is needed; donations are expected at the shrines.
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