Haleshi

The Halesi-Maratika Caves, also known as the Haleshi Mahadev Temple, are situated near the village of Mahadevasthan in the Khotang District of eastern Nepal. Positioned at an elevation ranging from 3,100 to 4,734 feet above sea level, these caves are approximately 185 kilometers southwest of Mount Everest. This sacred site holds significance for Hindus, Buddhists, and the Kirat community. The temple is revered as a pilgrimage destination by Hindus, particularly those who associate it with Mahadeva, a form of Shiva. Simultaneously, Buddhists consider the caves sacred in connection with the legend of Padmasambhava. The Kirati Rai community in the region also holds Halesi in high regard, worshiping it as an ancestral deity. According to the Kirat mundhum, their oral tradition, their ancestor Raechhakule (Khokchilipa), also known as Hetchhakuppa, resided inside the Halesi cave in ancient times, establishing it as their ancestral place.