Deep in the green hills of Khotang in eastern Nepal, a great limestone cave has drawn pilgrims for centuries. Halesi Mahadev, often called the “Pashupatinath of the East”, is sacred to three faiths: Hindus believe Lord Shiva hid here from the demon Bhasmasur; Buddhists revere it as Maratika, where Guru Padmasambhava and his consort Mandarava attained the blessing of long life; and the Kirant Rai people honour it as an ancestral shrine. Our 2 Days Halesi Tour Package (1 night / 2 days) takes you there and back from Kathmandu by reserved Scorpio or jeep, with breakfast, dinner, two lunches on the road and a welcome drink included.
The journey itself is beautiful. Leaving Kathmandu at dawn, you pass Dhulikhel and join the BP Highway, which winds along the Roshi and Sunkoshi rivers through terraced hills, orange orchards and small bazaars such as Nepalthok, Khurkot and Ghurmi, before climbing via Jayaram Ghat into Khotang. You reach Halesi in the evening – about 222 km and seven hours from the capital – in time to rest or join the evening worship.
Early next morning you enter the main cave for darshan at the natural Shiva shrine, walking past dripping rock formations, small altars and the openings that let shafts of light into the cavern. Visit the Tibetan Maratika Monastery and the nearby caves before breakfast, and if you like, hike to the natural Rock Garden for views of the hills and mountains. Then it is back along the BP Highway to Kathmandu, with lunch on the way.
Why choose this tour?
- A complete Halesi pilgrimage in two days by private jeep.
- Breakfast, dinner, two lunches and a welcome drink included; campfire for larger groups.
- Scenic BP Highway drive through the Sunkoshi valley.
Who is it for?
Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims, families and groups. The grade is easy, but both days involve 7–8 hours of driving on winding hill roads. Inside the caves the paths are uneven and slippery in places.
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