04 · CAVE TEMPLE
Halesi Mahadev ~ The Pashupatinath of the East
Halesi Mahadev in Khotang district is one of Nepal's most sacred Shiva temples. Set inside a natural cave, the temple is revered equally by Hindus and Buddhists.
Buddhists know it as Maratika, the cave where the great master Padmasambhava is said to have attained immortality.
Hindus revere it as one of Nepal's most powerful Shiva sites, equivalent in spiritual significance to Pashupatinath. The cave temple requires a torch to navigate - adding to its mysterious atmosphere.