Khotang District

Khotang District is a part of Sagarmatha Zone in eastern part of Nepal, is one of the seventy-five districts of Nepal. The district, with Diktel as its district headquarters, covers an area of 1,591 km². Khotang is part of the area traditionally called Majh Kirat/Kirant (middle Kirat), home to indigenous ethnic Kirat Rai people. Apart from Rais, other ethnic groups and hill castes live in Khotang.

Khotang district is not only rich in nature and cultural heritage but also has significant religious values in the lives of people living in Nepal. Apart from being in a hill region, there are also certain difficulties of transportation on the way to Khotang, however, that does not affect the high religious importance the place holds. There are various temples and religious sites in Khotang district. Halesi Mahadev is one of the most famous religious place in Khotang district.

Halesi Mahadev

The sacred cave that houses the two feet tall Shiva Linga is one of the popular and most important religious destination not only in Khotang but also in Nepal. The cave popular by the name of Halesi Mahadev has two pillars to the north side of the Shiva Linga that stands very close to each other making a narrow pass. It is believed that the sinners cannot pass through this narrow passage and only a confession from them shall grant them a passage through. Every year, thousands of devotees come here to worship the lord with a belief that he could give knowledge, wisdom to the children and prosperity to the poor.