Halesi Maratika Helicopter Tour

The Halesi Maratika Helicopter Tour is designed for five people to go by helicopter. It is about a 3 hours trip to and from as well as touring the caves. This is ideal because it is a fast way to visit this remote location.

To the east of Kathmandu is a beautiful place that is sacred to Buddhist and Hindu people. Here in eastern Nepal, we discover the place where the Dudh Khola meets the Sun Koshi River and is located in the three sacred caves representing the three eyes of the Hindu god Shiva. The Buddhists call these caves Maratika and believe that Padma Sam bhava (the founder of Tibetan Buddhism) and his wife Mandarava freed themselves from the circle of life and became immortal. This was the cave where they achieved full enlightenment.

The cave is also the place where Shiva encountered the demon Bhasmasura. He ran into this cave (which the Hindus call Haleshi) to take shelter from Bhasmasur. Shiva had given a boon to Bhasmasur that when this demon placed his hand on the head of someone or something, they would die. Vishnu then tricked Bhasmasur to put his own hand on his own head, which was the demon’s end.

Inside of the cave, you can see the place where Shiva escaped through the hole in the ceiling. You can also see Shiva’s footprint along with the intestines of Bhasmasur on the ceiling. There is also a natural linga formed by a stalagmite inside of the cave.