Haleshwar Sthan
Shiva (Haleshwarnath) temple · Fatehpur Girmishani, near Sitamarhi, Sitamarhi, Bihar, India
Haleshwar Sthan is a temple of Shiva, worshipped here as Haleshwarnath, about 3 km north-west of Sitamarhi town in Bihar (Sitamarhi District Administration; Bihar Tourism). ETV Bharat places it in Fatehpur Girmishani village and also records the names Haleshwar Mahadev and Haleshwar Mahakaleshwar Mahadev (ETV Bharat).
The shrine is tied by local tradition to King Janak of Mithila and to the story of Sita's birth at nearby Punaura Dham, and it is listed among the Ramayana circuit sites promoted by the Bihar tourism department (Bihar Tourism; ETV Bharat). It is named alongside Punaura Dham and the Janaki temple as one of the religious sites that draw visitors to Sitamarhi district (Aaj Tak).
Faith & Tradition
Religious Significance of Haleshwar Sthan
According to tradition, King Videha founded a Shiva temple at this spot on the occasion of a Putra Yeshti Yajna, a rite performed for the birth of a child, and the shrine took the name Haleshwarnath (Sitamarhi District Administration; Bihar Tourism). The stone Shivling in the sanctum is believed by devotees to be the original image through which the king invoked Shiva (Sitamarhi District Administration).
Local accounts reported by ETV Bharat link the temple more directly with Sita: during a long drought in Mithila, King Janak is said to have worshipped Shiva and performed a yajna here, then ploughed the land, and according to folk belief the plough's tip struck the ground at Punaura Dham, where Sita appeared (ETV Bharat). These are matters of faith and tradition rather than historical record.
Devotees pour water on the Shivling, carrying it from the Bagmati river or from the tank at Punaura Dham, and a straight road connects the two shrines (Sitamarhi District Administration; Bihar Tourism). Many pilgrims perform jalabhishek at Haleshwarnath and then go on to Punaura Dham for darshan of Sita (ETV Bharat).
Heritage
History of Haleshwar Sthan
The site is described as very ancient, but no dated historical record of its founding is given; the official accounts present its origin as myth (Sitamarhi District Administration; Bihar Tourism). The present temple building is a recent structure, with a large open ground around it set aside for future development (Sitamarhi District Administration; Bihar Tourism).
ETV Bharat reported in 2024 that a former district magistrate of Sitamarhi, Arun Bhushan Prasad, had the temple built after he believed a wish made at the shrine was fulfilled (ETV Bharat). The same report noted local complaints about a lack of basic facilities and demands for renovation and beautification of the site (ETV Bharat).
Architecture and sacred features
The sanctum holds a stone Shivling, and the present temple stands within a wide open compound that also has space for visiting devotees to stay (Sitamarhi District Administration; Bihar Tourism).
Plan Your Visit
Darshan and Visitor Information
Crowds are heaviest on Mondays of the month of Sawan and at Mahashivratri, when kanwariyas bring water for abhishek and pilgrims arrive from several states and from Nepal (ETV Bharat; Bihar Tourism). Confirm current darshan arrangements with the Haleshwar Sthan Trust or the Sitamarhi district administration before visiting.
Timings and arrangements change with seasons and festivals. Confirm current details with Haleshwar Sthan Trust (as reported by ETV Bharat) before travelling. Last reviewed 11 October 2026.
Sacred Calendar
Festivals at Haleshwar Sthan
Mahashivratri
The temple draws large numbers of devotees for prayers and rituals at Mahashivratri (Bihar Tourism; ETV Bharat).
Shravan (Sawan) Mondays
Kanwariyas and other pilgrims crowd the temple on Sawan Mondays to offer water to Haleshwarnath, many continuing to Punaura Dham afterwards (ETV Bharat).
Location
How to Reach Haleshwar Sthan
The district administration lists Sitamarhi railway station and Sitamarhi bus stand as each about 3 km from the temple, and Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Airport in Patna as the nearest airport, about 180 km away (Sitamarhi District Administration). Auto-rickshaws and buses run to the temple from Sitamarhi town (Bihar Tourism).
A straight road links Haleshwar Sthan with the Punaura Dham temple, so the two are often visited together (Sitamarhi District Administration; ETV Bharat). Confirm current road and transport arrangements with the Sitamarhi district administration before travelling.
Location: Fatehpur Girmishani, near Sitamarhi, Sitamarhi, Bihar, India
Nearest airport: Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Airport, Patna (about 180 km, per district administration)
Nearest railway station: Sitamarhi (about 3 km, per district administration)
More in Hindu temples in Bihar · Shiva (Haleshwarnath) temples
Questions
Haleshwar Sthan: Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Haleshwar Sthan?
It is about 3 km north-west of Sitamarhi town in Bihar (Sitamarhi District Administration). ETV Bharat places it in Fatehpur Girmishani village (ETV Bharat).
Which deity is worshipped at Haleshwar Sthan?
The temple is dedicated to Shiva, worshipped as Haleshwarnath in a stone Shivling (Sitamarhi District Administration; Bihar Tourism).
What legend is associated with the temple?
According to tradition, King Videha founded a Shiva temple here during a Putra Yeshti Yajna (Sitamarhi District Administration). Local accounts also say King Janak performed a yajna and ploughed the land here, and that the plough led to Sita's appearance at Punaura Dham (ETV Bharat).
Is the present temple building ancient?
No. The site is described as very ancient, but the current temple is a recent structure (Sitamarhi District Administration; Bihar Tourism).
How is Haleshwar Sthan connected with Punaura Dham?
A straight road links the two, and devotees carry water from the Punaura Dham tank or the Bagmati river to offer at Haleshwar Sthan (Sitamarhi District Administration). Many pilgrims visit both shrines on the same trip (ETV Bharat).
When is the temple most crowded?
Crowds peak on Sawan Mondays and at Mahashivratri (ETV Bharat; Bihar Tourism).
How do I reach Haleshwar Sthan?
Sitamarhi railway station and bus stand are each about 3 km away, and the nearest airport is in Patna, about 180 km away (Sitamarhi District Administration). Auto-rickshaws and buses run from Sitamarhi (Bihar Tourism).
Sources and attribution
- © OpenStreetMap contributors — location data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
- Wikidata Q105200658 — structured data (CC0)
- Wikipedia — Haleshwar Sthan — text facts from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sitamarhi District Administration (Government of Bihar) — Haleshwar Sthan
- Sitamarhi District Administration (Government of Bihar) — Tourism, Sitamarhi district
- Bihar Tourism (Department of Tourism, Government of Bihar) — Haleshwar Sthan
- Bihar Tourism (Department of Tourism, Government of Bihar) — Ramayan Circuit
- ETV Bharat — Duniya bhar mein prasiddh hai Sitamarhi ka Haleshwar Sthan, lekin upeksha ka shikar (Baba Haleshwar Nath Mandir)
- ETV Bharat — Sawan ki somvari par Haleshwarnath Dham mein umda aastha ka sailab
- Aaj Tak — Exploring Bihar beyond elections: history and travel spots
Further reading: Haleshwar Sthan on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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Pilgrim Circuit