Located at 12,000ft high in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarkhand, India, the Tungnath temple is the world’s highest pilgrimage dedicated to God Shiva. The temple’s origin is said to date back more than 1000 years and is second in the pecking order of the Panch Kedars. Built of solid granite slabs, the Tungnath temple resembles the ancient temple of Bageshwar and Jageshwar.

The priest who officiates in this temple is a local Brahmin from Maku village, unlike the other Kedar temples where the priests are predominantly from South India, a tradition set by the eighth century Hindu seer Sankaracharya.

The architectural design of the temple is very similar to the architecture of Guptakashi, Madhyamaheshwar and Kedarnath temple. The temples within the enclosure are made of stones with decorations painted on the outside. The highest dome has a wooden stage at the top, which is also said to have sixteen openings. At the entrance to the temple, a Nandi stone image faces the sanctum where the Shiva’s idol is deified. At the right side of the temple entrance the mandatory image of Ganesha can be witnessed. In the main sanctum, Ashtadhatu (made of eight metals) idols of sage Vyas and Kala Bhairav (demi-god), disciples of Shiva, are also installed in the sanctum sanctorum. The temple also houses the images of the Pandavas and silver plaques of other four Kedar shrines.

The temple is quite petite and is constructed in the North Indian style. The size of the temple is so small that it can hardly occupy ten devotees in the sanctum at a single point of time. The temple is opened to the public only after the winter snow melts in the month of June. It remains open until late October when the heavy snowfall acts as a hurdle to all pilgrims. During this phase, the deity is moved ceremoniously to Ukhimath, thousands feet below.

The Tungnath temple offers something to every one, be it a ardent devotee or a nature lover or adventurous lots. A mountain in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, Tungnath is an enchanting location where the nature is fabulously adorned with pictorial vistas.

Along with its profound divinity, Tungnath is all set to fascinate the visitors with its fascinating and idyllic surroundings. A delightful haven for trekkers, this place unravels the unparalleled beauty of the Gharwal countryside. One would be exhilarated with the exciting scenery of a gushing cascade, which looks as if it were come down directly from the heaven.

To know more about the famous Tungnath Temple, view the video below.