Tungnath: The Mysterious Gem of the Himalayas Waiting to Be Discovered
Tungnath is a place high and hidden deep in the Garhwal Himalayas, cloud covered and shrouded in legends and myth. Tungnath is one of India’s most enchanting and mysterious travel destinations often overshadowed by more commercial destinations. The claim of Tungnath to fame reaches a little further than merely a trek, as it is said to be the highest Shiva temple in the world and also a door to deeper Himalayan mysteries. A Temple in the Clouds Rising to an altitude of 3,680 meters (12,073 feet) above sea level in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, Tungnath is perched. This is part of the Panch Kedar — God of Lord Shiva often referred to as the five sacred shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva. Although it is high, what makes Tungnath such an exceptional site is also its mystery, embedded in its stone tales and terrain. According to legend, the temple is more than 1,000 years old. In lore, the Pandavas went to penance upon Lord Shiva seeking after the Kurukshetra war. They avoided...