World's highest Shiva temple, Tungnath, tilting by five-six degrees, says ASI

In a recent study conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the government body found that Rudraprayag's Tungnath temple has been tilting into the ground slightly.

The ASI report says that the temple is tilting by around five to six degrees and the smaller structures within the complex are tilting by 10 degrees

Located at an altitude of 12,800 feet in the Garhwal Himalayas, the temple is the world's highest Shiva shrine.


ASI officials told TOI that they have apprised the central government about the findings and suggested that the shrine be included as a protected monument.

"Following this," an ASI official told TOI on Tuesday, "the government has started the process of declaring it as a monument of national importance and issued a notification seeking objections from the public as a matter of procedure".

The report says ASI will find the root cause of the damage in case it can be repaired immediately.

"First, we will find the root cause of the damage in case it can be repaired immediately. Besides, a detailed work programme will be prepared after a thorough inspection of the shrine," said Manoj Kumar Saxena, superintending archaeologist of ASI's Dehradun circle.


Officials at the archaeology body have not ruled out the possibility of subsidence, which might cause the temple to tilt further.

If the damaged foundation stone needs to be replaced, the body will consult with experts. For now, the agency has fixed glass scales - that can measure the movement - on the walls of the main temple.

The temple is under the administration of the Badri Kedar Temple Committee (BKTC).

"A letter has also been sent to BKTC in this regard. However, we are yet to receive a response," Saxena said.

"The matter was recently discussed in a board meeting where all the stakeholders rejected ASI's proposition. We are ready to take their assistance in restoring the temple to its original form but without handing it over to them. We will inform them about our decision soon," BKTC president Ajendra Ajay told TOI,