Nestled in the picturesque snow-clad mountains at an altitude of over 12000 feet, historical Tungnath temple in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag’s district may soon get the tag of “national importance” with the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) issuing a draft notification inviting suggestions and objections to its plans to bring it under its ambit.

One of the most holy sites for Hindu pilgrims, the doors of the third Kedar Lord Tungnath will open for devotees on April 26. It is said to be the highest Shiva temple among the five “Panch Kedar” temples and is believed to have belonged to an ancient era and is almost 1000-years-old.

The ASI under the Union Culture Ministry had issued the draft notification last month.

 “Any objection or suggestions, to the declaration of the said ancient monument to be of national importance, may be made within a period of two months from the date of issue of this notification, by any interested person in the said ancient monument, to the Director General, Archaeological Survey of India….” “The objections or suggestions, if any, received from any person with respect to the said draft notification within the period so specified shall be taken into consideration by the Central Government,” says the notification signed by the ASI Director-General V Vidyavathi. The ASI’s move followed after the Dehradun circle of the ASI sought approval from the Centre to declare it as a national monument and start work on its conservation. It is also referred to as “Tritiya Kedar”, since it is part of the “Panch Kedar” cluster of Shiva temples spread across the Garhwal Himalayas.

The foundation of this temple was laid down by Arjuna who was the third of the Pandava brothers.

It was built in the North Indian style of architecture and has a dozen shrines of other Gods surrounding the temple.

There are numerous tales associated with the place, including the one when Lord Ram carried out meditation to get himself released from the curse of Brahmahatya for killing Ravana. The distinguishing feature of this exquisite beauty is its location amidst beautiful mountain ranges and religious importance which has been attracting millions of Hindu pilgrims from around the world.

According to one of the mythological legends associated with the history of Tungnath Temple, after the Mahabharata war, the Pandavas reached the Himalayas in search of Lord Shiva to repent for killing their brothers and relatives. Lord Shiva did not want to appear to the Pandavas, so he took the form of a buffalo.

But the Pandavas recognized Lord Shiva, on which the Lord disappeared into the ground at Guptkashi, but the Pandavas did not give up the chase and the arms of Lord Shiva appeared in Tungnath in the form of a buffalo, since then the arms of the Lord are worshiped here.