Uttarakhand: Tungnath, World's Highest Shiva Temple, Tilting by 6-10 Degrees; ASI Suggests Inclusion As Protected Monument

A study by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has found that the Tungnath temple, situated at an altitude of 12,800 feet in the Rudraprayag district of the Garhwal Himalayas, is tilting by five to six degrees while the smaller structures in the complex are tilting by 10 degrees.

Following the study, ASI officials have reportedly contacted the central government, recommending that the Tungnath shrine, the highest temple of Lord Shiva in the world, be added to the list of protected monuments.

The ASI has informed the central government of the discovery, suggesting that the shrine be added to the list of protected monuments.

As a result, the government has initiated the process of designating it as a national monument.

"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," an official was quoted by the Times of India as saying.

ASI will reportedly look for the root cause of the damage in case it can be repaired immediately.

Manoj Kumar Saxena, superintendent archaeologist of ASI's Dehradun circle, said they will initially identify the root cause of the damage in case it can be repaired immediately.

A detailed work program will follow after thorough inspection of the shrine, according to Saxena.

The ASI officials have not ruled out the possibility of subsidence which may have cause a shift in the temple's alignment. They will consult experts and replace the damaged foundation stone if needed. As an immediate measure, the agency has fixed glass scales - that can measure the movement - on the walls of the main temple.

Tungnath Mandir, built in the 8th century, is the world's highest Shiva temple and managed by the Badri Kedar Temple Committee (BKTC).

Saxena said that a letter has also been sent to BKTC, but no response has been received.

Ajendra Ajay, the president of BKTC, was quoted by ToI as saying that the matter was discussed in a recent board meeting, where all stakeholders rejected ASI's proposal about the temple.

"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," Ajay was quoted as saying.