Surkanda Devi Temple, Uttarakhand
Amidst the natural splendour of Tehri Garhwal, Uttrakhand, the Surkanda Devi Temple is a tranquil holy place that is situated at an altitude of 2,757 metres. Apart from serenity and spirituality, this temple is adorned with a breath-taking view of snow-covered Himalayas and the verdant forest that lies between Chamba and Mussoorie. Every year, in the month of June, a local fair is held in here attracting pilgrims and tourists across the globe.
According to mythological beliefs, there are fifty-one pieces of Sati’s body. And the places are called Shakti Peethas. Every Shakti Peetha is dedicated to various goddesses. Surkanda Devi temple is one of the holy Shkati Peethas of India, where Sati mata’s head fell off. Due to this, the temple had been named as Sirkhanda (head fall) which afterwards had been named as Surkanda.
This temple is located in Tehri district. The nearest hill stations are Dhanaulti, which is 8 km away and Chamba, which is 22 km away. The place is surrounded by deep forests and enriched with a spellbinding view of Himalayan range. To reach the temple, one can trek 2 kilometres uphill from the nearest town Kaddukhal. Visitors can also hire cabs or share taxi from Mussoorie and reach the temple.
Timings
Surkanda Devi Temple open at 05:00 AM to 07:00 PM in Summer season and 07:00 AM to 05:00 PM in Winter Season