Devotees come to Rudranath to offer ritual obeisance to their ancestors, for its is here, at Vaitarani river, that the souls of the dead cross when entering another world. The temple of Rudranath at 2,286 mts., entails trekking through ridges at almost twice that height before reaching the meadow where it I located. Within the sanctum, Shiva's image is worshipped in the form of his face.

The temple is surrounded by a number of pools - Surya Kund, Chandra Kund, Tara Kund, Manas Kund - while the great peaks of Nanda Devi, Trishul and Nanda Ghunti rear over head.