Surkanda Devi Temple is one of the 51 Shakti Peeths and is dedicated to Devi Surkanda - a manifestation of the divine feminine. Located at a height of ~9000 ft in the Saklana Range - Uttarakhand, the temple is a site of scenic beauty and mysticism.

Ankit Chauhan | born_to_travel | Travel Partner

As per legend the origins of the temple is associated to Devi Sati who immolated herself at her father Daksha`s grand sacrifice ritual who insulted Shiva by not inviting the divine couple to the Yajna.

cc: @Sanjay_Dixit

Enraged with Grief, Shiva wandered all over with the corpse of Devi Sati and performed the cosmic dance of destruction - The Tandav. Fearing impending destructin, the other gods request Bhagwan Vishnu to intervene. He used the Surdarshan Chakra to destroy the corpse of Devi Sati

Post this, parts of Devi Sati`s body fell until Bhagwan Shiva was left without a body to carry. After this Shiva started the Mahatapasya (great penance).

Surkanda Devi is the site where Devi Sati`s head is believed to have fallen.