Koteshwar Mahadev, Rudraprayag

Koteshwar Mahadev is a temple of Lord Shiva about 3 km from the centre of Rudraprayag in Uttarakhand, set a little above the Alaknanda River. It is believed to mark the place where Shiva paused to meditate on his way to Kedarnath.

Local mythology dates the temple to the time of Bhasmasura, a demon who could reduce to ashes anyone whose head he touched. Shiva is said to have hidden from him in several places before reaching the cave here, where he rested for a while and then faced and defeated the demon; Himachal Pradesh has similar stories at Shrikhand Mahadev and Kinner Kailash. A modern 60-bed hospital attached to the temple, run by a Shankaracharya charitable trust, serves the local community.