Glacier Baba’ Temple Near Sacred Lake in Uttarakhand Demolished

At the time of the demolition, no one was present inside the ‘Glacier Baba’ temple.

Uttarakhand authorities have demolished an illegal structure built by self-proclaimed godman Baba Yogi Chaitanya Akash on the Sunderdhunga Glacier near the sacred Devi Kund pond. The unauthorized one-room building, located at an altitude of 16,500 feet, was removed by a team of police, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and forest personnel.

The operation, which took two days to navigate the difficult terrain, was completed on Saturday. Kapkot Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Anurag Arya clarified that the structure was not a temple, as some reports suggested, but a simple building constructed by Akash, who claimed he had divine instructions to build it. Arya added that Akash had a questionable past and had been expelled from several places, including Dwarahat, before settling at the glacier. No one was inside the structure when it was demolished.

The Sunderdhunga Glacier is part of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where any unauthorized construction is strictly forbidden. Local residents were outraged by Akash’s actions, particularly his frequent bathing in the culturally significant Devi Kund, a sacred pond used in the Nanda Raja Jaat Yatra festival, held every 12 years.

Concerns grew after locals reported his activities to authorities in July. Despite Akash’s claims of divine guidance, the region is ecologically sensitive, and his presence posed a threat to the environment. Efforts to demolish the structure were delayed by monsoon conditions, making the terrain hazardous. An earlier attempt to access the site in July was unsuccessful due to bad weather. With improved conditions, the demolition was finally carried out, sending a clear message about protecting sacred and environmentally sensitive areas in Uttarakhand.

Team Profile

Aryan GulatiFreelance Journalist

Aryan Gulati is a dedicated media student based in Meerut with a wealth of experience in various newspapers and media houses. He has numerous published articles and specializes in political and crime news writing, demonstrating a strong commitment to impactful journalism.