It is surrounded by dense forests and affords a scenic view of the surrounding region including the Himalayas to the north, and certain cities to the south (e.g., Dehradun, Rishikesh) The Ganga Dusshera festival is celebrated every year between May and June and attracts a lot of people.

One of the most persistent history concerning the origin of worship at the site is associated with the legend of Sati, who was the wife of the ascetic god Shiva and daughter of the Puranic god-king Daksha.

Daksha was unhappy with his daughter's choice of husband, and when he performed a grand Vedic sacrifice for all the deities, he did not invite Shiva or Sati.

Despite the similarity in name, scholars do not generally believe that this legend gave rise to the practice of sati, or widow burning.

When Shiva was passing over this place on his way back to Kailash carrying Sati's body, her head fell at the spot where the modern temple of Sarkunda Devi or Surkhanda Devi stands and due to which the temple's got its name as sirkhanda which in the passage of time is now called sarkunda.

The Surkanda Devi Temple opens at 5:00 AM early in the morning and closes at 10:00 PM.