Indian authorities have issued a safety warning to travelers wanting to visit the world’s tallest Shiva temple after the monsoon season made the site unsafe.

The Tungnath Temple, located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand in northern India, has been structurally damaged by extensive exposure to water accelerated by monsoons across the country, according to The Economic Times. The damage includes a weakened foundation and unstable walls.

Located at an altitude of 3,680 meters, the temple is a popular destination for tourists and Hindus as it is the highest temple in the world dedicated to Shiva. Like many other temples of its kind, the Tungnath Temple is built mainly of slates and slabs. Shiva is a prominent deity in the Hindu faith, and the temple’s name means ‘lord of the peaks’.

However, the Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee warned travelers that the area was becoming unsafe, committee head Ajendra Ajay said in a statement shared with The Economic Times: “The temple is facing serious problems such as subsidence, weakening foundation and shifting wall slates, which have caused water leakage, especially during the rainy season.”

According to The Economic TimesThe committee also said that they had contacted the Geological Survey of India and the Central Building Research Institute for support in the restoration of the temple in September.

Uttarakhand Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj also responded to the warning and said, “Considering the water leakage and structural issues of the temple, the government is prioritizing its repairs to ensure that the structure remains safe for all visitors.

Newsweek contacted Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee for further information.

The monsoon season in India normally lasts from June to September. According to the Climate Prediction Center, the country receives 90 percent of its annual rainfall within this period. Due to the high altitude of the Tungnath Temple, it is more exposed to the elements than other religious sites.

Some reports have indicated that the monsoon season in India is worsening due to erratic weather activity caused by climate change. In 2021, The Economist reported that rainfall in the country could increase by 5.5 percent.

Shiva is central to a sect of Hinduism called Shaivism, which is considered one of the religion’s largest denominations. Shiva is depicted as having control over life and death, as one of the three most important gods in Hinduism, along with Brahma and Vishnu. Shiva is worshiped in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

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