Kartik Swami temple is located near Kanak Chauri village on Rudraprayag Pokhari route in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. A mild 3k trek from Kanak Chauri village takes you to the stunning beauty of Kartik Swami temple. Kartik Swami temple is dedicated to the elder son of Lord Shiva, Kartikeya, who offered his bones as testimony of his devotion to his father. It is believed that the incident took place here. Lord Kartik Swami is also known as Kartik Murugan Swami in the southern part of India. A constant sound from hundreds of bell hung in the temple can be heard at a distance of about 800 metres from there. A flight of 80 stairs from the main road leads you to the garbhagriha of the temple or the place where the idol is kept. Sandhya Aarti or evening prayers, enchantment of mantras and Maha-bhandara or grand feast organised at the temple occasionally is a special attraction for devotees and tourists.

According to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva (the destroyer) told his sons Ganesha and Kartikeya that one of them, who will be the first to take seven rounds of the universe will have the privilege of being worshiped first. Ganesha took seven rounds around Shiva and Parvati, while Kartikeya faithfully circled the universe. Impressed by Ganesha, Shiva gave him the honour of being worshipped before anyone. Angered by this, Kartikeya sacrificed his body and gave his bones to Lord Shiva as reverence.