Chichim Shrine

Key takeaways

• Chichim Shrine is located inside the Ancient Prison Ruins beneath the Gerudo Desert.
• Its approximate shrine coordinates are −3211, −3007, −0049 Published map references vary slightly by a few coordinate units.
• The surface entrance is a quicksand pool in the Palu Wasteland, around −3114, −3074, 0015.
• The shrine has no interior puzzle The Ancient Prison Ruins function as the approach challenge.
• The shrine chest contains a Mighty Zonaite Spear.
• The main route uses Ultrahand, Ascend, crouching and several levers or switches.
• Gibdos occupy parts of the ruins, but the route can generally be completed without defeating every enemy.

About this guide

Overview

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, base game

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, base game

Introduction

Chichim Shrine is a hidden Shrine of Light beneath the Gerudo Desert. Unlike most shrines, it is not visible on the surface and does not present a conventional puzzle trial once entered. The real challenge is reaching it through the Ancient Prison Ruins, a dark underground complex filled with switches, blocked passages, unstable floors and Gibdos.

The shrine itself is a Rauru’s Blessing trial. After navigating the ruins and opening the final concealed passage, Link can immediately collect the shrine chest and claim a Light of Blessing.

Gerudo Desert

Chichim Shrine belongs to the wider Gerudo Desert area rather than Gerudo Town itself. The desert contains several distinct settlements, ruins, caves, shrines and underground spaces. Chichim Shrine should not be treated as part of Gerudo Town, Kara Kara Bazaar or the Gerudo Canyon Skyview Tower, although all three are useful regional reference points.

The shrine’s surface position is in the eastern part of the desert, near the Palu Wasteland. It is east of Gerudo Town and can also be approached from the direction of Gerudo Canyon Skyview Tower. The surrounding desert is the navigation area, not part of the shrine interior.

Palu Wasteland

The important surface landmark is the quicksand pool in the Palu Wasteland. This is the actual entrance route to the Ancient Prison Ruins. Searching for a glowing shrine structure on the surface will not work because Chichim Shrine is underground.

The quicksand entrance is reported at approximately −3114, −3074, 0015, while the shrine itself lies much lower, at approximately −3211, −3007, −0049. The small differences between published coordinates reflect map-marker placement and measurement rather than separate locations.

Ancient Prison Ruins

The Ancient Prison Ruins are the immediate dungeon-like approach area. They contain the route’s gates, levers, statue landmarks, crawl spaces, crumbling floors and concealed switch. They are separate from the shrine chamber, but the two locations are functionally linked for the purpose of this shrine.

The ruins are the most substantial part of the encounter. Once the hidden entrance is opened, the actual shrine is short and contains only the reward chest and altar.

Verified named locations within the guide’s scope

• Gerudo Desert
• Chichim Shrine
• Gerudo Canyon Skyview Tower
• Gerudo Town
• Mihcihc Lightroot

Recommended preparation

No special quest, sage ability or equipment is required to enter the Ancient Prison Ruins. The route is easier if you have:

If the Gerudo Desert sandstorm is still active, navigation is more difficult because visibility and map information are impaired. The ruins can still be reached, but clearing the relevant Gerudo story progression first makes the surface approach more comfortable. This is a convenience recommendation rather than a confirmed entry requirement.

About this guide

Route from the surface

The quicksand is not merely a hazard to avoid. It is the intended entrance.

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Route from the surface: steps

1. 01
   Travel into the Gerudo Desert and head towards the Palu Wasteland.
2. 02
   Locate the quicksand pool near the shrine’s surface position.
3. 03
   Step or jump into the quicksand.
4. 04
   Allow it to carry Link down into the Ancient Prison Ruins.
5. 05
   Light the area if necessary and proceed towards the first lever.

1. Open the first gate

After landing underground, move towards the torches and the first visible control. Use Ultrahand to move the lever or switch and open the gate.

The mechanism may not look like a conventional button. Look for the movable handle or control near the gate, then use Ultrahand to pull it into its alternate position.

Once the gate opens, enter the next section.

2. Follow the passage to the statue

Proceed through the opened gate and take the left-hand route. At the end of the passage, turn right and continue until reaching a Gerudo-style statue holding a sword.

The statue is an important navigation landmark. Its sword points towards the next part of the route. Several passages in the ruins can look similar, so using the statue’s direction is more reliable than trying to follow the apparent main corridor.

3. Use the second lever

Follow the direction indicated by the statue’s sword. You will reach another lever or switch controlling nearby gates.

Use Ultrahand on this mechanism. The resulting opening allows progress through the right-hand route. Guides describe the surrounding area as a set of gates arranged around the lever, so do not assume that the first open doorway is the final route.

4. Crouch beneath the obstruction

Continue through the opened section and drop down where necessary. A low obstruction blocks the ordinary standing route.

Crouch and move underneath it. This passage is easy to miss because the route looks blocked if Link remains upright. If you reach a dead end, check the lower edge of the obstruction rather than searching for another switch immediately.

5. Cross the rubble-filled section

After passing beneath the rock, turn through the adjoining corridor. Continue left where the passage branches, then follow the route until it turns towards a larger room.

At the far side of this area is rubble that can be used to reach the upper level. Move or clear the obstruction as necessary and climb up.

Ultrahand is useful here not only for opening mechanisms but also for shifting loose stone and clearing access.

6. Cross the crumbling floor

The upper route contains a floor section that collapses as Link walks across it. Move quickly across the stable sections.

Do not treat the visible switch as the immediate objective. The intended route involves dropping through the opening created by the crumbling floor rather than simply activating the switch and retracing the corridor.

This is one of the approach’s deliberate false leads. The ruins present a visible mechanism, but the correct route continues below.

7. Find the corridor with lights

After falling through the broken floor, look for the passage with lights visible at its end. Follow it towards the apparent dead end.

The corridor appears to stop at a gate or ceiling obstruction. Instead of searching for a ground-level opening, look upwards.

8. Use Ascend

Stand as close as possible beneath the gate or overhead structure and activate Ascend.

Ascend carries Link into the upper room beyond the obstruction. If the ability does not activate, adjust Link’s position until the green targeting surface appears. The ceiling may be uneven, so being directly beneath the obstruction is important.

9. Reach the chest room

You will emerge in a room containing the shrine chest. The chest is not yet the end of the route, because the shrine entrance remains hidden behind stone slabs or rubble.

Open the chest if you want to collect the reward before completing the shrine approach.

Ancient Prison Ruins chest

10. Reveal the hidden passage

Behind or beyond the chest are stone slabs covering a concealed mechanism.

Use Ultrahand to remove the slabs. Once the floor or wall is exposed, interact with the hidden lever or switch using Ultrahand.

Activating it opens the concealed passage to Chichim Shrine. This is the final step in the Ancient Prison Ruins route.

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Chichim Shrine is a Rauru’s Blessing shrine. The exploratory challenge has already been completed in the Ancient Prison Ruins, so the shrine chamber itself contains no separate combat or puzzle trial.

Inside, follow the short path across the platforms.

Shrine completion steps

Completing the shrine also activates it as a permanent fast-travel point.

Shrine completion steps: steps

1. 01
   Enter Chichim Shrine.
2. 02
   Walk forward along the path.
3. 03
   Open the stone chest in the central area.
4. 04
   Collect the Mighty Zonaite Spear if you have not already obtained the listed shrine chest reward.
5. 05
   Continue to the altar.
6. 06
   Examine the shrine terminal in front of the Rauru and Sonia statue.
7. 07
   Receive one Light of Blessing.

Chichim Shrine inventory directory

• Mighty Zonaite Spear

Gibdos

Gibdos are present in sections of the Ancient Prison Ruins. They can be fought or bypassed, depending on the route and the player’s equipment. Some guides specifically warn that opening gates can cause Gibdos to rise or become active.

Their presence makes the ruins more dangerous than the shrine chamber itself. If avoiding combat, keep moving through the route and use the environmental landmarks rather than stopping to clear every room.

Environmental hazards

The quicksand is an access mechanism, not an optional side hazard. The crumbling floor is also part of the intended route.

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Gerudo Canyon Skyview Tower

Gerudo Canyon Skyview Tower is a useful launch point for reaching the surface area near the Ancient Prison Ruins. From the tower, glide south-west towards the desert and search for the quicksand entrance.

It is not inside the shrine’s boundary and does not provide a direct fast-travel entrance to the underground chamber. It is simply a practical regional approach point.

Gerudo Town

Gerudo Town is east of the shrine area and is a useful place to prepare for the desert journey. It is not part of the Ancient Prison Ruins and has its own quests, shops and characters, none of which are required for the shrine’s internal route.

Mihcihc Lightroot

Chichim Shrine corresponds to Mihcihc Lightroot in the Depths. The reversed naming relationship between surface shrines and Depths Lightroots is useful when comparing maps, although activating the Lightroot is not required to complete Chichim Shrine.

Connected-location directory

• Gerudo Canyon Skyview Tower
• Gerudo Town
• Mihcihc Lightroot

Fastest practical route

1. 01
   Travel to the Palu Wasteland.
2. 02
   Enter the quicksand.
3. 03
   Open the first gate with Ultrahand.
4. 04
   Follow the statue’s sword direction.
5. 05
   Use the second lever.
6. 06
   Crouch below the obstruction.
7. 07
   Climb through the rubble.
8. 08
   Cross the crumbling floor.
9. 09
   Drop through the opening.
10. 10
    Use Ascend near the apparent dead end.
11. 11
    Open the chest-room rubble.
12. 12
    Activate the hidden switch.
13. 13
    Enter Chichim Shrine and claim the Light of Blessing.

Safer preparation route

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Safer preparation route: steps

1. 01
   Activate Gerudo Canyon Skyview Tower if it is not already available.
2. 02
   Stock up on healing items and light sources.
3. 03
   Mark the quicksand entrance on the map.
4. 04
   Enter the ruins.
5. 05
   Avoid unnecessary fights with Gibdos.
6. 06
   Open the chest before activating the final switch.
7. 07
   Complete the shrine.
8. 08
   Use the new shrine fast-travel point to leave or return later.

Is Chichim Shrine visible on the surface?

No. The shrine is underground inside the Ancient Prison Ruins. The visible surface landmark is the quicksand pool in the Palu Wasteland.

Do I need to complete the Gerudo regional phenomenon first?

The available guides describe the shrine as reachable through the desert and quicksand without presenting the Gerudo story as a formal entry requirement. Completing the relevant Gerudo progression can improve visibility and navigation, but it is not documented here as a mandatory shrine condition.

Does Chichim Shrine contain a puzzle?

The shrine chamber itself does not. It is a Rauru’s Blessing shrine. The switches, statue clue, unstable floor and hidden passage are all part of the Ancient Prison Ruins approach.

What is inside the shrine chest?

The documented chest reward is a Mighty Zonaite Spear.

Can I avoid the Gibdos?

Generally, yes. The ruins contain Gibdos, but the route is primarily about navigation and manipulating gates. You do not need to defeat every enemy to reach the shrine.

Can I leave after completing the shrine?

Yes. Once activated, Chichim Shrine becomes a fast-travel point. Ascend and the opened passages can also help with navigation through the ruins, depending on the route and the state of the gates.

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This guide is written for the base game and focuses on Chichim Shrine, the Ancient Prison Ruins approach, the Palu Wasteland entrance and the directly connected Mihcihc Lightroot relationship.

Published coordinates differ slightly between sources, most often by one to several units. The guide therefore gives approximate coordinates and distinguishes the surface entrance from the shrine chamber. The sources agree on the important boundary: the shrine is underground in the Ancient Prison Ruins, accessed through quicksand.

The ruins contain more environmental detail than is consistently catalogued in shrine directories. This guide lists the confirmed functional route landmarks, but it does not claim to be a complete item-by-item inventory of every ambient object, random enemy drop or non-respawning weapon in the wider desert.

Sources

• Chichim Shrine - Zelda Wiki — zeldawiki.wiki
• Chichim Shrine Location and Walkthrough | Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (TotK)｜Game8 — game8.co
• 〖ティアキン〗チチマウの祠の行き方と宝箱｜ラウルの祝福〖ゼルダの伝説ティアーズオブザキングダム〗 - ゲームウィズ — gamewith.jp
• Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Chichim Shrine Walkthrough — powerpyx.com