Roopkund: The Mystery Lake

Roopkund Lake

It is also known as Mystery and Skeletons Lake. It is a high altitude lake in Uttarakhand State of India. It is located in the lap of the Trishul massif and is famous for hundreds of human skeletons found at the edge of the lake. This lake is surrounded by rocky glaciers and snow-fed mountains. It is a popular tracking destination. It is a shallow lake which has a depth of about two meters. This lake is very popular and a center of attraction among people because of human skeletons remains that are visible at its bottom when the snow melts. Researchers have concluded that skeletal remains of people killed in a sudden, violent hailstorm in the 9th century. Due to human residues, the lake is called Skeleton Lake in recent times.

Identification of Skeletons

Scientific tests from a 2004 campaign for the lake showed that skeletons belonged to several groups of people, including a group of short people (probably local ports) and a taller group, who were closely related-with DNA mutations characteristic.

A common cause of death was found in the study of skeletons: blows to the back of the head, due to the round object falling from above. The researchers concluded that the victims had been caught in a sudden hailstorm.

Concerns About Losing Skeletons

There is a big concern about regular lose of skeletons and it is feared that if steps are not taken to conserve them, then the skeletons may gradually disappear in the coming years. It is said that the number of tourists coming in this area have the habit of taking large numbers of skeletons along with them and the district administration has expressed the need to protect the area. Government agencies have tried to develop this area as eco-tourism in an effort to protect the skeletons. 

Tourism attraction

Roopkund in Chamoli district near the base of two Himalayan peaks,  Trisul and Nanda Ghanti, is a beautiful tourist spot for trekking in the Himalayas. A big festival, the Nanda Devi Raj Jat, held in Roopkund every twelve years, during which the Goddess Nanda is worshiped. Roopkund Lake is covered with snow for most of the year.