There are many lakes and ponds in the Himalayas which have many tales and stories associated with them. Some of these tales are based on divine and supernatural events. One of the many lakes in the Himalayas is Roop Kund Lake which is famous in the country and abroad. Why is Roop Kund so special that people come from far and wide to see it and what secrets does this lake hide inside itself which people have been wanting to know for decades. Even now many intellectuals are doing research to uncover the mysteries of this lake.
Roop Kund Lake
Roopkund Lake is located in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand state of India . This icy lake is situated at the foot of Trishul hill in the Gharwal Himalayas at an altitude of about 5029 meters or 16500 feet above sea level.
Because of the height of this lake, no one lives here and this lake is surrounded by high snowy mountain peaks.
The reason for this lake being so famous is the human skeletons found here. It was discovered by a British forest guard in the year 1942. When he was roaming in the forest, he saw many human bones on the banks of the lake. This sight was terrifying.
After human skeletons were found in Roopkund Lake, this lake came to be known as Mystery Lake or Skeleton Lake. Apart from human skeletons, iron spears, wooden artifacts, rings, leather shoes etc. were found in this lake.
Roop Kund Trek
Roopkund is one of the famous treks of Uttarakhand. This trek goes through dense forests towards Ali and Bedni Bugyal and is surrounded by magnificent hills. The best time to go on this trek is from the end of May to October.
Roop Kund Max Depth
The depth of Roopkund Lake is about 2.5 to 3 meters. This lake freezes in winters but between June and October its water melts and we can easily see human skeletons in its clear and blue water.
Roop Kund Story
There are many stories about Roopkund Lake, some of which are true and some are just tales that have become a part of the lives of common people.
For example, during World War II, British officers thought that all these skeletons belonged to Japanese soldiers who were sneak attackers, but after examining the bones, this idea was proved wrong.
According to another legend, a long time ago some people were taking a Raj Jat Yatra towards Homkund and they never returned. People believed that all those people got stuck in a snowstorm and died there.
Some people say that all those skeletons were soldiers of General Zorawar who were killed while conquering Tibet.
Moreover, intellectuals and scientists say that these skeletons belong to three different groups who died on two different occasions between around 800 CE and 1800 CE .
Roopkund Lake at present
At present people are reluctant to go on the Roopkund trek as its presence has had a negative impact on the fauna and alpine grasslands there.
Apart from this, people used to take back many artifacts and bones with them . Seeing this, the administration there decided to save that area.
Conclusion
Friends, there are many secrets hidden inside Roopkund Lake which are slowly coming out with time. So far 600 to 800 human skeletons have been found here, the investigation of which has revealed many interesting things.
As most of the people who died were healthy men and women whose age would have been around 35 to 40 years. However, the real reason behind the death of all these people is not yet known.
Due to these things about Roop Kund , this lake has become a topic of discussion among the people. Due to which many trekkers come here and also visit Roop Kund Lake during trekking in these snowy valleys.
Friends, after knowing these mysterious things, if you also come here for trekking then definitely visit the lake, maybe you will see something unique and supernatural.
FAQ (Questions asked about Roop Kund Lake)
What is the meaning of Roopkund?
According to folklore, Goddess Parvati bathed in the blue waters of this ancient lake. At that time, the water of this lake was so clear that Goddess Parvati could easily see her reflection. Since then, this lake came to be known as Roopkund. Roop means shape, form, beauty, etc., and Kund means a small pond or lake.
Who discovered Roopkund Lake?
For the first time in the year 1942, an Indian forest guard HK Madhwal saw many human bones lying around this lake during his forest tour.
How big is Roopkund Lake?
The size of Roopkund lake keeps changing according to the season. But still its diameter remains around 40 meters. And its area is approximately between 1000 to 1500 square meters.
What are the temperatures in Roopkund?
The temperature of Roop Kund keeps changing during the day and night. For example, its temperature remains between 13 to 18 degrees centigrade during the day and -5 to 7 degrees centigrade at night.
What is the distance of Roopkund Trek?
The distance of Roopkund trek is approximately 53 kilometers.