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- Roopkund, also known as Mystery Lake or Skeleton Lake, is a high-altitude glacial lake located in the Uttarakhand state of India. Here are some key details about Roopkund:
- Location: Roopkund lies in the lap of the Trishul massif in the Himalayas. The area around the lake is uninhabited and is roughly at an altitude of 5,020 meters (16,470 feet), surrounded by rock-strewn glaciers and snow-clad mountains
- Trekking Destination: Roopkund is a popular trekking destination. Adventurers and nature enthusiasts often embark on treks to witness its stunning beauty and unique features.
- Lake Characteristics:
- The size of the lake varies, but it is seldom more than 40 meters in diameter (approximately 1,000 to 1,500 square meters in area).
- The lake is frozen during the winter months.
- Its average depth is about three meters.
- Skeletons at Roopkund:
- Roopkund is widely known for the hundreds of human skeletons found at the edge of the lake.
- These human skeletal remains become visible when the snow melts.
- Initially, it was believed that these skeletons were from a semi-legendary event when a single group was killed in a sudden and violent hailstorm in the 9th century. However, scientific research has shown that the remains belong to three distinct groups who died in two independent events: around 800 CE and 1800 CE respectively.
- Due to the presence of these human remains, the lake has earned the nickname “Skeleton Lake”
- Discovery and Identification:
- The skeletons were rediscovered in 1942 by a forest ranger named Hari Kishan Madhwal.
- At first, British authorities feared that the skeletons represented casualties of a hidden Japanese invasion force, but it was later determined that the skeletons were far too old to be Japanese soldiers.
- Along with the skeletons, wooden artifacts, iron spearheads, leather slippers, and rings were also found.
- When a team from National Geographic retrieved about 30 skeletons in 2003, flesh was still attached to some of them.
- Local Legend:
- According to local legend, the King of Kanauj, Raja Jasdhaval, along with his pregnant wife, Rani Balampa, their servants, a dance troupe, and others, went on a pilgrimage to the Nanda Devi shrine. The group faced a storm with large hailstones, resulting in the entire party perishing near Roopkund Lake
- The mystery and historical significance of Roopkund continue to intrigue adventurers and researchers alike, making it a fascinating destination for those seeking both natural beauty and cultural exploration
