Roopkund Lake – With the beginning of summer, the snow around this lake starts melting, and uncover hundreds of human skulls and skeletons present around this lake.
What could have happened here? How did the skeletons of hundreds of people come here?
Today we will uncover the real story behind this “Skeleton Lake”, The truth everyone wants to know.
Roopkund Lake
Also known as “The Skeleton Lake” or “The Mystery Lake”. Roopkund (Skeleton Lake) is situated at one of the highest points of the Himalayas in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand state of India.
Located at an elevation of 16,470 feet (5020 meters) above sea level. The depth of this lake is about 3 meters. Roopkund Lake is considered to be the highest lake in the entire Uttarakhand state.
Being on the top of the Himalayas, the lake is surrounded by rocks, glaciers, and snow-capped mountains. This lake is also popular among tourists as a trekking destination.
Japanese Soldiers?
In 1942, hundreds of human skeletons were found at Roopkund by the British Forest ranger Hari Kishan Madhwal. The lake was said to be filled with human skeletons and bones at that time. Many people speculated that these skeletons would be of Japanese soldiers who died during the Second World War while sneaking through the Himalayas to invade Britain in India.
Fearing the Japanese invasion, The British government immediately called a team of scientists to investigate these skeletons. After investigation, it was found that these skeletons were not of Japanese soldiers, and were more than hundreds of years old. After that, many scientists from all over the world investigated these skeletons and they had different opinions. Few believed that those people died due to an avalanche, while others believe it was a pandemic. Why and How the Roopkund lake have skeletons? Scientists have different opinions on this.
Wrath of Nanda Devi at Roopkund
However, a study conducted in 2004 made many shocking revelations related to Roopkund Lake. Through this study, it was found that these skeletons were from the 12th century. A DNA investigation was done and was found that these skeletons belonged to different geographical locations. After more investigations, scientists finally concluded that these people have died centuries ago after they got hit by something round like a ball on their head very hard.
You will be surprised to know that there is a famous folk song among women living in the Himalayan Mountains which describes this whole incident. According to that folk song, Goddess (Nanda Devi) gets very angry with people who came from outside and spoils the beauty of nature. In this anger, she made heavy hail rain, due to which many people lost their lives.
Notably, in the research conducted in 2004, the same thing came out that these people must have lost their lives due to a sudden hail storm.
Oldest Story of Roopkund
According to our elders, once the king of Kanauj, Jasdhaval went out on a pilgrimage with his pregnant wife to visit the temple of Nanda Devi in the Himalayas.
The king took his dancers and soldiers along with him on pilgrimage. They all went out for pilgrimage with great pomp. They broke all the rules of pilgrimage. People warned the king that by doing this Nanda Devi Mata will outbreak. But the king did not listen to them. And there was a blizzard in the Himalayas and all the people were killed along with the king.
This story looks true to me. However, no one can claim it.
Many secrets are still buried inside this mysterious lake. There is a strict prohibition on entering the lake. According to people, many mysterious incidents often happen here.