The secret behind how Uttarakhand's Roopkund became ‘Skeleton Lake’

Have you ever heard of Skeleton Lake in India? The lake has a history, but it also hides mysteries, frozen in time, waiting to be discovered. At first glance, it might look like any other mountain lake with scenic views, a peaceful vibe, and surrounded by snow-covered peaks. But wait until the snow melts. This is the story of Roopkund Lake, also known as Skeleton Lake. Curious why it's called that?

Unfold the mystery

Located 16,500 ft above sea level (that’s twice as high as Shimla!), Roopkund is hidden in the lap of the Himalayas, near Trishul Peak in Uttarakhand. When the temperature rises (May–June and September–October) and the ice disappears, hundreds of skeletons begin to appear scattered in and around the lake, clearly visible under the water. (Scary? Wait till you read the entire story.)

The story goes back to 1942, when H.K. Madhwal, a forest ranger, first stumbled upon the lake. Soon, the news spread like wildfire. During the survey, they found not just one or two but around 500 to 600 skeletons. Some of the bodies still had flesh, hair, nails, and even pieces of clothing attached. It honestly looked like the lake had frozen them in time.

The remains belonged to both men and women, all adults. What was more strange is, no children's skeletons were ever found. Which only deepens the mystery. Ki exactly yaha hua kya tha?

Looks like a dream, right? But wait till the snow melts…

Theories 

Multiple theories started doing the rounds. One belief was that they were Japanese soldiers trying to sneak into India during World War II.

Another popular legend talks about a king Jasdhaval, and queen Balampa, who were on a pilgrimage to the Nanda Devi shrine to celebrate the birth of their child. During the journey, their group danced, played music, and cooked meat, all of which were forbidden in the goddess’s sacred land. Angry at their disrespect, Goddess Nanda Devi is believed to have sent a hailstorm that wiped them all out. Interestingly, local folk songs even describe people being hit by hailstones “as hard as iron”, which weirdly matches the skull injuries found by scientists much later.

Some believed Roopkund was part of an ancient pilgrimage or trade route. Historians suggest the people could have been pilgrims or traders caught in sudden weather changes or natural disasters.

These bones hold stories, frozen in time

But then came a plot twist…

In 2019, researchers made a shocking discovery. A detailed study revealed that the people at Roopkund didn't die all at once. They belonged to different groups who died over 1,000 years apart.

The first group died around 800 CE and had South Asian ancestry, likely locals. But the second group died between the 17th and 20th centuries and had Eastern Mediterranean ancestry, similar to people from Greece or Crete.
But how did people from halfway across the world end up here?

And the mystery deepened again. What happened here?

Want to see it for yourself?

Today, Roopkund is also one of the most thrilling and scenic treks in India. If you're up for some adventure (and ghost stories paglu), you can be part of it too! The trail starts from Lohajung, which is just 4.5 hours from The Hosteller Kasar Devi, and takes about 7 to 9 days to complete. (Ohh God… I'm curious as I write this, and I wanna go bas yeh manager chhutti de de aur abba permission… okay back to the blog.)

Witness countless breathtaking views like this one while trekking to Roopkund

Conclusion (But never concluding)

It’s been centuries, yet questions remain. Who were these people? Why did they come here? How did they die? Why the same place? Twice? 1,000 years apart??? Just a coincidence or…? Maybe these questions will never be answered. But mysteries like this shouldn’t scare us. They should spark our curiosity to ask more questions, to explore the past, and to never stop wondering.

(And because we love you and that’s what we’re paid for, we’ll do the digging for you!) Follow us on Instagram and check out more of such thrilling and bone-chilling stories we’ve covered.