Roopkund Skeleton Lake

Uttarakhand · Indien · Natural site

In this glacial lake at 5,000 metres lie hundreds of skeletons – by legend an entire royal retinue struck down by the goddess Nanda Devi with hail hard as iron.

Roopkund, a small glacial lake above 5,000 metres in the Garhwal Himalaya, is known as Skeleton Lake: when the snow melts, the bones of as many as 600–800 people emerge in and around the water. Folklore tells of King Jasdhaval of Kanauj marching through the goddess Nanda Devi's sacred lands with dancers and finery, whereupon the enraged goddess sent a hailstorm hard as iron and destroyed the entire retinue by the lake. Research has shown the skeletons belong to several groups who died in separate disasters, yet mountain villagers maintain the slopes are guarded by the spirits of the dead. Trekkers describe an oppressive silence at the lake, where the bones still lie exposed among the scree.

FAQ

Where is Roopkund Skeleton Lake located?

Roopkund Skeleton Lake is in Uttarakhand, Indien.