Roopkund Lake

Roopkund Lake is a high-altitude glacial lake at about 5,029 metres in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, near Wan village in the Himalayas. Known as Skeleton Lake, it is famous for hundreds of ancient human skeletons visible at its edge when snow melts. Reached only by a strenuous multi-day trek through alpine meadows and snowfields, it lies within the Trishul massif area and is noted for its remote setting, archaeological mystery and alpine scenery.

Visitors can expect a remote high-altitude glacial lake surrounded by snow-covered slopes and rocky terrain beneath Trishul and Nanda Ghunti peaks. The lake is shallow, often frozen, and partially reveals human skeletal remains along its edge in summer when snow melts. There are no structures or facilities at the lake itself. Access is only on foot via a multi-day trek through forests, alpine meadows (bugyals) like Bedni and Ali Bugyal, and high mountain passes. The environment is stark, cold and exposed with panoramic Himalayan views.

Roopkund gained attention after a forest guard reported skeletal remains in 1942. Subsequent studies identified hundreds of human skeletons around the lake. Scientific analyses have dated the remains to around the 9th century CE, with later studies suggesting multiple groups from different periods. The site is protected as an important archaeological and natural feature in the Himalayas.

The lake lies along the route of the Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra, a traditional pilgrimage honoring Goddess Nanda Devi, revered in Uttarakhand. Local folklore associates the lake with the goddess and with a pilgrimage party caught in a severe hailstorm. The surrounding bugyals and peaks are considered sacred in local Himalayan culture.