Is it easy to travel to Skeleton Lake in Roopkund or does the altitude make it a difficult trek? I read that the lake has hundreds of skeletons littered about the shoreline. For the longest time they weren't sure what had happened to these people, to have so many die in one area. They have dated the bodies to 850 AD and believe they all died while they were likely traveling through the valley with guides. Injuries to their skulls suggest they were hit with a storm that rained down hail, like hard stones and the people had nowhere to hide.
Skeleton Lake , Roopkund, India
- Thread starter Tabitha
- Start date
briannagodess
Well-Known Member
Hi, guys!
Roopkund Lake or also known as Skeletons Lake is a high altitude lake in the Himalayas specifically Uttarakhand in India. Its name comes from the hundred of skeletons seen in the lake once the ice melts. It is a very shallow lake as well, at just about two metres. Now, it is a popular trekking spot, not only because of the skeletons in the lake but also because it's a very challenging climb for trekkers.
These skeletons in the lake were found in 1942 by Madhwal. But there were already reports about the skeletons as far back as the 19th Century. Aside from the skeletons, artefacts like jewelries and weaponries are also found on the area. When a group of archaeologists extracted the skeletons, they even found some with flesh attached to it still.
Some say the skeletons were the remains of King of Kanauj, Raja Jasdhaval and his pregnant wife, Rani Balampa. Along with them are their servants, a dance troupe and others. They are thought to have been trekking through a pilgrimage when the hail storm hit them.
Others believe that the skeletons belong to General Zorawar Singh of Kashmir and his army after they fought in the Tibet War of 1841. It is said that they trekked the area and got hit by the bad weather thereby causing them their death.
DNA studies of the skeletons revealed that about 70% of them were Iranians and the remaining were of Indian descent. It is now believed that the Iranians asked the help of the locals to find new land for them to settle in. It is also believed that cricket-sized hail balls hit them in their heads as they do have markings of such size. These skeletons are found to be about 1,200 years old already. These findings are done by the National Geographic Research Team.
I hope this helps!
Roopkund Lake or also known as Skeletons Lake is a high altitude lake in the Himalayas specifically Uttarakhand in India. Its name comes from the hundred of skeletons seen in the lake once the ice melts. It is a very shallow lake as well, at just about two metres. Now, it is a popular trekking spot, not only because of the skeletons in the lake but also because it's a very challenging climb for trekkers.
These skeletons in the lake were found in 1942 by Madhwal. But there were already reports about the skeletons as far back as the 19th Century. Aside from the skeletons, artefacts like jewelries and weaponries are also found on the area. When a group of archaeologists extracted the skeletons, they even found some with flesh attached to it still.
Some say the skeletons were the remains of King of Kanauj, Raja Jasdhaval and his pregnant wife, Rani Balampa. Along with them are their servants, a dance troupe and others. They are thought to have been trekking through a pilgrimage when the hail storm hit them.
Others believe that the skeletons belong to General Zorawar Singh of Kashmir and his army after they fought in the Tibet War of 1841. It is said that they trekked the area and got hit by the bad weather thereby causing them their death.
DNA studies of the skeletons revealed that about 70% of them were Iranians and the remaining were of Indian descent. It is now believed that the Iranians asked the help of the locals to find new land for them to settle in. It is also believed that cricket-sized hail balls hit them in their heads as they do have markings of such size. These skeletons are found to be about 1,200 years old already. These findings are done by the National Geographic Research Team.
I hope this helps!
