ROOPKUND SECRET GETTING MURKIER

By Our Special Correspondent

“Roopkund” is another famous spot in the Himalayas whose name and  fame  are just self-contradictory.

The high-altitude beautiful glacial lake lying  in  the lap of Trishul massif of the Himalayas, is littered with skeletons, bones and skulls of many dead people. The area around the lake is uninhabited and surrounded by rock-strewn glaciers and snow-clad mountains. Recent researchers have determined  that  skeletons found at the lake belonged to faraway Greeks! The skeletons, discovered at Roopkund Lake, which sits at an altitude of approximately 16,404 feet, were analysed using DNA samples to finally determine the ethnic origin of the people they may have belonged to. The stunning discovery, according to these  results  the  first group of skeletons  appear to have belonged to Greek people originating from the Eastern Mediterranean.

The researchers found that the DNA of the skeletons is similar to the genetic makeup of Greek people who currently live on Crete and on the mainland of Greece. The bones are believed to belong to people who lived between 1600 and 1900 AD, with the most plausible scenario being that of people who lived at some time around the 1800s.

But there is a gap in the whole story. There is no local legend about the group of Greeks visiting the area in the 19th century that could help solve the mystery, however. The scientists, who recently published their unusual findings in the magazine Nature, have also not managed to determine the reasons why the group came from far away Greece to visit an area located at such a high altitude. They have also not been able to come up with a hypothesis to explain the reasons why they all died in such  close  proximity to each other, or at least why their bodies were placed so near each other. Thirteen out of the total fourteen skeletons in the first group are believed to have belonged to Greeks who were alive at about the same time. The  analyses  also  revealed that the group of Greeks had all been healthy before they all mysteriously died, under circumstances which may never be known.

The second group of bones which was found in the same area are far older, and date all the way back to the year 800 AD. The DNA of the second group of skeletons earlier matches that of people from South Asia, including modern Indians and Pakistanis. A local legend, which persisted long before the skeletons were found, claims that a group of people on a pilgrimage to a holy site were killed at the lake during a  heavy  hailstorm  in  the ninth century. The dating of  the  skeletons  to 800 AD could lend credence to the once-mythic story.

Another theory says that the skeletons belong to WWII soldiers, who were struck by a massive hailstone while on the trek. One more claim that these belong to a king’s  family, cursed by a Goddess to die this way. On the contrary, as per local legend so impressed was Goddess Parvati to see her own beauty manifest in  the  water  reflection,  that  the lake was named, Roopkund – Roop is a Hindi connotation for beauty, and kund refers to pool.

It is also known as the” Mystery Lake” or the” Lake of Skeletons” because of the number of skeletons that have been found in the region without any fully proven facts till date. Along with the buried skeletons, the surreal mountain landscapes with meadows, forests, snow peaks and streams, have together made Roopkund become one of the most sought-after visiting spots in Uttarakhand.

Roopkund has also been considered as one of the five most beautiful and popular treks specially in monsoon. During the monsoon season, the region is blessed with abundant greenery and carpeted with lush flora and fauna. This trek is a great way to explore nature and get a taste of extraordinary adventure. 

OTHER FAMOUS LAKES IN THE HIMALAYAS.

Suraj Tal is often considered as one of the sacred lakes in the Himalayan region and its name signifies the ‘Lake of the Sun God’. During winters the beauty of this lake completely enhances as the mountains surrounding it gets covered by layers of snow, and it seems not less than a heavenly abode.

Chandra Tal Lake is reckoned as the most charismatic lake situated in the laps of the Himalayas and offers the  most  splendid  views of the Spiti region. The lake is crescent-shaped, and that is how it got its name.  Its  turquoise blue water, majestic mountains, and serene surroundings make it an apt place for camping.

Tso Moriri lake of Ladakh is one of the most beautiful, calm and sacred (for Ladakhis) high altitude lakes in India. The beautiful multi shades of blue colour offered by this lake along with a picturesque landscape around gives this place an extremely breath-taking feel.

Gadsar lake known as the valley of flowers, Gadsar lake is a picturesque, alpine high altitude oligotrophic lake located in the north of Srinagar. The bluish-green waters of the lakes are so crystal clear that the clouds, mountains & surroundings are perfectly reflected in them.

Sela lake is a large lake located on the north side of the Sela Pass in Arunachal Pradesh. This lake often freezes during the winter. Sela Lake is located right on the top of Sela Pass. This lake is so stunning that it’s also called Paradise Lake.

Deo Tal is a sacred lake atop Mana Pass, it is considered very holy since this lake is believed to be the origin of the Mythical Saraswati River. It is near Mana Pass which was a trade route between Uttarakhand & Tibet.