Located in the distant mountains of the Uttarakhand area of India, Roopkund Lake, also called the Skeleton Lake, is a haunting place telling the story of people who have been forgotten by time. Located at an elevation of 16000+ feet the lake is not just a collection of water but an enigma for historians, scientists, and explorers. What dark mysteries hide beneath its calm waters? Hidden along the shore of the lake hundreds of human skeletons, many of which resemble living people due to the excellent state of preservation. Who were these people? Well, how did they ever come to such a gruesome end?
These skeletons were discovered in the year 1942 by a forest guard the story behind these skeletons is as cryptic as the lake’s existence. As it was mentioned before the bones which are estimated to be over a thousand years old traced back to a catastrophic event. As for one of the most popular theories, people were claimed to have died during a particularly furious hail. Imagine the scene: a party of pilgrims, walking in the rough country towards the water when a storm with no warning broke. This storm is reported to have brought out hail stones whose size can kill whoever they fall on, and their bodies turn to mere skeletons of people who went too far.
However, with the help of the storm theory, certain things look slightly off. The positions of the skeletons, the arrangement of them, and the fact that some of the bodies showed no signs of and cause of death suggest something more macabre. Could these bones be suggesting a ritual gone wrong and everyone buried there was disposed off out of sight? Authors of primitive cultures recall people offering their kin to gods as a way of making offerings and perhaps this poor soul was one of such offerings. Could they have been condemned due to an ancient religious rite?
Far more fascinating are artifacts found alongside the bones: shoes, earrings, and iron blades — suggesting it was no ordinary tragedy but a carefully prepared journey of death seekers. Their absence in the nearby regions indicates that they did not die where they fell they could have staggered or been dragged to their final positions.
Even with the advanced DNA analysis, the mystery surrounding their origin has only become more complicated. Research done on these bones revealed that they are of people of different ages, sexes, and even origins; this meant that they were not only the people from that region but travelers who came from other parts of the world. But some crucial questions arise in our minds that are not yet answered—What forced them to choose such a place, so remote and surrounded by mountains and snow? And what happened to them? Why did they receive such an unfortunate end?
Roopkund Lake, beautiful in serenity but mysterious in the aura it carries, continues to preserve its mysteries intact. Theories may still be made to this day but these questions do not have satisfactory answers. Theories range from natural disasters to ancient rituals, but one thing remains certain: Roopkund is not just a lake. It is a passage to a sinister history; it uncovers the faces of some unknown people who lost their lives in the unknown territories of the mountains.
Department -Journalism and Mass Communication
Semester – 1 (1st Year)
Asutosh College
