Roopkund Lake Trek Guide: Best Time, Route, Mythology & Facts
Published on June 22, 2025
By TourMyHoliday Roopkund Tour Package
Hidden deep in the Garhwal Himalayas, wrapped in mist, myths, and snow, Roopkund Lake remains one of India's most mysterious and powerful trekking destinations. Known as the Skeleton Lake, it isn’t just a high-altitude adventure — it’s a walk into history, faith, and legend.
If you're planning your Roopkund trek in 2025 or 2026, this guide will walk you through everything — from route and weather to bone-chilling myths and unforgettable facts.
Where is Roopkund Lake?
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Location: Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, India
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Altitude: ~5,029 meters (16,500 ft)
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Region: Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve
Roopkund sits in a remote glacial basin, surrounded by peaks like Trishul and Nanda Ghungati, and remains inaccessible for most of the year due to heavy snow.
Roopkund Trek Route Breakdown
The trek usually starts from Lohajung, a small village in the Garhwal region. Here’s the most common and rewarding route:
Suggested Itinerary (from Rishikesh/Delhi):
| Day | Route | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Day 0 | Delhi → Rishikesh (overnight journey) | Scenic drive, Ganga ghats |
| Day 1 | Rishikesh → Lohajung (260 km) | Mountain roads, Devprayag view |
| Day 2 | Lohajung → Didna | Oak forest, first campsite |
| Day 3 | Didna → Ali Bugyal | Vast alpine meadows |
| Day 4 | Ali Bugyal → Patar Nachauni | Gentle terrain, myth zone begins |
| Day 5 | Patar Nachauni → Bhagwabasa | Rugged terrain, rocky landscape |
| Day 6 | Bhagwabasa → Roopkund → Return to Patar Nachauni | Summit day! Skeleton Lake |
| Day 7 | Return to Lohajung | Full descent day |
| Day 8 | Lohajung → Rishikesh/Delhi | Journey back home |
Optional Extension: Junargali Pass, if weather permits (adds technical difficulty).
Best Time to Trek to Roopkund
Due to snowbound conditions, Roopkund remains open for only 2 short trekking windows each year.
Summer Window (Pre-Monsoon):
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Best Months: Mid May to Mid June
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Snow patches on the trail
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Meadows begin to bloom
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Skeletons might still be frozen
Autumn Window (Post-Monsoon):
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Best Months: Mid Sept to Mid Oct
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Clear skies, best for photography
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Snow melted around the lake — bones visible
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Stable weather, lesser crowds
Avoid:
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July–August: Heavy monsoon, landslides
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Nov–Apr: Deep snow, trail closed, high risk
The Mythology of Roopkund Lake
Where Divine Wrath Meets the Snow-Covered Silence
Far above the tree line in the silent upper Himalayas, surrounded by jagged peaks and shifting clouds, lies Roopkund Lake — a place that doesn’t just freeze water, but freezes time.
While science gives us carbon dates and genetic insights, the soul of Roopkund can only be understood through its mythology — a story passed from the lips of mountain dwellers and temple priests, across generations.
This is not just about how people died.
It’s about why the Goddess allowed them to.
The Divine Path of Nanda Devi
To understand Roopkund, you must first understand Goddess Nanda Devi.
In the Garhwal and Kumaon regions of Uttarakhand, Nanda Devi is not merely a deity — she is a living Queen, a daughter of the Himalayas. Her presence governs the rhythm of the mountains: planting, praying, harvesting, and healing.
Every 12 years, a sacred pilgrimage known as the Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra is held — a journey of devotion stretching nearly 300 kilometers on foot, starting from Nauti village and culminating near Roopkund and Homkund.
It is believed that this path mirrors the route the goddess herself took when she left her earthly home to return to her heavenly abode.
So when you walk the trail to Roopkund, you are not just walking through geography.
You are walking through mythic memory.
The King’s Mistake
Legend tells of a king from Kannauj, named Jasdhaval, who wished to honor Goddess Nanda Devi by joining her sacred pilgrimage.
But the king, though well-intentioned, was proud and indulgent.
Instead of walking with humility and prayer, he brought dancers, musicians, soldiers, and luxuries — treating the pilgrimage like a royal parade, not a spiritual act.
His wife, Queen Rani Balampa, was pregnant, and still chose to walk.
The entire entourage moved through sacred forests, disturbed temples with laughter, and ignored local warnings.
At Roopkund — where offerings should be quiet and hearts should be bowed — the king’s men played music, drank, and danced.
That was the moment, the locals say, when the Goddess turned her gaze toward them.
The Divine Hailstorm
Without warning, the sky darkened.
Thunder cracked the valley. The winds rose.
And then came the hail — not ordinary ice pellets, but divine weapons, the size of cricket balls, falling with fury.
The dancers fell first.
Then the king’s guards.
Then the animals.
Then the king himself.
None were spared.
The queen, legend says, cried to the goddess, but her plea was unanswered.
They were punished not with fire — but with cold silence.
And there they lay — their bodies frozen by the snow, their sins preserved under the ice.
Roopkund: A Sacred Graveyard
For centuries, locals dared not go near Roopkund. They believed the lake was cursed — or worse, watched.
Even today, elders from nearby villages like Wan and Bedni approach the lake in silence, whispering prayers before looking into its icy face.
The bones you see aren’t horror.
They are reminders — of a divine balance that should not be broken.
“Jo shuddh bhav se aaye, wo surakshit rahe.
Jo ahankaar lekar aaye, unka vinaash tay tha.”
(Those who walk with pure intent are protected. Those who carry pride — their destruction is certain.)
Rituals and Reverence
Each year, even today, small ceremonies are performed for the unknown dead.
Offerings of rice, flowers, and water are made.
No loudspeakers.
No dancing.
Just folded hands and hushed prayers.
TourMyHoliday ensures that every group trekking to Roopkund understands this sacred energy. Before reaching the lake, a small circle of silence is held. People reflect — not just on the trek, but on the story they are walking into.
Why the Myth Still Matters
In today’s world, it’s easy to dismiss myths as superstition. But in the Himalayas, myths are geographic memory — stories that preserve respect for the land.
Roopkund’s mythology teaches:
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Don’t turn devotion into display.
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Don’t disturb what is meant to be still.
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Even the mighty can fall, if humility is forgotten.
Myth Meets Mystery
What makes Roopkund even more powerful is this:
Science does not contradict the myth. It deepens it.
When researchers carbon-dated the skeletons, they found that many died in the 9th century — exactly the time the King of Kannauj is believed to have lived.
They found signs of death by massive hail impact — the same divine storm the myth speaks of.
And they found no signs of disease or battle — only sudden, mysterious death at altitude.
So the question is no longer “Did it happen?”
But rather:
Was it a mistake? Or a message?
Scientific Facts About Roopkund Skeletons
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First discovered by a forest ranger in 1942
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300+ human skeletons found around the lake
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Carbon dating reveals they died ~850 CE and some in 1800s
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Genetic studies show South Asian & Mediterranean origins
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Most victims suffered blunt force trauma to the head/shoulders
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Cause: Likely massive hailstones falling directly during an alpine storm
Scientists, historians, and spiritualists still don’t fully agree on why two distinct racial groups were traveling together and why they died in such a remote, sacred space.
Fascinating Facts About Roopkund
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???? Roopkund is a Natural Time Capsule – The cold and altitude preserved human remains for 1,000+ years.
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????️ No Known Burial – The dead were never cremated or buried — suggesting sudden death.
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???? No Permanent Human Settlement Nearby – Reinforces its sacred and remote reputation.
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???? One of the Most Mysterious Treks in Asia
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???? Photography Restricted (Near Lake) – Out of respect for human remains.
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???? Locals Perform Silent Offerings – Some still treat Roopkund as a divine graveyard.
What You Need to Know Before Trekking
Trek Difficulty:
Moderate to Difficult — Due to high altitude, long climbs, and weather unpredictability.
Altitude Sickness Risk:
Real and common above 12,000 ft. Acclimatization days are non-negotiable.
Physical Fitness Required:
Minimum 2 weeks cardio training & hill walking recommended. Avoid alcohol before and during trek.
Essentials to Pack:
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Sturdy trekking shoes (ankle-high)
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Layered thermals + waterproof jacket
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Gloves, cap, UV sunglasses
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Trekking pole, headlamp, extra socks
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Personal first-aid + identity proof
Cost of Roopkund Trek (With TourMyHoliday)
| Package | Price Range (Per Person) |
|---|---|
| Rishikesh to Rishikesh | ₹11,499 – ₹13,999 |
| Delhi to Delhi | ₹14,999 – ₹16,999 |
| Premium Group (max 12 pax) | ₹18,500 – ₹21,000 |
Package Includes:
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AC transport (Delhi/Rishikesh–Lohajung)
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Accommodation: homestays + tents
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All meals during the trek (veg)
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Certified trek guides, permits, first aid
