Experience · Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, India
RoopkundA story we are still researching.
A high-Himalayan glacial lake ringed by centuries-old human skeletons, nicknamed Skeleton Lake.
A closer look
The story
Roopkund is a small glacial lake at about 5,020 m in Chamoli district, between the peaks of Trishul and Nanda Ghunti. It became famous after forest ranger Hari Kishan Madhwal rediscovered scattered human skeletons around its edge in 1942 — remains of more than 300 people have since been documented, some still with flesh attached when National Geographic surveyed the site in 2003.
The full story
A 2019 genetic study led by Harvard researchers overturned the old single-disaster theory. It found three distinct ancestry groups: 23 people of South Asian ancestry from around 800 CE, and a separate group of 14 people with Eastern Mediterranean ancestry plus one of Southeast Asian ancestry from around 1800 CE — meaning the skeletons come from at least two unrelated events centuries apart, not one storm or massacre.
The trek to Roopkund runs through alpine meadows (bugyals) from Lohajung via Wan and Bedni Bugyal, usually over about five days, best done mid-September to October when the ice is clearest.
Written from the sources listed at the end of this page. If we have something wrong, tell us.
What you will see
Stops on the trail.
- 01Roopkund lake itself
- 02Bedni Bugyal and Ali Bugyal
- 03Trishul base views
- 04Homestays at Wan/Didina
When to go
Mid-September to October is the classic window when ice has melted enough to trek; May–June is also used by some operators.
Getting there
Nearest railhead is Rishikesh/Kathgodam; the trek starts from Lohajung village, reached by road from Rishikesh (about 10–11 hours' drive).
How to visit
- Do not remove or disturb any skeletal remains — this is treated as a heritage and forensic site.
- Follow current Uttarakhand Forest Department rules on camping, waste and group size, which have changed multiple times since 2018.
Before you plan
- Camping and trekking access to the bugyals en route to Roopkund was closed for around eight years by a 2018 Uttarakhand High Court order and only reopened after a Supreme Court ruling on 20 July 2026 — confirm current permit and camping rules with a registered operator before publishing this as settled/open.
- Let time pass
- Behave as a guest
- No smiling selfies
- Tread lightly
- Leave something behind
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