Roopkund

Rated among the top three treks in India. It is one trek that is a must-do. Roopkund known as Mystery Lake, is a high altitude glacial lake in the Uttarakhand state of India. It lies in the lap of Trishul massif and is famous for the hundreds of human skeletons found at the edge of the lake. Many theories and opinions exist, from purely spiritual to scientific ones, attempting to explain the existence of these skeletons. Because of the human remains, the lake has been called Skeleton Lake in recent times. The area is uninhabited, surrounded by rock-strewn glaciers and snow-clad mountains. Deep virgin forests, gurgling brooks, breath-taking campsites, miles of undulating meadows, snow and ice, and the taste of a great adventure as you climb from 2500m to 5000m in 4 days. Your trek starts at Lohajung (2200m), a tiny pass, in the heart of the greater Himalayan range, 85 kms from Karanprayag. "

The trail is a combination of steep ascents and short descents. The bridge over Neel Ganga is a beautiful place to relax during the trek. The bridge on Neel Ganga is an idyllic location to take a breather. Trees overhang the river and the water trips and falls over boulders in the shade. The water here is cool and refreshing.The second half of the trek is through lovely oak and rhododendron forests. Reach Ghaeroli Patal by late noon and camp there. You get astounding views of Mt.Trishul from Ghairoli Patal.

Today’s trek is an easy climb following by a gradual descent to Pathar Nachauni. It takes 4 hours to cover the distance. You can visually trace the second trail from your campsite for 3 km until it disappears into a saddle in the mountain. Walk along this trail. Ghora Lotani is a good place to relax. On a clear day, the view from this trail is beautiful. You’ll also begin to see the first traces of winter snow. From Ghora Lotani, Pathar Nachauni is a short climb away. It is at the foot of the hill that holds the Kalu Vinayak Temple.

Today’s trek will take a total of 5 hours. It starts off with a flat walk, followed by a steep ascent to Kalu Vinayak Temple and then a gradual descent to Bhagwabhasa. The air gets thinner by the minute, so ascend as slow as possible, to acclimatise better.Just as you finish the climb from Ghora Lotani, you’ll reach Kalu Vinayak Temple, where there’s a shrine with a black idol of Lord Ganesha in it. Bhagwabhasa is 2 km from here, following an easy, gradual descent. There will be snow on this trail. By June, this snow might be slippery. Reach Bhagwabhasa and camp there. Bhagwabasa is a cluster of stone huts put up by enterprising locals and provide shelter and food to trekkers. The charge is on a bed basis. If you are carrying tents, then don't pitch camp at Bhagwabasa. Move ahead for another 5 minutes and you get a camp site on your left. This is Hunia Thal, a small clearing. The nights get extremely cold and windy.

Today’s trek is a long and tough one. Start early at 5 am to walk on fresh snow. The climb to Roopkund is a 5 km-long gradual ascent with a few steep gradients in between and in the end. It takes about 3 hours to reach Roopkund. Roopkund is a crater lake at a dip in the mountain face. It is at 16,500 feet. You have to climb down 50 feet to reach the edge of the lake. From Roopkund, if the weather permits, climb to Junargali. Junargali is a sharp ridge line that towers over Roopkund. It’s a 20 minute climb, but on a very steep surface. You may need ropes. Go to Shila Samundra (Ocean of Stones) via Junargalli Col Pass, which is just above the lake, and then proceed to Homkund. Start your return by 9.30 am. It takes 3 hours to reach Bhagwabhasa. Stop for lunch at Ghora Lotani and head down to Pathar Nachauni.