All You Need to Know About the Roopkund Trek – Where Legends Meet Adventure
🦴 Roopkund: The Lake of Skeletons
At first glance, Roopkund looks like just another high-altitude glacial lake at 16,470 ft, nestled under the mighty Trishul massif. But take a closer look, and you’ll find something chilling – hundreds of human skeletons, scattered along its banks and beneath its icy waters.
This is why trekkers across the world call it Skeleton Lake, a name that instantly sends shivers down your spine.
🔍 The Strange Discovery
In 1942, Hari Kishan Madhwal, a forest ranger of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, stumbled upon these eerie remains. Since then, scientists, historians, and trekkers have been obsessed with Roopkund’s mystery.
Some bones belong to locals from 800 AD, while others trace back to Mediterranean ancestry, nearly 1,000 years later. What were Greeks doing here in the Himalayas? No one knows for sure.
🌩️ Legend or Science?
Folklore says the skeletons are a cursed royal procession, struck down by the wrath of Goddess Nanda Devi, hailstones “as big as cricket balls” being her weapon of choice. Scientists, on the other hand, blame weather, disease, or migration gone wrong.
But as you stand at Roopkund, watching the frozen lake glisten under Trishul, you realize, maybe some mysteries are best left unsolved.
🥾 The Roopkund Trek Experience
🌿 A Trail of Contrasts
The trek begins at Lohajung, a sleepy mountain town, and winds through oak and rhododendron forests, before exploding into the vast green carpets of Ali Bugyal and Bedni Bugyal. These meadows look like the real-life version of the Windows XP wallpaper, except with the Himalayas as your background screen.
From there, the trail steepens towards Kalu Vinayak, zig-zagging its way to Bhagwabasa, before finally pushing you to the icy Roopkund Lake. Every section feels like entering a new world.
🌤 Best Time fro Roopkund Trek
- Summer (Mid-May to June): Frozen lake, snow-covered trails—pure winter wonderland.
- Autumn (Mid-September to October): Meadows glow golden, skies are crystal clear, and the views of Trishul are jaw-dropping.
⚖️ Difficulty Level – Not for the Faint-Hearted
Roopkund is a moderately difficult trek, best suited for seasoned trekkers. The steep climbs (Didna → Ali Bugyal & Patar Nachuni → Kalu Vinayak) test your lungs, while the final approach to Roopkund throws in thin air, slippery snow, and deadly drops.
It’s the kind of trek that hurts your body but feeds your soul.
💰 Cost & Permits
- Trek cost: ₹10,000 – ₹15,000 depending on the company (includes stay, food, guides, permits, gear).
- DIY cost (guide + porter): ₹1,000 – ₹1,500/day (if you bring your own gear).
- Permit: A forest entry permit (₹150 Indians / ₹600 foreigners). As of now, at the time of publishing this blog (Sept 2025), there is a local ban on trekking to Roopkund and hence most trek operators have dropped it from their service.
- However, I have still seen some people hiring porters from Lohajung and taking on this journey.
- However, I have still seen some people hiring porters from Lohajung and taking on this journey.
🚗 Getting to Lohajung – Your Roopkund Trek Basecamp
Lohajung, the trailhead, is tucked in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district. Getting there is an adventure in itself:
- From Kathgodam: Take a cab/bus to Gwaldam/Kausani → connect to Tharali → Lohajung.
- From Dehradun: Via Rishikesh → Karnaprayag → Tharali → Lohajung.
And the best part? As soon as you arrive, the first thing that greets you is the majestic Nanda Ghunti peak towering over the town.
📅 Suggested Itinerary (New Route After Bugyal Ban)
Day 1: Arrive at Lohajung
Day 2: Lohajung → Didna Village
Day 3: Didna → Camp below Ali Bugyal
Day 4: Ali Bugyal → Patar Nachuni (via Bedni Bugyal & Ghora Lautani)
Day 5: Patar Nachuni → Bhagwabasa (via Kalu Vinayak)
Day 6: Bhagwabasa → Roopkund → back to Patar Nachuni
Day 7: Patar Nachuni → Wan → Drive back to Lohajung
🌟 Why Roopkund Trek is Special
The Roopkund trek isn’t just about reaching a lake. It’s about walking through history, folklore, and raw Himalayan beauty. It’s about staring at Trishul, feeling small yet infinite. And yes—it’s about standing by a lake of skeletons, humbled by the mysteries of time.
So if you’re ready for a trek that combines adventure, mythology, science, and breathtaking landscapes—Roopkund should be next on your bucket list.
One Comment
Bindiya S
Very well explained guide.
Crisp and to the point yet written beautifuly.