Trek to Roopkund, Uttarakhand

This moderately challenging trek to the thrilling (and chilling!) Roopkund Lake requires a bit of muscle and stamina to get accustomed to the changing altitude and terrain and is ideal for fit trekkers. It is one of the most popular treks in Garhwal, thanks to its eerie views, as well as some really spectacular mountain landscape. You’ll be walking over verdant green meadows, climbing to more barren heights as you get closer to giant Himalayan peaks, and there’s usually a good chance of snow at the lake itself.

Roopkund lake trekking itinerary

The trek to Roopkund is very scenic, winding through some of the most beautiful meadows of Uttarakhand. You’ll see the magnificent Bedni Bugyal, ramble through the outer periphery of the Nanda Devi National Park and head up into the quieter, more uninhabited reaches of the mountains. You’ll be able to see legendary peaks like Trishul, Nanda Devi, Nanda Ghanti, Nilkantha and Maiktoli.

You'll also visit the village of Wan, where locals still wear a Garhwali blanket pinned to their chests for warmth. Most Roopkund trek itineraries also include a visit to Jurangali ridge, above the lake, so that you can get views of the spectacular peaks around. En route to the lake, you'll camp in stunning high altitude meadows, and enjoy the best of lush green landscapes and greyer rocky views.

The mystery of the Roopkund Lake skeletons

Roopkund Lake is formed by glacial melt, and is rather shallow, having a depth of only about 2 metres. It lies in a depression and is covered with snow for most parts of the year. When the snow melts, one can see human and animal skeleton remains inside. The lake is also known as Skeleton Lake or Mystery Lake, because the history of these skeletons baffled experts for years.

The skeletons are the remains of about 500 people, believed to have been a group of travellers who were caught in a vicious hail storm. Most skeletons have skull injuries, but have been preserved in the cold alpine weather for centuries.

The region around is completely desolate and usually misty, adding to the element of mystery around. It's a thrilling trek for this reason, but the scenery is also a reason that many adventure-seekers come for. Read our blog to find out everything you want to know and get the packing list for the Roopkund trek.

Roopkund trek – Best time to visit

The best season for the Roopkund trek is after the monsoon from September to early November as the weather is usually clear. In Sept-Oct, day time temperatures are usually 10-15 degrees Celsius, and can dip as low as -5 Celsius at night.

During the summer months of May and June, you can do this trek, but the weather can be unpredictable at this point. At this high altitude, the weather is changing constantly. In summer, day time temperatures range from 13-18 degrees Celsius, dropping to -2 Celsius at night.