At a height of 16,500 feet, in the middle of the most uninhabitable part of the Himalayas lies the secluded Skeleton Lake of Roopkund, covered in snow and surrounded by rock-strewn glaciers. More popularly known as Skeleton Lake or Mystery Lake, the spine-chilling attraction of this lake is the 200 odd human skeletons that were discovered here. These date back to the 850 AD and are clearly visible at the bottom of the shallow lake when the snow melts. The locals believe that this entourage had earned the fury of the local deity, Latu, who sent a terrible hailstorm their way, which eventually killed them.
In 1942 a British forest guard in Roopkund, India made a disturbing revelation. Approximately 16,000 feet above ocean level, at the base of a little valley in Chamoli, Uttrakhand, was a solidified lake completely loaded with skeletons. That late spring, the ice softening uncovered much more skeletal stays, gliding in the water and lying aimlessly around the lake’s edges. Something unpleasant had happened here.
The British government first thought that these were the remaining parts of Japanese soldiers who had died while sneaking through India. After the British government sent a group of investigators to figure out whether this was genuine, it was found that the bones are too old to be of Japanese soldiers.
Later in 2004, an expedition uncovered the secret of death of around 200 people in the valley. It would appear, all the bodies date to around 850 AD. DNA proof demonstrates that there were two unique gatherings of individuals, one a family or tribe of nearly related people, and a second littler, shorter gathering of local people, likely procured as watchmen and aides. Rings, lances, calfskin shoes, and bamboo fights were discovered, persuading that the gathering was included explorers heading through the valley with the assistance of local people.
All the bodies had died on in a comparable manner, from hits to the head. Then again, the short deep cracks in the skulls appeared to be the result not of weapons, but instead of something rounded. The bodies additionally just had wounds on their heads, and shoulders as though the blows had all originated from straightforwardly above. What had slaughtered all of them, porters and travelers indistinguishable?
Among Himalayan ladies there is an antiquated and customary folk song. The verses portray a goddess so goaded at outcasts who debased her mountain haven that she rained passing upon them by hurling hailstones “hard as iron.” After much research and thought, the 2004 campaign arrived at the same conclusion. Every one of the 200 individuals passed on from a sudden and serious hailstorm.
Caught in the valley with no place to conceal or look for sanctuary, the “hard as iron” cricket ball-sized [about 23 centimeter/9 inches diameter] hailstones stopped by the thousands, bringing about the voyagers’ unusual sudden demise. The remaining parts lay in the lake for 1,200 years until their disclosure.
