Roopkund Trek

Duration: 7 days/ 7 nights Lohajung to Lohajung · Grade: Moderate+ · Highest point: 5150 m · Best time: May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov

Overview

Roopkund is a beautiful but mysterious skeletal lake with human bones too large for our size scattered all around...

The sight of the beautiful circular glacial lake, emerald in colour, in the covering of snow all round it with tall mountain walls rising over it. This sight inspires a mixed feeling - fearful, unbelievable, surprising, exquisite and what not !!

The Lake does look appealing to the eyes and is definitely photogenic, but what gives the lake its real worth is the name which it has got for itself - The Skeletal Lake. There are lots of other lakes in the Himalayas much beautiful than the Roopkund, but this lake is special. The mystery surrounding the lake due to lots of scattered human bones which are too big for the current generation of Indians, is what makes Roopkund one of the most sought after trek in the Himalayas. It took the World by its imaginations and lots of theories are available on the cause of the mass death around the lake. Recently, the theory reasoning a pilgrimage hit by a massive hail storm causing the tragic death is more believable as per a research study.

Apart from being focused around the lake of Roopkund, in this trek you come across 2 of the most beautiful Himalayan meadows - the meadow of Bedni Bugiyal and Ali Bugiyal. The lush green grass of these bugyals, a small lake of Bedni Kund reflecting the surrounding peaks, the shepherd with his flock of sheep, the locals with their intrinsic charisma, everything about this trek is such an experience !!

The Roopkund trek is done in two season - pre monsoon and post monsoon. While in May and June, the trail is mostly snowy, which adds to the beauty and thrill, trekking the Roopkund post monsoon gives the best experience of the meadows and the Skeletal lake, as the unfrozen lake reveals it true colour to take you by surprises.

The Sad Story Of Roopkund

Roopkund is perhaps one of the best treks to do in the Himalayas. Until recently, it was peaceful with few odd trekkers trekking in self organized small groups. The current scenario of this trek is very saddening. With unsurpassed and unregulated rise of irresponsible trekking agencies in India, and the false hype created by the online content marketing websites has made a huge negative impact on this trek. 

The situation is such that in the pre-monsoon season of May-Jun, atleast 100 trekkers camp on each campsite, everyday on this trek. Few of the bigger operators and some of the pioneers bring bulk of trekkers to this wonderland. Most of this crown is not Nature Friendly. The rush is such that the local operators and these big companies cannot meet the demand. So, there lots of other small operators who get their groups too, most of these are nonprofessionals. Also, there are self organized groups too.

Then there are local resources to add to, like mules, mules-men, guides, porters, cooks, helpers, etc which accompany the groups. The trekker's hut built by the Government for the trekkers permanently occupied by bigger companies to use as kitchen. What kind of push is it on the Nature to accommodate that huge rush ?? I have no imaginations for it, hence I leave it upto the readers.

All these spoil the ambiance of the trek and we don't like organizing this trek until situation betters. We are more in favour of the Ronti Saddle Trek which is much peaceful once we cross the tourist spot of the Roopkund trek.

Highlights

• Grand views of Nandaghungti (6309m), Trisul I (7120m), II (6690m), III (6007m) and other lots of other peaks of Garhwal and Kumaon.
• The mystery and history of the Skeletal Lake - Roopkund. Its a small circular high altitude glacial lake surrounded by snow on most part of the year. The lake is surrounded by human bones which reveals itself mostly when the snow cover is lesser.
• The top of Junargali pass not only takes you atop 5150 meters, but also opens up the view of the valley of Sheela Samudra to you, which is just breathtaking.
• The best bugiyals or meadows of the Himalayas - Bedni Bugiyal and Ali Bugiyal.
• The ever charismatic locals and their way of life. 
• Keeda Jadi or Yartsa Gumba and its crazy drive amongst the locals during June, July. 

Itinerary

• Day 1: Drive From Kathgodan and reach Lohajung
• Day 2: Trek From Lohajung  to  Didina
• Day 3: Trek From Didina to Ali Bugiyal
• Day 4: Trek From Ali Bugiyal to Patharnachaunia
• Day 5: Trek From Patharnachaunia to Baghuabasa
• Day 6: Trek From Baghuabasa to Roopkund. Climb Junairagali Top. Trek back to Baghuabasa
• Day 7: Trek from Baghuabasa to Bedni Bugyal
• Day 8: Trek From Bedni Bugyal to Wan. Drive to Lohajung.
• Day 9: Drive to Kathgodam

Terrain