This glacial lake hides a dark secret

Roopkund - Roopkund, also known as Skeleton Lake or Mystery Lake, is a glacial lake in India.

Roopkund - The lake is located near Wan village in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhanin, in the Himalayas.

Location - Skeleton Lake is a high-altitude lake located at around 5,029 meters (16,499 feet) above sea level.

Snow - The lake is covered in snow for about eight months of the year.

Lake discovery - In 1942, a British forest guard made a macabre discovery: a frozen lake full of human bones!

Mystery - Many theories arose at the time, including a landslide, an epidemic, or even ritual killing as the cause of all those deaths.

Expedition - In 2004, an expedition to Roopkund was organized with the express goal of solving the mystery. It was concluded that the skeletons were dated to around 850 AD.

Remains - The local weather conditions made it possible for some hair, flesh, and even clothes of the victims to remain preserved.

Nanda Devi Raj Jat - The Nanda Devi Raj Jat is a pilgrimage and festival dedicated to the worship of goddess Nanda Devi.

Nanda Devi Raj Jat - Roopkund is on the pilgrimage route of Nanda Devi Raj Jat.

Local legend - Legend has it that once a king took some dancers to Roopkund, but heavy snowfall transformed them into skeletons and stones.

Roopkund Trek - This is one of India's most popular trekking routes.

Trekking route - The trek can be demanding, but the surrounding landscape is absolutely breathtaking.

Getting there - A three to four-day trek is required to get to Skeleton Lake.