How to Reach Roopkund, the Famous Skeleton Lake in Uttarakhand

Roopkund Lake in Uttarakhand is one of the most challenging and enriching treks in the region. Here are all the details on how to reach Roopkund Lake by road, train and flight.

Published: November 23, 2017 11:49 AM IST

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Roopkund Lake

Roopkund Lake

North India is home to some of the most surreal locations that are ideal trekking spots. With states like Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir all part of the northern part of India, you can only imagine how beautiful this region is! While several hill stations and holiday spots in the north are quite popular among tourists, there are also those that are nestled amidst the mountains and away from all the commercial tourism. Some of these places are quite difficult to reach and make for great expeditions. One such place is the Roopkund lake in Uttarakhand. Also known as Mystery lake, Roopkund is located at an altitude of over 5000 metres in an uninhabited area. What gives it the name ‘Skeleton Lake’ are the hundreds of human skeletons found at the edge of the lake. According to researchers, these skeletons belong to people who died as the result of a hailstorm in the 9th century. Roopkund is surrounded by breathtaking landscapes of snow-clad peaks making it a great but challenging trekking destination. (ALSO SEE Top 10 honeymoon destinations in Uttarakhand where love is in the air) In case you are an adventure lover who wishes to check this place out, here are all the details on how to reach Roopkund Lake by road, train and air.

How to reach Roopkund by road

Roopkund lies in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand near the base of two Himalayan peaks – Trisul and Nanda Ghunti. It is a 3-day trek from the base village called Debal or Dewal. This starting point of the Roopkund trek lies at a distance of 57 km from the popular Karnaprayag in Uttarakhand. Considering Delhi as your starting point, the road route is Delhi-Haridwar-Rishikesh-Devprayag-Srinagar-Rudraprayag-Karnaprayag-Debal. The whole distance from Delhi to Debal is 477 km and will take close to 13 hours by road. The alternate route takes you through Nainital and Almora and takes around 12 hours and 50 minutes. Here is a detailed route map to reach Dewal from Delhi:

How to reach Roopkund by train

Rishikesh is the nearest railway station to Roopkund Lake. From Rishikesh, you need to follow the same road route as mentioned above. Several buses and private cabs ply between Rishikesh and Karnaprayag.

How to reach Roopkund Lake by flight

Dehradun’s Jolly Grant airport is the nearest airport to Roopkund. From the airport, you can follow the road route to reach Dewal from where the trek begins. CHECK OUT Best time to visit Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand

So, for your next adventure, try the Roopkund Lake in Uttarakhand but be sure to go with a group and a trained guide as it is one of the challenging treks out there.

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