Welcome, everyone!
Today I got something very absorbing, mystery surely will be a subject that you'll enjoy to read about,
but before I begin, I would like to take this space and fulfill my desire of showing you how grateful I am...
Not long ago I started this blog not even thinking that I would achieve so much feedback - people interested in what I talk about, you make me feel wonderful. Every single post I share with you, in my opinion, is prepared as well as I possibly can prepare it, I wouldn't waste your time with effortless, unfinished work. Well, now that it's said, without further due, I would like to present you the Roopkund;
The mysterious Skeleton Lake is located in an almost completely isolated part of the world's largest mountains - the Himalayas. Having an altitude of 5029 meters above sea level. This place is referred to as a mass grave because there are between 300 and 500 human skeletons. The discovery of this unusual and somewhat dark place took place in 1942. Studies showed that skeletons found here date back to between the 12th and 15th century. These discoveries have revolutionized all the knowledge about this location. First theories spoke about deaths caused by natural disasters, such as landslides, violent snowstorms or even diseases caused by bacteria.
Interesting discoveries about this place appeared in 2004 when a group of European and Indian scientists gone to Roopkund, they worked on behalf of the National Geographic Channel. At their disposal was, for example, an advanced technical equipment, including sonar and a camera that allows taking pictures under the surface of the water. Their research led to finding "treasures", at least from the anthropological point of view. There were corpses under the water, which were very well preserved, except for bones, skulls, and jewelry. DNA tests were carried out, which led to the conclusion that the skeletons found here belonged to two different groups of people. The main factor that distinguished them was growth. One group was definitely lower than the other one. The theory says that the lower group was made up of local craftsmen, while the higher one was consisting of people belonging to one clan who worked as porters.
Nowadays, despite the significant scientifical achievements and deep knowledge of the past, we still do not know the exact reason for the presence of so many human skeletons in this location. This issue raises numerous controversies among residents, paleontologists, and anthropologists. You can also find opinions that the whole lake is fake, created to increase tourist attraction in the area. According to other people, these are the remains of pilgrims who committed ritual suicide in this location. Skulls from there have been examined by scientists from London and Hyderabad. Inspection led to the conclusion that fractures on their surface are an accurate representation caused by the hailstorm. Those people have probably been in the fully open space of the Garhwal Himalayan, they had to suffer death and had no chance to survive. Scientists are also speculating that since the massacre took place in this location, at least a few landslides have erupted in Roopkunds, which buried the previous victims at the bottom of the lake. Some of them may still be intact, well preserved, and under the ice cover.
We can assume that the cause of the mysterious death of so many people has been solved. However, the mystery remains where the people could go. In the world known to us, Roopkund has never been an important region.
There are no traces of any trade routes in this part of Tibet whatsoever, it also isn't a place where pilgrimages been going. "Lake Skeletons" is the film that presents Roopkund as the place where the festival "Nanda Jaat yatra" took place - important for the Garhwal religion, which took place every 12 years. In the context of an unsolved, mysterious riddle, this story suggests that skeletons belonged to students who participated in such mass processions. Local legend assumes another explanation, which says that the king who participated in these religious ceremonies, went to them accompanied by dancers. Such acts were made to offend the divine Nande, who sent a blizzard to feasting people, leading to the massacre. Regardless of the deaths of so many people, it still isn't possible to determine what could have caused them.
That's truly an interesting, mysterious and very suspicious location, today we think that all the questions have been answered, but can we be so sure? Let me know your thoughts, as always; have a wonderful and productive day!;)
