Roopkund - Trek to the Mysterious Lake

Tripoto
18th Sep 2016
Photo of Roopkund - Trek to the Mysterious Lake by Diptarka Gupta

The trek to the mysterious lake, Roopkund. Everyday in the trek there was a change in the scenery. Starting from a small Himalayan village Loharjung it went to another village Didina, through rocky path and crossing a river. Then it went through lush green meadows of Ali and Bedni Bugyal to windy campsite at Pathar Nachuni. The hike from Pathar Nachuni to Kaluva Vinayak Temple was through a rocky ascent, followed by a flat trail till Bagwabasa through boulders. The final ascent to Roopkund was through fresh snowfall under moonlight, before sunrise. Saw human skeletons of more than 1200 year old lying around the lake with snow. Throughout the trek experienced different form of precipitation such as rain, hail and snow. Though we didn't get favourable condition to see snow capped mountains along the trek, but nonetheless it was an incredible experience. I will remember this awesome trek forever. Went there as a solo traveller, came back with so many awesome friends!!!

Day 1 of trek - Loharjung to Didina

Photo of Roopkund - Trek to the Mysterious Lake 1/30 by Diptarka Gupta
Nanda Ghunti from Loharjung....starting of the trek
Photo of Roopkund - Trek to the Mysterious Lake 2/30 by Diptarka Gupta
Nanda Ghunti and Trishul from near Kuling, on the way to Didina from Loharjung
Photo of Roopkund - Trek to the Mysterious Lake 3/30 by Diptarka Gupta
Didina Village
Photo of Roopkund - Trek to the Mysterious Lake 4/30 by Diptarka Gupta
A little girl from Didina Village
Photo of Roopkund - Trek to the Mysterious Lake 5/30 by Diptarka Gupta
First spotting of the Milky Way from Didina. Lights from Loharjung are visible.

Day 2 of trek - Didina to Ali Bugyal

Photo of Roopkund - Trek to the Mysterious Lake 6/30 by Diptarka Gupta
Tolkaan, a grassy clearing with oak forests
Photo of Roopkund - Trek to the Mysterious Lake 7/30 by Diptarka Gupta
Photo of Roopkund - Trek to the Mysterious Lake 8/30 by Diptarka Gupta
Shepherd's hut at Ali Bugyal
Photo of Roopkund - Trek to the Mysterious Lake 9/30 by Diptarka Gupta
Milky Way from Ali Bugyal campsite

Day 3 of trek - Ali Bugyal to Pathar Nachauni via Bedni Bugyal

Photo of Roopkund - Trek to the Mysterious Lake 10/30 by Diptarka Gupta
Early morning view of Trishul and other snow peaks from Ali Bugyal
Photo of Roopkund - Trek to the Mysterious Lake 11/30 by Diptarka Gupta
Sheeps grazing in Ali Bugyal
Photo of Roopkund - Trek to the Mysterious Lake 12/30 by Diptarka Gupta
The huge Ali Bugyal and Mt Trishul peeping from behind
Photo of Roopkund - Trek to the Mysterious Lake 13/30 by Diptarka Gupta
Ali Bugyal....This view reminds me of the 'Bliss' wallpaper in Windows XP
Photo of Roopkund - Trek to the Mysterious Lake 14/30 by Diptarka Gupta
Photo of Roopkund - Trek to the Mysterious Lake 15/30 by Diptarka Gupta
Pathar Nachuni campsite

Day 4 of trek - Pathar Nachauni to Bagwabasa

Photo of Roopkund - Trek to the Mysterious Lake 16/30 by Diptarka Gupta
View from Pathar Nachuni at dawn
Photo of Roopkund - Trek to the Mysterious Lake 17/30 by Diptarka Gupta
Bagwabasa campsite
Photo of Roopkund - Trek to the Mysterious Lake 18/30 by Diptarka Gupta
Among the clouds at Bhagwabasa

Day 5 of Trek - Bagwabasa to Roopkund and back to Bedni Bugyal

Photo of Roopkund - Trek to the Mysterious Lake 19/30 by Diptarka Gupta
View of lower mountains from snow covered Roopkund
Photo of Roopkund - Trek to the Mysterious Lake 20/30 by Diptarka Gupta
Snow covered Roopkund lake
Photo of Roopkund - Trek to the Mysterious Lake 21/30 by Diptarka Gupta
9th century skeletons beside Roopkund lake
Photo of Roopkund - Trek to the Mysterious Lake 22/30 by Diptarka Gupta
9th Century skeleton covered in snow
Photo of Roopkund - Trek to the Mysterious Lake 23/30 by Diptarka Gupta
Reaching Roopkund, 15696ft ASL
Photo of Roopkund - Trek to the Mysterious Lake 24/30 by Diptarka Gupta
Rays of sun through clouds in Bedni Bugyal

Day 6 - Bedni Bugyal to Wan, and back to Loharjung

Photo of Roopkund - Trek to the Mysterious Lake 25/30 by Diptarka Gupta
Bedni Kund with Mt Neelkantha in the background
Photo of Roopkund - Trek to the Mysterious Lake 26/30 by Diptarka Gupta
Bedni Bugyal campsite
Photo of Roopkund - Trek to the Mysterious Lake 27/30 by Diptarka Gupta
Mt Trishul partially covered under clouds from Bedni Bugyal
Photo of Roopkund - Trek to the Mysterious Lake 28/30 by Diptarka Gupta
Drying wet clothes under the sun at Bedni Bugyal campsite
Photo of Roopkund - Trek to the Mysterious Lake 29/30 by Diptarka Gupta
Mules
Photo of Roopkund - Trek to the Mysterious Lake 30/30 by Diptarka Gupta
The vastness of Bedni Bugyal