Mysterious Skeleton Lake of Roopkund, India

In 1942 a British forest guard in Roopkund, India found skeletons of about 200 people in a frozen lake, some 16,000 feet above sea level, at the bottom of a small valley.

Image Credit: aberrantwanderers.com

Initially, it was believed that these were the remains of Japanese soldiers who had died of exposure while sneaking through India. Upon examination team of investigators sent by British government later realized these bones were not from Japanese soldiers as they weren't fresh enough.

Many theories were put forth including an epidemic, landslide, and ritual suicide. For decades, no one was able to shed light on the mystery of Skeleton Lake.

However, a 2004 expedition to the site seems to have finally revealed the mystery that all the bodies date to around 850 AD. Evidences suggest that group was comprised of pilgrims and shorter group of locals heading through valley. They trapped in the valley with nowhere to hide or seek shelter, the "hard as iron” cricket ball-sized (about 23 centimeters) hailstones came by the thousands, resulting in the travelers' bizarre sudden death.

Source:

Mysterious Skeleton Lake of Roopkund, India Mysterious Skeleton Lake of Roopkund, India Reviewed by Vasanth on August 05, 2014 Rating: 5