Himalaya the place of Hindu Gods and Goddess is also full of mysteries and is the most beautiful place on the earth. In my childhood I have heard that during the Pralay [Black day, the day of elopement of earth for the start of new era of human civilization] whole earth goes under water baring about 1k.m. circumference area at Himalaya and human population remains there starts the life once again as the forefathers of new human civilization, after several years of being under water, when earth slowly start coming out.
A remote place of the Himalayan mountain range Roopkund came in the news around 1942, when a park ranger Madhwal discovered some skeletons under the layers of the ice. Presently the place comes in the Chamoli district of recently constructed state Uttranchal. Being situated in the lap of Tirshul Roopkund [altitude of 5029 mts] is also an attraction for the trekkers. Roopkund is on the way of Nanda Jat route to Homkund, Here earth surface remains covered by the ice all most whole year only in summer for few weeks, when ice melts it is possible to have a look of earth. During the ice melting period of 1942 one park ranger saw some skeletons floating in a hardly two meters deep lake, due to this very less depth lake is also known as the Shallow lake. The mystery of whose skeleton are these is unsolved hence people also call the lake as the Mystery lake. The strength thing is that some skeletons are with the flesh.
In 1960, some samples of skeletons were tested for the carbon dating and results showed that the skeletons are of the people from between 12th and 15th century. Radio carbon dating pinpointed the period to 9th century. Initially it was thought that the skeletons are of the Chinese people but DNA test at Hyderabad based centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology [CCMB] have not only proved the Indian origin of the skeletons but also concluded the death time to 8th century. According to officials of CCMB these enormously tall people were most probably belongs to same family and having an extra bone in head. All the skeleton samples indicates present of two groups and were died under the effect of Hail storm of hails of size equivalent to cricket ball.
Local Version about the origin of Skeletons
According to local people all most 600 years back there was a king Raja Jasdal of the Kanauj area, He was married with Gadwal princess Balpa. Balpa was religious sister of Goddess Nanda Devi. King Jasdal decided to go for pilgrimage, pregnant queen Balpa was also with him and at this place has given birth to a babe. Goddess Nanda Devi thought that they have violated the sacredness of the place, she brought the ice storm and all were fall pray of death by this. The skeletons founds belongs to that group. This story might be the reason behind the faith that if a lady goes for the journey of Roopkund, natural calamity bound to occur.
Another story says that these skeletons are of the General Zorawar Singh and his army, who last their lives in the storms of Himalaya, on their way back to Kashmir from the Tibet war. Presence of horse skeleton supports this but presence of woman skeleton goes against it and also the history which indicates period of Zorawar Singh around 1830, where as the skeletons are recognized as about 600 years old.
In the opinion of some people these skeletons are of the Nar Bali [Offering living human] to Goddess Nanda devi. In the old days it was tradition that an elder person was selected as Nar Bali offering and the cremation of the person done, while the person was alive. Symbolically hairs and nails were cut down and present as the offering to Goddess. It was faith the person dies soon after all this and the skeletons found are of those persons.
A few people say that skeletons are the some of the traveler groups belonging to some royal family were on the excursion of Himalaya with the local group of local guides. The lost their way and adverse situations forced them to lose their lives. Presence two groups of skeletons go in favor of this story.
There is also a story about the formation of shallow lake at Roopkund. Once Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati was walking in Himalaya. All of sudden Parvati expressed her desire of seeing own face to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva has made a small lake with the help of Tirshul and in the water of that Parvati saw her face. The place was Roopkund and lake was one which is presently also known as the Skeleton Lake.
The complete mystery is still to be unfolded. The questions related to the origin and cause of death needs more satisfying answers. Geographical location of Roopkund and adverse climatic conditions also making it difficult for research scholars to go for the search of truth but one thing is sure one day we will be with the answer of Roopkund Mystery.
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