View of Roopkund from Junargali, some 200 metres above.
The nearest settlement was a tedious five-day trek from the area.
Where had the bodies come from?
How had they been preserved so well?
Over the years, some 600 to 800 bodies were discovered.
Alternatively, they could have been Tibetan traders passing the Silk Route, who perished under an epidemic.
This was not altogether strange, considering the origin story of the lake itself.
But to her dismay, there was no source of water around.
The water was crystal clear, and mirrored the beautiful appearance of goddess Parvati.
Hence, it came to be known as Roopkund.
Clearly, supernatural elements and piety have populated local folklore in India for centuries.
A five-year long study revealed that the remains dated back to 1,200 years.
The men and women were all adults, and in healthy conditions, untouched by any epidemic.
That the site lay on the route of a pilgrimage is still under consideration.
However, no credible sources have been found to corroborate this.
