If you’re a serious trekker, you can not miss what is perhaps the most beautiful, difficult and spookiest treks in India – to the Roopkund Lake. It’s best to put a disclaimer right at the beginning: this is not for the faint-hearted. You not only have to be physically fit to get here but also have the mental strength to endure everything. Also Read - Uttarakhand Eases Travel Restrictions for Tourists, Here's All You Need To Know

Roopkund is a glacial lake amidst the virgin forests of Nanda Devi National Park in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand. The lake sits at a height of 16, 500 ft. It is overlooked by the snow-caped mountain peaks of Nanda Ghunti and Trishul massif. It’s no mean feat reaching Roopkund in the first place. It involves a lot of travelling by train and bus, and of course innumerable hours of walking, hiking and trekking as well. Kathgodam is the closest railway station to the base camps for Roopkund trek. A bus from there to Lohajung will take 14-15 hours. And from there it’s a one hour drive to Wan – the basecamp for Roopkund. Also Read - Heading to Uttarakhand? You Need to Follow These Inter-State Travel Guidelines

There are many stories about this mysterious shallow crater in the mountains. Some say that back in 1942, the skeletons in the lake were discovered by a Nanda Devi range along with spearheads, rings and slippers. Upon study, it showed that the carbon dating suggested that these skeletons dated back to 800 AD. One of the popular explanations after matching the DNA is that a group of 200 pilgrims from Maharashtra to Nanda Devi Raj Jat had become victim to an avalanche. Another popular story goes that General Zorawar Singh of Kashmir, and his men were said to have lost their way and perished in the Himalayas, on their way back after the Battle of Tibet in 1841. Also Read - 2021 Haridwar Kumbh: In a First, Number of Pilgrims to Be Restricted; Entry Passes to Be Issued

Here are a few reasons why you must undertake this trek at least once in your lifetime:

For the love of gorgeous and mighty Himalayas

A 360 degree view of the majestic mountains, uninterrupted peace, and a sense of achievement are the things you should climb up to the Roopkund lake for in your lifetime. The entire experience will help you reconnect with yourself and with others like you who’ve come out of their comfort zones too.

For bonding with people in a real location

At 16,ooo ft, in the lap of nature, you will find some fellow humans to socialise with and it’s going to be different than what you do through Facebook. Low or no network connectivity often proves a boon to those trekking in the Himalayas. Because then you end up exchanging real life stories and experiences; something which has become a luxury in our modern-city lives.

For the love of photography

These are some real vistas that make for stunning frames on this trek. Sky-high peaks radiating whites of snow, sun peeping through the tall, dense trees, stars dotting every inch of the sky, and lush green meadows spreading endlessly to the horizon – you can never have enough of it. You will come back with photos that’ll have people drool over it.