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THE LAKE OF SBLELETONS-RUPKUNI>

Mysterious human skeletons, still well preserved and most of
them unmutilated lie scattered all around the oval shaped lake
named Rupkund which lies at an altitude of 4780 mtrs., amidst
high Himalayas of Uttarakhand. This place is marked as Tribhuj
in the survey maps of the district Chamoli (Uttar Pradesh) and
falls at a longitude £-79.44 and latitude N-30.16ata distance
of some 208 km. from Kulsari, a small village which is situated
in between Gwaldam-Karanprayag road. The lake is located
between two features called Jinnarangoli (16,300 ft,) and Chaniya
Kot (16,556 ft.) which lie just below the magnificent Nanda-
ghunti and Trisul group of peaks. The lake is approximately
500 square ft. Its circumference and its average depth is 8 ft.
The lake remains enveloped under thick snow for most part of
the year except for a brief opening during August & September
when snow melts away. At this time of the year the trekker
can see the reflection of towering Nandaghunti and other peaks
on the placid waters of the, lake. All around the lake remains
of human skeletons still lie scattered.
For a hazarding, a sojourn into this mysterious land the inquisi-
tive trekker has to reach first Kathgodam or Rishikesh from
where direct bus service is available upto Gwaldam. Gwaldam