Roopkund Trek, Lohajung: History, highlights and visitor guide

History and context

The story behind Roopkund Trek

Roopkund is a small glacial lake at about 5,020 m below Trishul, known for the human skeletons first reported by a forest ranger in 1942. DNA and radiocarbon studies show the remains come from different groups who died around 800 CE and around 1800 CE.

Useful facts

Roopkund Trek facts at a glance

Location

Chamoli district, from Lohajung or Wan

Altitude

Roopkund lake about 5,020 m (16,470 ft)

Experience type

Lake trek

Known for

Skeleton lake, Ali and Bedni Bugyal, Trishul views

Time or schedule

About 7 to 8 days; May to June and mid-September to October

Why it matters

Why Roopkund Trek is worth your time

Roopkund is one of the best-known high-altitude treks in India, both for the lake and for the Bedni and Ali meadows on the way, which are among the largest high meadows in the Garhwal Himalaya. The route is also part of the Nanda Devi Raj Jat pilgrimage, which passes Wan, Bedni and Roopkund on its way to Homkund.

The trek has also been at the centre of a long legal debate about the bugyals. In 2018 the Uttarakhand High Court banned overnight camping on the meadows to protect them, which made the traditional itinerary hard to run. Trek operators report that on 20 July 2026 the Supreme Court set aside the camping ban, the 200-person cap and the national-park proposal, and that the forest department told range offices to comply. No official copy of the order could be checked, so confirm with the Badrinath Forest Division before booking. The remaining rules on permits, waste and permanent structures still apply, so a careful, low-impact trip matters.

Highlights

What not to miss

1. 01

   Ali and Bedni Bugyal

   Rolling high meadows with Trishul and Nanda Ghunti in view, and the small Bedni Kund with its shrines.

2. 02

   Patar Nachauni and Bhagwabasa

   Stony upper camps on the approach to the lake, where the landscape turns stark.

3. 03

   Roopkund lake

   A small glacial tarn at about 5,020 m, best known for the human remains around its edge.

Plan your visit

How to experience it

The trek starts at Lohajung, at about 2,300 m, where the road ends. One route walks or drives to Didna village and climbs through oak and rhododendron forest to Ali Bugyal, then follows the meadows to Bedni Bugyal at about 3,350 m. The older, steeper route starts at Wan village and climbs straight up through forest to Bedni Bugyal in a single day.

From Bedni the trail continues to Patar Nachauni, past the small Kelwa Vinayak shrine, to the last camp at Bhagwabasa. Summit day is the hardest part of the trek: a very early start, a steep climb on rock and often snow to Roopkund at about 5,020 m (16,470 ft), and a long descent. Some groups also climb to the Junargali ridge above the lake for views of Trishul and Nanda Ghunti.

Most operators run the trek in seven or eight days from Lohajung, with nights at Didna or Ali, Bedni and Patar Nachauni or Bhagwabasa. The lake is usually frozen for much of the year, and the skeletons are visible only for a short period after the snow melts. Treat the bones as protected remains: look, do not touch or remove anything.

Know before you go

Timing, access and comfort

Area

Starts at Lohajung or Wan, Chamoli district, Uttarakhand

Time needed

About 7 to 8 days from Lohajung, plus a long drive each way

Best time

Late May to June, and mid-September to October; the lake is frozen for most of the year

Walking level

Demanding

Senior comfort

Not suitable for anyone with heart, lung or knee problems, or without previous high-altitude trekking. The final day from Bhagwabasa is steep, rocky and above 4,500 m. Older parents can stay in Lohajung or drive to Wan for the Latu Devta temple while fitter family members trek.

Tickets and access

A forest permit is required and treks must be booked through a registered, authorised operator. Trek operators report that in July 2026 the Supreme Court set aside the 2018 High Court limits on camping and group size in the bugyals; this is not yet officially confirmed, and other conservation rules remain. Confirm current permits, fees and camping rules with the Badrinath Forest Division or your operator.

Plan it with

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