The infamous lake of Rupkund is on the route of the royal Pilgrimage and is a most desolate, mysterious and eerie site. At over 15,000ft with heavy rain falling and mist reducing visibility to no more than ten feet at times, pilgrims staggered over the rocky scree down to the lake. On its fringes lie hundreds of well preserved human bones and other objects such as old leather sandals and metal weapons. The bones, according to carbon dating, are between six and eight hundred years old but no body is sure who these people were or how or why they all died. One theory is that a raja and his retinue were taking part in this pilgrimage when their progress was impaired by foul weather. They took shelter in this remote lake filled depression but for whatever reason were never able to leave.