INDIA- A PANDORA BOX

India is famous amongst travelers because of its vast geographical landscapes and the mesmerizing beauty that nature has gifted. It is well said, people who travel to India take back so much with them in the form of reminiscence of what their eyes beheld. Today we are going to unravel mysteries associated with a few of the famous lakes in India.

ROOPKUND LAKE

Most famously known as Skeleton Lake, there is a lot of mystery shrouding it. This lake has left many travelers bewildered, as they try to figure out the reason, behind the presence of human skeletons and broken skulls.

However, the mystery has been unveiled after a lot of research done by scientists. The lake is situated in the Himalayas almost at an altitude of 5,029 meters above the sea level.

Many stories revolved around the lake. Some said they were the skeletons of Japanese soldiers and some said they were skeletons of an army General and his troop members.

Few also believed a suicide ritual took place and these were the traces of it. Finally, it was identified, the skeletons were of local pilgrims from 850 A.D, who was caught in a hail storm that took their lives.

LONAR LAKE

Lonar Lake situated near Buldhana, Maharashtra, is a lake that mysteriously changed its color overnight, and turned pink. The lake was formed by a gigantic comet that hit the earth creating the dent. It is believed to be 50,000 years old.

However, there is another story linked to the lake. The lake was said to be the home to the mythological demon named Lonasura, who was pushed to Neanderthals by Lord Vishnu. This resulted in a change of the color of the lake.

However, science revealed, the color of the lake changed due to the presence of micro-organisms and alkaline content in the water. A perfect blend of myth and science is what makes this lake a unique one.

DAL LAKE

Situated in the paradise of India – Srinagar, Kashmir is this beautiful lake that has forever attracted tourists. In fact, this lake is also known as the jewel in the crown of Kashmir.

The splendid sight of the placid lake with houseboats and wooden Shikaras floating on it is sure to leave you in complete awe. But this is not all, the lake is surrounded by stories that would urge you to make a visit.

It is a Hindu belief that Kashmir was actually a water body which meant the whole state was a huge lake, and Sage Kashyap dried all the water and turned it into the land, however keeping the Dal lake in its original form.

CHILKA LAKE

This is a lake in Odisha which is a very famous tourist spot. The lake is surrounded by land on three sides and the fourth opening of the lake meets the sea. It is one of the rarest lakes in India to have dolphins in it.

This lake is a paradise for bird lovers, in winter thousands of feathered guests visit the lake from various parts of the world. One can witness migratory birds and water-fowls from as far as Siberia, Lake Baikal, Arsal sea, some parts of Russia., Mongolia, central and southeast Asia, etc. They generally visit by mid of October and flies back in late March.

Apart from this, there is a tale that revolves around the lake making it mysterious. The tale goes on like this. There was a girl named Jai who as per the ancient Hindu norms was married at a very young age. When she reached her adolescence, she was traveling with her father in a boat to her husband’s house which was situated on an island in the lake. On the way, a cyclone hit the lake and they were caught in a huge whirlpool. The boat turned over and too much dismay, Jai could not be found, though her father and the boatman survived.

It is believed by the locals that Jai, when caught in the whirlwind turned into Goddess Kali and attained Moksha. In her honor, the Kalijai temple was built in the Banapur village on the banks of Chilkalake.

The locals used to hear the helpless cries of Jai, but after the construction of the temple, the screams stopped. Though, a few boatmen claim to hear her screams to date, and also a visible whirlpool is noted at that particular spot in the lake, the route that is generally avoided by the boatmen while carrying the tourists.

 

MANSAROVAR LAKE

One of the holiest lakes as considered by the Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains situated at the foothills of the great Mount Kailash, known as the home of Hindu Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The lake is also considered to be the batching place for the Saptarishi of Hindu beliefs. Spatarishi is the seven sages who are the pillars of Hinduism as found in the Vedas.

Now let us sneak a peek at what makes this lake a mysterious one. As claimed by many pilgrims and tourists, some paranormal activities have been witnessed. This includes splashing of the lake water, and sounds of invisible beings, and their ornaments cluttering, which can be heard clearly. This splashing is heard in the early hours of the morning like 3:00 AM. It is believed that the lake acts as an airport for departed souls, from where the souls depart to the next world, and a few enter the present world.

Another such mysterious event is the spotting of some white lights on the lake which is visible with the naked eye. The lights are like white spots that move in the same direction across the lakes. It is believed that those lights are the spirits of holy sages or souls.

These were a few of the mysterious lakes of India, confirming the fact that this is a land, where folklore and fantasy are found in the air we breathe. When these folklores come to life and shows up in reality, that is when a mystery is built, which cannot be explored and explained by logic and science alone.