Shikha Gautam :
he mighty Himalayas and the charm they cast. One voyage to the mountains and you will not stay the same, always waiting for another trip back to its mighty folds. But then, the Himalayas are much more than a vacationer’s fancy. These mountains guard places so distant and unimaginable that they sound nothing less than fantasies. Considered abode to Gods, the Himalayas also have myths and beliefs as bizarre as the existence of yetis, the giant half-human snowmen. While you may have not known about this one, we have zeroed in on five more mystical places from the Himalayan folds to stoke curiosity in you.
Tiger’s Nest Monastery
An essential in every itinerary for Bhutan, this Buddhist monastery on the side of a steep cliff has a story to tell. At the heart of this monastery, lie a cave and the belief that this is where Guru Padmasambhava meditated for three years, three months, three weeks, three days and three hours. The mystery here is its location, a tough climb even in this age. As per the belief, Guru Padmasambhava flew to this spot from Tibet, on the top of a tigress! Thus, the name. One look at its precarious location, and the belief might just seem true as well. The monastery, as it looks today, was built at the meditation spot in 1692, a feat nevertheless.
Gangkhar Puensum
Gangkhar Puensum is famous as the highest, unclimbed mountain in the world. Located in Bhutan, this mountain has been measured several times yet none of the figures match each other. While that might be human inaccuracy, the fact that it stays unclimbed makes it all the more mysterious. The Bhutanese believe it to be home to mythical creatures, including yetis, and Gods as well. After multiple failed attempts to summit it, the mountains has stayed legendary. Cases and accounts of strange happenings, including unexplained noises, mysterious lights, and apparitions have been reported from those living closest to the mountain.
Gurudongmar Lake
Source of the mighty Teesta River, this high altitude lake is perched on a plateau by the side of Kanchengyao mountain range. Legends have it that the region was once parched, and the lake remained frozen all year. If you visit the lake now, even in winters, you will find a tiny spot that stays unfrozen! As for its mystery, the locals believe that Buddhist Guru Padmasambhava, also a renowned tantric, touched the very spot and blessed it to remain unfrozen to make life easy for the people around. Believe it or not, visitors as well as the locals vouch for the existence of a tiny, unfrozen corner, even in the harshest of winters.
Roopkund Lake
One of the most engaging and beautiful treks in Uttarakhand, Roopkund has a lot to its credit including a thrilling mystery. Numerous photos and visitors accounts are evidence that the trek, right near the lake, is littered with humans remains, including skeletons, bones and skulls perched on rocks. While one theory says that the skeletons belong to WWII soldiers, who were struck by a massive hailstone while on the trek, another theory says that these belong to a king’s family, cursed by a Goddess to die this way. Pick one or the other, we will never be sure of this one.
Gyanganj
Also known as the City of Immortal Beings, Gyanganj is believed to be located in a remote, inaccessible valley of the Himalayas. Several attempts by mountaineers and trekkers have been made to find its exact location, all ending in failure. Even new-age satellites and other mapping technologies have failed to map it. Buddhists, especially from Tibet and India, claim that Gyanganj is not just a place but is a higher dimension. They say that Gyanganj can only be spotted and reached by sages, yogis and other worthy souls; those who wish to stay here forever gain immortality! It might have stayed in only common folklore, but some renowned spiritual leaders have claimed to visit it, stoking the legend to a new high!
If you, too, are in forever love with the Himalayas and the mysteries that surround these mountains, do not forget to tell us about it in the comment section below.
he mighty Himalayas and the charm they cast. One voyage to the mountains and you will not stay the same, always waiting for another trip back to its mighty folds. But then, the Himalayas are much more than a vacationer’s fancy. These mountains guard places so distant and unimaginable that they sound nothing less than fantasies. Considered abode to Gods, the Himalayas also have myths and beliefs as bizarre as the existence of yetis, the giant half-human snowmen. While you may have not known about this one, we have zeroed in on five more mystical places from the Himalayan folds to stoke curiosity in you.
Tiger’s Nest Monastery
An essential in every itinerary for Bhutan, this Buddhist monastery on the side of a steep cliff has a story to tell. At the heart of this monastery, lie a cave and the belief that this is where Guru Padmasambhava meditated for three years, three months, three weeks, three days and three hours. The mystery here is its location, a tough climb even in this age. As per the belief, Guru Padmasambhava flew to this spot from Tibet, on the top of a tigress! Thus, the name. One look at its precarious location, and the belief might just seem true as well. The monastery, as it looks today, was built at the meditation spot in 1692, a feat nevertheless.
Gangkhar Puensum
Gangkhar Puensum is famous as the highest, unclimbed mountain in the world. Located in Bhutan, this mountain has been measured several times yet none of the figures match each other. While that might be human inaccuracy, the fact that it stays unclimbed makes it all the more mysterious. The Bhutanese believe it to be home to mythical creatures, including yetis, and Gods as well. After multiple failed attempts to summit it, the mountains has stayed legendary. Cases and accounts of strange happenings, including unexplained noises, mysterious lights, and apparitions have been reported from those living closest to the mountain.
Gurudongmar Lake
Source of the mighty Teesta River, this high altitude lake is perched on a plateau by the side of Kanchengyao mountain range. Legends have it that the region was once parched, and the lake remained frozen all year. If you visit the lake now, even in winters, you will find a tiny spot that stays unfrozen! As for its mystery, the locals believe that Buddhist Guru Padmasambhava, also a renowned tantric, touched the very spot and blessed it to remain unfrozen to make life easy for the people around. Believe it or not, visitors as well as the locals vouch for the existence of a tiny, unfrozen corner, even in the harshest of winters.
Roopkund Lake
One of the most engaging and beautiful treks in Uttarakhand, Roopkund has a lot to its credit including a thrilling mystery. Numerous photos and visitors accounts are evidence that the trek, right near the lake, is littered with humans remains, including skeletons, bones and skulls perched on rocks. While one theory says that the skeletons belong to WWII soldiers, who were struck by a massive hailstone while on the trek, another theory says that these belong to a king’s family, cursed by a Goddess to die this way. Pick one or the other, we will never be sure of this one.
Gyanganj
Also known as the City of Immortal Beings, Gyanganj is believed to be located in a remote, inaccessible valley of the Himalayas. Several attempts by mountaineers and trekkers have been made to find its exact location, all ending in failure. Even new-age satellites and other mapping technologies have failed to map it. Buddhists, especially from Tibet and India, claim that Gyanganj is not just a place but is a higher dimension. They say that Gyanganj can only be spotted and reached by sages, yogis and other worthy souls; those who wish to stay here forever gain immortality! It might have stayed in only common folklore, but some renowned spiritual leaders have claimed to visit it, stoking the legend to a new high!
If you, too, are in forever love with the Himalayas and the mysteries that surround these mountains, do not forget to tell us about it in the comment section below.
