6 trekkers 'discover' Himalayan lake in U'khand with Google Earth's help

A group of six trekking enthusiasts discovered what they claim is "an unexplored lake about 160m in length and 155m wide with turquoise, crystal-clear water at an altitude of 16,500 feet" in the Uttarakhand Himalayas. Photographs of the virgin lake in Rudraprayag district of Garhwal are now being widely circulated on social media.

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Abhishek Panwar, who along with a group of friends, 'discovered the lake, told TOI, "It was in July 2021 when one of our group members, Vinay Negi, on a different trek route, spotted a random image of a lake over Nandikund on Google Earth." Panwar added that Negi made a "digital route" from Madhmaheshwar to the lake, about 60 km in distance, involving almost a week's travel. Negi then persuaded the other group members to trek there and explore the lake.