A natural spring with a water temperature above human body temperature is recognized as Hot Spring. Such springs are produced by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater that rises from the Earth’s crust. These Hot Springs water has high mineral content including Sulphur and is believed to have medicinal and healing properties to cure various ailments. Therapeutic uses of the Hot Springs have made them popular tourist destinations. India has many Hot Springs in different geographical locations and here are a few that you must visit for a delightful experience.
Panamik Hot Springs: Ladakh
Panamik village located about 150 Km from Leh in the Ladakh region is famous for its Hot Springs and is counted as one of the most popular tourist destinations for Hot Springs in India. Tourists, as well as locals travelling through Nubra Valley, invariably make a stopover at Panamik to take a dip in the hot Sulphur Springs, believing in its medicinal properties. Being a popular destination arrangement has been made for separate pools to be utilized by male and female visitors, all with cabins for showers and changing rooms. The best time to visit the place is between the months of June to August and the next time you are around the location during this time of the year, give yourself the luxury of a Panamik hot springs bath.
Chumathang Hot Springs: Ladakh
Ladakh’s Chumathang village, located on the banks of River Indus some 138 km from Leh offers you another sulphur-rich hot spring of India popular with tourists visiting Ladakh. You can check in at Chumathang Hot Spring Resort for a comfortable stay while you enjoy the scenic beauty of the snow-clad mountains and valleys around. It is a breathtaking wonder to take a dip in the 50-degree Celsius hot bubbling water of Chumathang hot spring, especially amidst the freezing temperature of Ladakh. The mineral-rich waters of the hot spring not only give you a heavenly experience of bathing but also a possible cure for skin diseases and ailments.
Kheerganga Hot Springs: Himachal Pradesh
Kheerganga is a small village on the slopes of mountains in the Parvati Valley of Himachal Pradesh and is one of the gifted abodes for natural Sulphur Hot water springs in India. It is a popular tourist destination for trekking enthusiasts from all over India and abroad. Parvati Valley is abundantly blessed with lush green forests and is home to majestic waterfalls, and beautiful wildflowers with signs of wildlife in the surrounding. There is a well-marked trekking trail through the forest and after a long enchanting trek you will find, there is no better way to rejuvenate than a dip in the Kheerganga hot springs.
Manikaran Hot Springs: Himachal Pradesh
Manikaran is a small town located in the Parvati Valley on the river Parvati in the Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh. It is a famous pilgrimage centre for both Hindus and Sikhs and is equally famous also for its Hot springs. The tourists visiting Manali and Kullu are attracted to this most visited town for its hot springs and pilgrim centres. The river flowing here carries hot boiling water which is used to prepare Langhar for the devotees visiting the Gurudwara Manikaran Sahib. You will be amazed to find, here you do not need fire to cook your raw food. People place raw rice, dal, and vegetable in large utensils and put them in the boiling hot water of the spring and their food is cooked in usually 15-20 minutes.
You can take a beneficial dip in Hot Spring in the Sarovar built inside Gurudwara Sahib in which water is directly taken from Manikaran Hot Water Spring. There is also a Garam Gufa or Hot cave in Gurudwara premises where you can sit and get rid of a lot of ailments through a natural healing process. While in Manikaran do not forget to visit the famous Shiv Temple and the Hot spring there that finds mentioned in ancient Hindu scriptures.
Hot Springs of Gaurikund: Uttarakhand
The Hot springs of Gaurikund are considered one of the holiest places for Hindus and are of great religious significance. Hindus believe that taking a dip in the waters of this Hot spring makes a person pure. Situated at the height of 2000 meters above sea level in the Garhwal Himalayas Gaurikund serves as the starting point for pilgrims trekking to the famous Kedarnath temple. Devotees on their way to the Kedarnath temple invariably take a bath in the refreshing waters of the Hot springs and also visit the Gauri Devi temple dedicated to Goddess Parvati. This Hot spring of India increases your religious fervour bringing peace to your mind as well as healing to your body.
Tattapani Hot Springs: Himachal Pradesh
Situated on the banks of river Sutlej, Tattapani is at a distance of 52 km from Shimla and is famous for its Hot springs that are spread over an area of one square kilometre. Tattapani in fact means ‘hot water’ in the local language and as generally believed the water of Tattapani Hot Spring is said to have curative powers that provide relief from ailments like joint pain, fatigue, poor blood circulation and skin diseases. Tattapani is a tourist destination for white water rafting on the Sutlej River and taking a bath in the hot spring water coming out by the side of the Sutlej River for rejuvenating oneself is just too tempting to be missed.
Bakreshwar Hot Springs: West Bengal
Bakreshwar is a village situated about 230 km from Kolkata in Dubrajpur, famous not only as a Religious pilgrim centre but also for its hot water springs. It is located on the banks of River Paaphra and the Temple built here is said to be one of the most powerful Shakti peethas as the portion between Devi Sati’s eyebrows- symbolic of her mind- is said to have fallen in this region. The region is known particularly for its scenic beauty and the seven springs surrounding the region.
Each of these springs is associated with a Shiva Linga built close to each spring and the spring water is believed to be sacred and duly worshipped by the devotees. The natural hot water springs are named variously as ‘Kunds’ with water temperature varying from 80 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature of ‘Agni Kund’ is said to be the hottest. The curative powers of the hot water spring of Bakreshwar are such that people are seen dipping their hands and feet into it just to absorb the healing divine energies.
Yumthang Hot Springs: Sikkim
Yumthang Village is located some 125 km from Gangtok and has one of the most popular Hot Springs in India. The waters of Yumthang Hot Springs have elevated temperatures close to 50 degrees C even in winter. It is a wonderful experience to soak yourself in the hot spring water gazing at the snow-capped mountains all around. The Hot Spring of Yumthang is a short distance away from the village but you will find a suitable hut at the place for changing to prepare yourself for a rejuvenating dip into one of the two pools constructed and filled with water the hot spring is situated right behind the hut. The Hot spring waters of Yumthang are rich in Sulphureted hydrogen gas and is considered beneficial for the skin.
Hot Springs of India are gifts of Nature to us with the added scenic beauty around and visiting them will definitely give you an incomparable bathing experience. Feeling the warmth of the Hot Springs often in freezing cold surroundings will certainly leave an invigorating and reviving pleasure to be felt for a long time.
Also Read: Capturing The Essence Of A Tropical Paradise
