Hot Springs Of India – Unwind With A Dip

India is a country with an extremely diverse culture and geography. People who visit the country are astounded by a variety that India provides for, be it cuisine, culture, language or a holiday destination.

I’m sure you must have read hundreds of articles and blogs on the best places to visit in India, which included some mainstream tourist destinations on a hill station or a coastal city or probably a tropical state adorned with dense forests. But nature never fails to surprise us, and to prove it we have hot springs! Yes, you read this right, hot springs in India are not much talked about, but are one of the most impressive ways of nature to tell us that there nothing that can’t be done naturally, even if it’s something as simple as boiling water.

Don’t Know What Hot Water Spring Is?

For those of you who don’t know what a hot water spring is, it is the surfacing of groundwater that has a rising temperature due to geothermal activity which elevates the temperature of the water and arises on the surface. Some of the hot springs are at a moderate temperature, ideal for a quick or a long soothing bath, but some are dangerously hot and must be looked from at a distance to avoid any type of damage.

It is also known that many people travel across the globe to cure certain diseases and skin problems that are apparently cured by the medicinal powers of the hot waters. One of the reasons why it happens is because the minerals and therapeutic chemicals dissolve in hot water quicker than they do in cold water, and the temperature also heals the body better than normal or cold water.

Now that you know what a hot spring is, let’s dig into some of the famous hot springs of India, not literally, though!

1. Manikaran

Manikaran hot spring is one of the most famous in the country located in the Manikaran Sahib Gurudwara in Kullu. With a scenic view of the temple, this hot spring is visited by many of the pilgrims with the beliefs of the medicinal powers in the water that cures many chronic diseases. There are more than one hot springs in Manikaran, and some of them are so hot that you can actually boil rice and pulses by dipping them into the boiling spring.
The best time to visit Manikaran is in the winter season, starting from October to March.

2. Panamik

It is lesser-known hot spring in the Nubra valley of Ladakh. The spring in Panamik village is known to be sulphur rich and believed to cure various skin diseases. The nature of hot springs is extremely therapeutic which attracts hundreds of people from across the country and also from the nearby villages to visit and take a dip.
The best time to visit the Nubra valley is from April to June and then September to October. The winters are extremely chilly here in Ladakh and may cause frostbite and other altitude-related problems.

3. Tattapani

This famous hot spring is located in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh about 50 kilometers away from Shimla. The word ‘Tattapani’ literally means hot water. These sulphur rich springs surface on the banks of the Sutlej River, which is the longest river that flows through Punjab in India and Pakistan. The healing properties of these springs have massively increased the tourism of Mandi.

4. Kheerganga

Kheerganga is a village located in Himachal and one of the most famous trekking routes popular amongst travelers these days. Situated in the renowned Parvati valley the springs can be reached via the Barsahini village as you trek through the dense hill-forests. The hot springs occur in an open view area with a gorgeous backdrop of Lahaul-Spiti valley. Again, the hot water is enriched with various minerals and medicinal properties that heal many skin problems and is also a perfect place to unwind and relax with a view that automatically heals you mentally.

5. Yumthang

This is probably one of the unheard hot springs in India, which is only known to the locals and travel fanatics. Situated in the Yumthang valley of Sikkim, parallel to the Lachung river, these two hot springs are extremely high in minerals and remain at an average temperature of 50 degree Celsius which is ideal for a good long relaxing bath. Also, you may explore the stunning valley of flowers in Yumthang and a picturesque view of snow coated mountains.

6. Bakreshwar

This set of 10 hot springs is located in Birbhum, West Bengal. A famous pilgrim destination that attracts a lot of tourists to visit these springs that varies in temperature. Some springs are moderately hot, while some can go up to 80 degrees Celsius. Agni Kund which basically means the fire pool is the hottest amongst all enriched with minerals like Sulphur, chloride, potassium, calcium and many others that help to heal the body from within and of course it is beneficial for the skin.

7. Suryakund

Last, but not the least; Suryakund is probably one of the holiest hot spring in India. The hot water spring is famously known to be a part of ‘Chardham Yatra’ which is a religious tour of the 4 main temples in India i.e. Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. The ‘Kund’ is believed to be a testimony of the Sun God, who was the father of River Yamuna according to Hindu Mythology. The hot spring serves as a holy place at the Yamunotri shrine and the Prasad is prepared by boiling lentils, pulses, rice and potatoes in the holy hot water.

Since now you have read about these surprising destinations that serve for a healing and tourism purpose, plan an out of the box getaway to one of these wonderful and magical hot springs, and enjoy a hot water bath, but with a scenic view.