Hot Springs in Himachal Pradesh have become very popular because of their medicinal properties. Most of these springs are located in the Beas River and Satluj River. Generally found in Himachal Pradesh are three types of hot springs - Simple Springs, Mineral Springs and Thermal Springs.
Simple Springs are just like any ordinary springs coming out from an underground source to surface.
Mineral Springs contain water with some mineral dissolved in it.
Thermal Springs are very hot.
The famous Hot Springs in Himachal Pradesh are as follows :
Hot Springs at Manikaran:
Mani karan is 45 km. from Kullu. Manikaran lies in the Parvati valley of Kullu district. The spring is situated near the bank of Parbati River. These are confined to several groups of hot water springs emerging at various locations spreading up to a distance of about 1.3 kms. The springs at Manikaran come out to surface with pressure and are very hot. There is no sulphur or iron mixed in the waters, but it is said to be radio active. The water of these springs is so much hot that pulses, rice, vegetables etc. can be boiled and cooked in it. There is a Gurudwara here serving visitors and provides night stay. In the Gurudwara, the dal, rice and vegetables are boiled in the hot water and served to the visitors after cooking them fine and surprisingly the meal is tasty. Vegetables etc. are cooked in a pan resting on the hot water. Usually the meal is cooked fine in 20 minutes. Even `chapattis` are cooked by immersion. The heat near the boiling place, where the meal is cooked, is so high that in habitual persons can not even stand and tolerate the heat for some minutes.
The healing properties of the Manikaran Springs are well known all over the country. Pigrims from far come here and for the cure of their ailments. Rheumatism and muscular pains are said to cure very fast by taking bath in this water. According to a legend, Manikaran is associated with Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati. Mani Karan means Ear Rings - it is said that once, while taking bath here, Maa Parvati lost her ear rings in the Kund (pond). When she told it to Lord Shiva, he became furious and looked at the water of the kund with great anger and then thousands of ear rings flowed out from the boiling water and since then the water of the spring is boiling. The rocks surroundings the springs are also very hot.
Hot Springs at Vashishta:
Vashishta is 6 km. from Manali. It is located well above the Beas River. The hot water springs emerge through granites gneisses which, in this part of the Himalaya, cover a very large area. Vashishta hot water springs have made this low profile village famous around the world. The village is 3 km. from Manali on the left bank of the river Beas, at the foot of a laterite and conglomerate rock hill covered with majestic Deodar and pines. The water Kunds (ponds) are in the centre of the village. The temperature of the water varies from 110øF to 123øF. Almost 3,000 people take a dip in the tanks each day. There is also a tank reserved for females. Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation has also built `Turkish type baths` about 500 meters below Vashisht village to tap the spring`s curative potential. The hot water is brought through pipe and stored in a huge water tank.
Hot Springs at Tattapani:
Tattapani is 51 km. from Shimla and 29 km. from Naldera. It is a famous tourist resort. It is located in district Mandi. It is located on the right bank of river Satluj at an altitude of 656 meters. This natural sulphur spring is pure and has curative power for various kings of bodily ailments. The water level of the spring keeps changing with the fluctuation in the water level of the river. Tatta-pani means hot water.
Hot Springs at Kasol:
The hot springs in Kasol can be approached by footpath and is about 1 km. further up stream Manikaran, opposite Nikhthan village. Hot water emerges only at one location at Kasol. The temperature of the water here is much lower than that of Mani Karan.
Hot Springs at Khirganga:
Another Hot Spring site is Khirganga. It is 26 km. from Kullu and 10 km. from Pulga. It is also famous for hot water springs. Here, the temperature of the water is much lower than that of Mani Karan.
