The Largest Cluster of Hot Springs Of The World inOdisha

Odisha Holds the Largest Cluster of Hot Springs In Her Bosom

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Introduction

Hot Springs or Geothermal springs  are an uncommon geographic feature where hot water ascends from the ground. Hot water springs might be alluded to as comforting and consoling  pools of mother nature, particularly in deep freezing climatic conditions.  There are in excess of 350 hot springs or in other words geothermal springs in India. The greater part of them are in the region of central India. Every one of them are invigorating  tourist attractions.

Out of >350, four are in Odisha. It is believed that there are more than 4 in Odisha which are yet to be  located and brought to the public notice. All those 350 hot springs are generally restricted along the fringe of the Gondwana Graben . The chemical constituents of the water are normally identified with interaction between ascending water and rock.  The warming system is because of geothermal inclinations, decay of radioactive materials and exothermic responses. 

Health Benefits of Hot Springs

All those various hot springs in India are visited regularly by explorers and pilgrims.People normally feel that the warmth alongside the high mineral substance of the water, is useful for one’s skin ailments particularly. Individuals with skin irritations, allergy, rashes, dermatitis , muscular pains or joint problems frequently visit these hot springs very often . 

The hot water dissolves more minerals in contrast with cold water . The sulphur content of rocks gets dissolved in hot waters to some degree and in this way gives a pungent smelling. The pungent smell comes because of the possible presence of sulphur dioxide ( SO2) or hydrogen sulphide ( H2S) in the hot water. Sulphur-rich hot springs are additionally thought to assist treatment with drying scalp, ligament torment and internal issues like menopausal manifestations and stomach related problems.

While a few of these hot springs contain water that is having a safe and tolerable temperature for bathing, washing etc. ,  others are excessively hot to the point that drenching can bring about injury or death.Volcanic hot springs , for example, those in Yellowstone National Park in the United States, where one finds the temperature of the water is more than 100°C .

Reason  behind  the emergence of hot water springs

As we probably are aware, the deeper we go down the earth, the more blazing it gets and find magma(molten rock) at the external center of the earth. This magma(800 to 1300 ° C ) is encircled by various layers of the earth. In case there is a break or crack in the layers of earth(one layer of the covering breaking and being pushed over another), colossal measures of thermal energy  will be moved from the magma to the encompassing rocks. 

Then after all that heat gets transferred from the rocks along those cracks to the water present down there.

As the temperature of the water builds, its thickness  or density diminishes which brings about the ascent of the boiling water toward the surface along those cracks  as hot springs.

Few facts about  hot springs

Some of the most sought after hot springs of India are located in Himachal Pradesh ,Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Ladakh. Few of those widely visited hot springs of India which tops the list are the following…

KheerGanga (Kullu district, HP)

Manikaran.   ( Parvati valley , Kullu

                        District, HP)

Tattapani      ( On the bank of Satluj     

                         river, Mandi, HP)

Reshi.           ( On the bank of river 

                         river Rangeet, Sikkim)

Yumthang.   (Yumthang village,Sikkim)

Gaurikund.  (Garhwal region,

                       Uttarakhand)

Panamic in Nubra Valley ( Near Siachen Glacier, Located 150kms from Leh )

Etcetera……..

              

One of the countries generally well known for its hot springs is Japan. There are more than 3000 of these hot springs, called “Onsen”,  dispersed the nation over – which is more than elsewhere on the planet.In Japan too, several spas have been developed around those hot springs .

In Japan, there is a  law for regulating hot springs  to manage the quality of the hot water ascending from underearth. Groundwater might contain constituents  which may prove harmful to the human body.  Subsequently, an examination of the water is made  by an expert before it very well may be utilized by the general public.

Hot Springs of Odisha

Let me give a brief description about all those four hot springs which are mostly visited by tourists to Odisha.

Geographical location of the four hot springs. Points A, B, C, and D on the map represent the hot springs… Deulajhari, Taptapani, Tarabalo, and Atri, respectively.

pc: researchgate

                                             Distance from

Atri                Baghamari.        BBSR                                                  

                        (Khourda)    42 Kms

Taptapani    Ganjam    259 Kms

Tarabalo    Bhapur

                        (Nayagarh)    75 Kms

Deulajhari    Athamallik

                        (Angul)    195 Kms

   

ATRI

Entrance to the Hatakeshwar Mahadev temple, khordha.nic.in

Open facade surrounding the hot springs, khordha.nic.in

Hot water bathing ponds

pc: khordha.nic.in

Atri is around 15 km west of Khordha 

( 20.15°N 85.30°E) . The closest air terminal is at Bhubaneswar.The drive from Bhubaneswar is 42 Kms by means of NH 16 and Atri road.  Closest railhead is Khordha Road Junction Railway Station.Atri is popular for its perennial hot spring. The streams of hot  water never dries up. The hot spring is presumed to have therapeutic properties utilized  for bathing. The water of the hot spring (the temperature stays 57 degrees centigrade round the year ) contains little dosages of sulfur . That’s why the pungent smell becomes intense ( because of the release of hydrogen sulphide H2S gas) when the spring water is boiled. There is a Bathing Complex of Govt. of Odisha at Atri . Not a long way from the hot spring,  there is the sacrosanct altar of Lord Hattakeswar Mahadev. The premise of the temple becomes the scene of a stupendous yearly fair  called Makar Jatra, upon the arrival of Makar Sankranti (mid January) . On this day the guests assemble in enormous numbers to worship Lord Hatakeswar to  beg Lord’s blessings and they additionally take a dip in the ponds of the hot spring to get restored of their skin ailments .

TAPTAPANI 

Maa Kandhuni Devi peetha , Taptapani

The origin of Taptapani hot spring, where Maa Kandhuni Devi is reverred.

Surrounding scenic beauty of Taptapani

The origin of Taptapani hot spring

Surrounding scenic beauty of Taptapani

Taptapani is a frequently  visited hot spring of Ganjam district ( 19.3°N 84.24°E). The closest town is Mohana( 16kms) and the closest railhead is Berhampur ( 50 Kms). The drive from Bhubaneswar is 259 Kms through NH 16.Taptapani is situated at the foot of the Dhandamara and Sanakhemundi hills. 

It is well known for a perpetual hot spring of restorative sulfuric water which is situated close by the State Highway that interfaces Berhampur with Western Odisha. Being encircled by a bunch of slopes and thick forests, the peacefulness of nature at Taptapani is complemented by magnificent sights of tribal dance and music, chirping birds ,  sight of wild creatures and nevertheless serene sunrise, sunset , moonlit evenings.

Taptapani is worshiped by the local tribes as the mother goddess Kandhuni.  In the middle of the water fountain, there lies a symbolic sculpture of the goddess Kandhuni .  Every Monday and Sankranti, devotees seek betel nuts from the hot springs with the help of ropes or cords, which were earlier offered to Goddess Kandhuni by other devotees. People believe that if at all they find anything from the narrow gorge of the hotspring, their desires will be fulfilled.

The spot draws in huge numbers of sightseers, Artists, essayists, researchers, picnickers, newly married couples etc…

TARABALO

Tarabalo is a well-known cluster of hot springs ( spreads over an area of 8 acres of land, 20.14°N 85.19°E ) located in Bhapur block of Nayagarh district. Numerous uncountable numbers of hot water sprouts dotted all around in those vast 8 acres of land. In several particular points within those 8 acres of land,  you will feel as if you are walking on a bumpy spongy mattress.  It  is located at a distance of 75 Kilometers from the capital city of Bhubaneshwar.  Sulphur water of the springs having certain medicinal properties is believed to be useful for a long time treatment of skin diseases and also related to religious rituals.  The all encompassing perspectives and the plant life of nature all around makes Tarabalo an intriguing picnic spot. 

But a lot of infrastructural support needs to be provided if at all the government seriously wants to promote this extraordinary hotspring.

DEULAJHARI

Lord Siddheswar temple at Deulajhari

Jasmine plants overshadowed many of those hot water springs.

People taking bath in the hot water spring, pc:angul.nic.in

Main entrance to the hotsprings scattered over an expanded area.

Many of the hot spring sprouts completely overshadowed by the jasmine plants.

Deuajhari is the old fortress of Saivism, found 6 Km away from Athamallik and 90 Km away from Angul. Deulajhari hot spring is around 195 Kms from Bhubaneswar.The latitude and longitudinal reference of the spot is 20.44 ° N and 84.29°E . The uniqueness of the spot lies in its natural hot springs that encompass the temple.  These hot springs are often referred to as the largest cluster of hot springs that is ever found anywhere else in India. According to the old records there were 84 such springs spreading over an area of roughly 24 acres of land , however a significant number of these have been dominated in the dense  jasmine woods. Presently 24 springs are alive. Among these, the hot springs bearing the names like Agnikunda, Taptakunda, Himakunda, Annantakunda and Labakusa Kunda are noticeable ones. The temperature of water in these springs changes from 40 degree Celsius to 62 degree Celsius. The temple complex covers a space of 24 acres of land ( 9.7 hectares) and 55 decimals of land.

There lies a Shiva temple, which  has been developed in the midst of thick native Jasmine plants (locally known as Kiabana) that stand as the high dividers around the temple. The wonder of nature is that a hot spring and a cold spring exist side by side in front of the temple. The presiding deity of the temple is lord Sidheswara .

Dr Manoj Mishra

lunarsecstasy@gmail.com