Taking a dip in a swimming pool or a warm jacuzzi at your favourite location might sound like the ideal weekend escape in winters. But we're sure that the traveller in you would enjoy a refreshing change in the form of a natural hot spring - think a car ride with a road trip playlist, your favourite company and a natural spring at the end of it all to wipe off the fatigue. And on that note, here are 7 hot springs in India that you can drive (and in some cases trek) up to and take a dip in!
Often known for the adventurous trek, Kheer Ganga is more than that. If the adrenaline junkie in you is up for it, then this is it for you. Located in Himachal Pradesh one has to undertake the trek amidst the picturesque Himalayas to reach the hot spring. This well-maintained hot spring barely has any population crowding it, and is the perfect tranquil escape.
Not just home to one but many, hot springs in Sikkim have found a natural home. And one of the most famous one is Yumthang. With a high sulphur content in the water, it is frequented by the locals and they believe that the water here has great medicinal properties as well. This well preserved hot spring is located near the bank of the river Lachung and has two separate pools for both men and women.
Located in a small village, in the Nubra Valley, near the Siachen glacier is the northernmost hot spring in Panamik. Situated at a height of over 10,000 feet above sea level and a few kilometres from Leh, this sulphur hot spring is known for its medicinal properties and its serene surroundings.
While Kasol is famous amongst the younger population for its hippie trail, there are also some undiscovered secrets in the town - including a few hot springs. Situated parallel to the Parvati River, these natural hot springs are only a bridge away from Chalal and in the midst of a lush valley. With hardly any local or tourist population frequenting these natural springs, it becomes your private escape oasis. Manikaran, Vashisht, Tattapani are some of the popular locations.
Situated in close proximity to the Gangotri Glacier, Tapovan hot spring is located in a small village, a few kilometres away from Joshimath. Considered sacred owing to its location, and despite being a popular pilgrim town, this hot spring in Joshimath has remained hidden and offers the much required calm and peace that you've been looking for. While here, soak in the spirituality, witness the Nanda Devi peak, along with embracing the warmth of the locals and a cup of kadak chai from a roadside stall.
The only natural geothermal spring in the Birbhum district of West Bengal, Bakreshwar is a pilgrimage site. Characterised by minerals such as sodium, potassium and calcium, the waters are believed to have healing properties for the human body. In the town of Bakreshwar, the temperatures of the hot springs are soaring, sometimes as high as 80 degrees centigrade.
Hot springs in the middle of a forest are a common occurrence, but Dhuni Pani in Madhya Pradesh is anything but common. Located in the middle of dense forests in Amarkantak, this natural hot water spring is located near a temple and is believed to be spiritually significant. And like everything worth having doesn't come easy, reaching this hot spring also comes after a not-so-easy trek.