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Tatapani - A source of Natural
Treatment
Rajouri district of J&K is famous for hot water springs and the
most popular amongst them being the Tatapani. In local parlance Tatapani
means warm water and so the spring as well as the village besides it go
appropriately by the same name.
The place is situated about 35 KMS. away from the district
headquarter of Rajouri towards southeast direction and falls in tehsil
Kalakote that is famous for its coalmines. A motorable road connects the
place and there is the public transport operating from Rajouri and
Kalakote.
There are various versions about the origin of the spring. According
to one, the spring originated through the blessings of a Muslim Saint
sometime in the ancient past. According to another version, some ancient
travelers discovered the place by spotting a big cobra belonging to Lord
Shiva at the place where the present spring originates. Whichever legend be
true, but the place attracts people from all sects and creeds and they
bathe in the spring in their prefect harmonious and secular traditions for
which the district has the unstinted reputation. It is also true that
almost all visitors attach spiritual significance to the place and this
belief got more ground when about a decade back the water of the spring
started converting from hot to cold. The story goes that only after the
sacrifice of a goat that the water regained the original heat.
The place is surrounded by dense forests and is quite clam and
serene. In winter months the number of visitors increase tremendously. The
bathing is spring water is believed to cure many bone and joint ailments
and skin diseases. The water emanating from the spring appears very hot
even close to boiling point. People have to first adjust to water heat by
dipping hand and feet first and by and by one is able to withstand water on
the body also. The water contains a lot of minerals principally amongst
them is phosphorus.
The place is fast emerging as a tourist resort. It has a PWD rest
house and a local rest house called Sarai for tourists. For a newcomer, it
is the splendid experience of witnessing a great and freak creation of
nature.
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