Tattapani And White River Rafting In The Sutlej

Himachal Pradesh has a chain of Hot Water Springs, like Tattapani near Shimla, Vashisht near Manali and Manikaran near Kullu, which surprisingly lie along the banks of some of the coldest rivers in the country. So we decided to travel a distance of about 50 KM from Shimla to visit Tattapani at an elevation of 650 M on the Bank of River Sutlej which incidently is the longest river (900 miles) among the five rivers of Punjab and merges with Chenab near Bahawalpur in Pakistan. The other three rivers being Beas, Jhelum, and Ravi.

The  December journey from an elevation of 2150 M on a sunny day was refreshing but not cold at all. At the river bed, it was like Califronian Spring weather. We passed extremely nice vegetation with fully grown trees like Pine, Oak, Cedar, Himalyan Deodar, Mapple and Chestnut. It was picturesque scenery with excellent ambience all round. I am told that Bollywood Shootings are oftenly happening in this part of the valley.

A series of hot sulphur springs pop up along the right bank of the Sutlej over an area of one square Kilometer. A dip in these streaming springs provides much needed relief not only to persons suffering from joint pains, fatigue or any skin disease, but also to the perfectly fit and fine too. Besides, bathing here can be a great fun.

Some of these springs gush into natural bathrooms, thanks to the unique rock formations here. The hot water ponds though, are different from springs. They simply vanish when the level of the river rises in June-July and reappear in November- December. As we checked up from our guide who was from Pokhra in Nepal, I exchanged with him in broken Nepali to know that the level of the water currently was about 30 ft deep which goes up by 8-10 times in the peak season of June/July. The Nepali leader of the team, who was guiding the rafting tour, was speaking fluent english though and had been on rafting teaching in various western countries including Canada.

Tattapani is also a pilgrimmage centre for Hindus, a dip in Megha(January-February) is considered very auspicious, when there is a Mini Kumbh at this time. There are Shiva Caves at a distance of 3 Km, a recent attraction, which we did not know and hence could not visit.

There is a big fear among the local people that these springs may vanish for good, once the construction of Kol Dam/ Hydro Power Station is completed in 2014.

A 3 Km walk to Mahakali Temple Naldehra from whispering Pines Resort at Mashobra, was thrilling. A very beautiful wooden carving on the Door and its Frame

Our starting point for our Rafting was a small town called Sunni, 6 kilometer upstream of Tattapani.

We are now fully ready with Protection gear

Harvinder sets up herself first,

Ready To Go

Watching both Front and Rear

Oh My God! We meet a sudden splash of rough waters and we are badly wet by the ice cold waters of Sacred Sutlej

                                                                                                                                                                    

Amazing View!

Gold Minning in Progress

School Kids having fun in the hot spring waters of 65 degrees C.

Feeling the touch of hot water which was merging with ice cold waters of the River Sutlej. You could easily smell sulphur all around

Harvinder is feeling relaxed.

A beautiful Statue!

The down stream

Just watching the water flow which will irrigate my fields in my village Badbar and will go onward to irrigate my earlier lands which we left after Partition in Bahawalpur in Pakistan.

Relaxing at Hot Spring Hotel, wher we used excellent washrooms and had a fresh and hot Pakoras and a cup of tea.

Enjoying the most beautiful  and spectacular View from the Hotel.

Harvinder and me snap each other with the river Sutlej in the background.

On the way back, we are attracted by clear and blue sunny skys with beautiful valley near Naldehra

At the Apple Research Institute, being a fag end of fall and peak winters, the merry gold flowers were all that could make Harvinder smile like them.