People taking bath in hot water pool in Tattapani, Himachal Pradesh
Today is Makar Sankranti. Thousands of people will reach Tattapani, 56 km away from Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh, to take a dip of faith. The specialty of this place is that hot water comes out here. It is believed that bathing in it cures all skin diseases.
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The country’s first President Dr. Rajendra Prasad has also taken bath here. A world record has also been made for serving 4.5 quintals of Khichdi in a vessel brought from Haryana on Sankranti in Tattapani. This time 3 quintals of Khichdi will be distributed here.
This place is very famous for Tuladan. Especially on Jyeshtha Saturday, a large number of people reach here for Tuladan. By performing Tula Daan here the planets are pacified.
Pandit Dinesh Sharma of Tattapani told that the former President had come to Tattapani on 22 September 1952. During that time he had inaugurated the bathing lake here. Its inauguration plaque is still preserved by social worker Prem Raina in his hotel.
Inaugural plaque of the first President…
The lake which Dr. Prasad inaugurated was submerged in the dam. However, the lake which was inaugurated by the first President Dr. Rajendra Prasad is now submerged in the dam. Tekchand Sharma of Tattapani told that when Dr. Rajendra Prasad became unwell in the 50s. Then he also took a bath in Tattapani and took health benefits.
However, he also says that there has never been any study on how this water cures people’s diseases. Still it is said that sulfur is present in this water.
How did this place get the name Tattapani? Tattapani means ‘hot’ or ‘hot water’ in the local language. Hot water is available in Tattapani situated on the Sutlej river in an area of ​​about one kilometer. In the places where hot water is flowing, the temperature these days remains around 4 to 6 degrees, especially during night and morning. Apart from this, a thick stream of this hot water also flows in the Sutlej river.
In the year 2013, the government had built Kaul Dam on Sutlej River. Due to this the old reservoir got submerged. After this, the Geological Department drilled and extracted hot water from the banks of Sutlej river. Now ponds have been made here for the devotees to take bath.
Rishi Jamadagni, Parshuram’s holy place Tattapani Tattapani is known as the abode of sages Jamadagni and Parashurama. Religious devotees come here from far and wide to take bath in the hot water. It is believed that bathing in hot water here cures skin diseases. The reason for which is the sulfur present in it.
It is believed that Tattapani has been a pilgrimage site for Hindus since Treta Yuga. Here Maharishi Jamdagni lived in a cave near Tattapani with his wife Renuka and son Parashuram. Jamdagni Rishi used to organize Bhandara every day after performing Yagya. This tradition is now being followed by the Sood family here.
Similarly in Tattapani, Khichdi is prepared in a big vessel on the occasion of Sankranti. – file photo
This time Khichdi will be made for the 96th time Shimla resident Mohit Sood told that his ancestors have been making Khichdi in Tattapani on Sankranti for 95 years. This time Khichdi is being prepared for the 96th time, which will be served to thousands of devotees. He told that this time on Sankranti, three quintals of Khichdi will be given to the devotees. He told that this tradition was started by his ancestor Bihari Lal ji.
Khichdi is available from 10 am to 5 pm Mohit Sood told that in 2020, a world record for serving khichdi was made in Tattapani. In 2020, in collaboration with the Tourism Department, 4 and a half quintals of Khichdi was prepared, which was prepared in a single pot. This vessel was brought from Yamunanagar. He told that Khichdi is served to the devotees from 10 am to 5 pm.
How to reach Tattapani? To reach Tattapani from Shimla, one can go on Shimla-Karsog Highway. The distance of Tattapani from Shimla is 56 kilometers, from Mandi is 120 kilometers and from Karsog is 45 kilometers. Tattapani is a small village. But because of the hot water it is becoming a famous religious tourist destination. This village is famous for its hot water springs containing sulphur.