Soaring mercury fails to keep people away from hot spring
The mercury in Gurgaon may have has crossed 45 degree Celsius, but the heat has not deterred people from various parts of Haryana from visiting a natural hot spring in Sohna town, 25 km from the city.
Connected to an old Shiva temple, this spring water with sulfur minerals in it is said to have healing powers. People take bath in the hot water of a small tank which is connected to the natural spring.
Known as ‘garam pani ka chashma’, the water body is believed to be 500 years old. People believe that the hot spring water cleanses the soul and recharges the body.
“I have been suffering from skin diseases for the past nine months and have taken medical help as well, but nothing has helped me so far. I have heard stories about this hot water spring that it can cure any skin disease so I have decided to visit it,” said Ram Kumar of Gurgaon.
So much is the belief in the ‘healing power’ of the spring water that bathers do not seem to feel the heat even in the blistering summer.
“The water inside is unbearable when you first step in it, but after a few minutes you can feel the medicinal effect,” said Saurav Prasad.
The temple is well connected from neighbouring Faridabad and Mewat by road. Every year in November, thousands of believers throng the temple during ‘kartika purnima’ to take bath in the hot spring water.
Apart from that, every day around 300-500 people visit the temple, said Vishnu Dayal, a priest of the temple.
The trustees of the temple take care of the comfort of the visitors.
“We provide rooms and other services to the people. It is open to the people of all beliefs and castes and those who cannot afford to pay, can take a bath for free. People who can pay are allowed to take a separate bath in a special bathroom with a bucket,” the priest said.
Narrating the story of the temple, he said that the shrine was built by devotees of lord Shiva.