ATRI: Atri
is situated in Khurda district. Amidst paddy fields a hot spring bubbles up from the
ground and a strong odour of sulphur pervades the locality. The temperature of the spring
water is about 55 degree centigrade. The water of the hot spring is collected in a
reservoir which is provided with outlets to prevent stagnation. The circumference of the
reservoir is 10 feet and the depth is 15 feet. The water is clear and stones lying at the
bottom of the reservoir are visible when the sun's rays fall on the water. It has been
calculated that per hour 375 cubic feet of water is flowing out of the reservoir. The
temple of Hatakeshwar (Lord Siva) is situated near-by where Sivaratri and Makar Sakranti
festivals are held and are attended by a large number of people. The Makar Sakranti
festival lasts for about a fortnight.
There is a belief that the spring has the miraculous power of removing the curse of
barrenness from woman. People throw into the reservoir coconuts, betel nuts, and other
fruits and flowers as offering. Barren women come to the reservoir bed for fruits, nuts,
etc. Whatever thing their hands could catch they eat with the belief that they would be
blessed with a child within a year. A bathing complex has been constructed by the Tourism
Department.
TAPTAPANI: There is a hot sulphur spring called the
Taptapani on the ghat road running up from Pudamari to Badakhemundi in Ganjam
District. It
is situated near Luhagadi, 50 km. to the south of Berhamapur-Mohana state Highway road. The
water comes bubbling up in two places and is in temperature from 90 degree to 100 degree
Fahrenheit. It is believed that a bath in this water cures minor skin diseases. The hot
water is channeled to a pond near-by. Piped water from this hot spring is provided to
the tourist bungalow of the Orissa Tourism Development Corporation Ltd., at
Taptapani. It
is a great fascination for the visitors to enjoy natural hot-water bath inside the bath
rooms of this bungalow. There is a temple near the hot spring.
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