Situated in the Chamoli district on the banks of the river Alakananda inside the BadrinathTemple is the Tapta Kund. It is a cluster of hot sulphur springs just below the temple. It has a temperature of about 55 degree Celsius while the outside temperature is typically below 17 degree Celsius all year round.
The springs of Tapt Kund are known to be the home of Lord Agni, the Hindu God of fire. It is considered auspicious to take a dip in the hot water spring before entering the temple. A hot spring is basically a spring which came into existence due to the geothermal heating of the groundwater rising from the Earth"s crust. Hence, the Tapta Kund, a geothermal spring is imbued with healing properties and is believed to be therapeutic in nature. People take a dip in the Tapta Kund to purify their souls of sin. Separate provisions are there for both male and female devotees in the kund.
The terrible flash floods of 2013 in Uttarakhand wrecked havoc on the people and destroyed parts of the temples of Badrinath and Kedarnath, the hot springs nearly went underwater during that time. Everything has been restored to its former glory and devotees come in large throngs every year to pray and wash away their sins in the thermal spring. Over the years, Tapta Kund has become a major attraction in the Badrinath temple.
