The hot springs in Pakistan worth knowing about are Tatta Pani in Kotli, Azad Kashmir, Chutron in the Basha valley beyond Shigar, Garam Chashma in Chitral's Lutkoh valley, and Manghopir on the edge of Karachi, with smaller springs in Hunza and on the way to Fairy Meadows. They sit in four different regions, with very different water, access and security, so this is less a single trip than several separate reasons to stop.
This guide compares them on what has actually been measured, how to reach each, and what to check before you go, and links to the full guide for each spring.
| At a glance | Where | Water | Getting there | Check before going |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tatta Pani | Kotli district, AJK, on the Poonch river, 682 m | Up to 60.8°C at the surface (2017 study) | 26 km from Kotli on a hill road | Close to the Line of Control |
| Chutron | Basha valley, Shigar district, GB | About 40 to 42°C, high fluoride (2021 study) | Skardu to Shigar 30 km, then the Basha valley road | Road condition after rain |
| Garam Chashma | Lutkoh valley, Chitral, about 2,550 m | Sulphur springs, very hot at source | About 48 km north-west of Chitral town | Afghan border area; N45 advice |
| Manghopir | North-west Karachi | Hot sulphur springs | Within the city | Ordinary city precautions |
| Murtazabad | Central Hunza, on the Hunza river | No published measurements found | Just off the KKH | Ask locally which pool is usable |
Why Pakistan has hot springs at all
The northern springs lie along the faults where the Indian plate pushes into Asia, the same tectonic boundary that raised the Karakoram and Himalaya. Rain and snowmelt soak deep into the rock, are heated, and rise again along fractures. A 2017 study of Tatta Pani in Geologica Acta found exactly that: the water is meteoric, recharged by rain and snow at higher ground to the north, and the springs rise along a faulted fold in the rock. That is also why the water chemistry differs so much from one spring to the next.
Tatta Pani, Kotli (Azad Kashmir)
Tatta Pani, "hot water", is a settlement on the Poonch river about 26 km from Kotli town, at about 682 metres. The 2017 study recorded a highest surface temperature of 60.8°C and estimated the underground reservoir at about 101 to 115°C.
This is the spring that needs the most checking. Kotli district runs along the Line of Control, and the UK government advises against all travel within 10 miles of the LoC and all but essential travel to the rest of Azad Kashmir. The region also saw deadly unrest and long phone and internet shutdowns from June 2026. Pakistani families do visit, but check local news, follow checkpoint instructions and don't go if restrictions are in place. Our Tatta Pani guide has the road, the pools and the current picture.
Chutron, Basha valley (Shigar)
Chutron is a village in the Basha valley beyond Shigar, reached through Shigar and Tissar. Shigar is about 30 km from Skardu by road, and the valley road beyond is slower and rougher, so ask in Shigar about its condition; a 4x4 with a local driver is the usual choice. Allow most of a day for the round trip from Skardu.
A 2021 study in Applied Water Science measured the water at about 40 to 42°C with a pH of 7.2 to 7.8, a comfortable bathing temperature. It also found high fluoride, enough for the authors to judge the water unfit to drink though suitable for bathing, and no E. coli or faecal coliforms. So soak, but bring your own drinking water. Our Chutron guide and our wider guide to hot springs in Gilgit-Baltistan cover the facilities and nearby villages.
Garam Chashma, Chitral
Garam Chashma is the main village of the Lutkoh valley, about 48 km north-west of Chitral town at roughly 2,550 metres, among the highest permanent settlements in the Hindu Kush. Its sulphur springs are very hot at source, so bathing is in water that has been channelled away and allowed to cool. The Lutkoh river is known for brown trout.
The valley runs up to the Dorah Pass, at about 4,500 metres on the Afghan border. The UK government advises against all travel within 10 miles of the Afghan border, which takes in the upper valley, and against all travel on the N45 from Mardan to Chitral, the road most visitors use. Pakistani visitors still go, but check police advice in Chitral and stay in the village rather than heading towards the border. Our Garam Chashma guide covers the drive and how the baths work.
Manghopir, Karachi
Karachi's own hot springs are at Manghopir, in the north-west of the city, beside the shrine of Pir Mangho. The sulphur springs are believed locally to have curative powers, and the shrine is better known for the pond of more than a hundred mugger crocodiles, regarded as the saint's disciples and fed by pilgrims. It is a shrine visit with a spring attached rather than a place to bathe at leisure; go in the cooler months, dress as for any shrine, and don't feed the crocodiles yourself.
The smaller northern springs
- Murtazabad, the first village of central Hunza beside the Hunza river, is often listed for its springs, but we could not find measured temperatures or a reliable description of current facilities. Ask in Aliabad or Karimabad which pool, if any, is in use. Our Gilgit and Hunza guide covers the valley.
- Tato, the last village on the jeep road to Fairy Meadows, has a small spring to look at on the way, not a reason to go.
How to bathe safely
Facilities everywhere are modest and local, not spas.
- Test the water by hand first. Temperatures vary between pools at the same site, and some run close to scalding. Mix in cold stream water where pools allow it.
- Don't drink spring water, even where it looks clear. Chutron's fluoride is a measured example.
- Keep children out of the hottest pools and keep soaks short, especially in water above 40°C. Anyone with a heart condition, low blood pressure or a pregnancy should be cautious, as with hot springs anywhere.
- Dress modestly and bring a change of clothes. Mixed bathing is not the norm; ask locally about the arrangement for women in your group.
- Bring sandals and a towel, since ground around the springs is hot, wet or uneven and nothing is provided.
- Expect a small contribution or caretaker at some sites; ask rather than assume.
Which one suits your trip?
- Already in Skardu: Chutron, combined with Shigar Fort. It has the friendliest temperatures and the least complicated security picture of the four main springs.
- Already in Chitral: Garam Chashma as a long day trip or an overnight, after checking current police advice.
- Exploring Azad Kashmir: Tatta Pani, only if the area is open and calm when you travel.
- In Karachi for a day: Manghopir, as a shrine visit rather than a soak.
None is worth a long journey on its own unless geothermal sites are your particular interest.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the hottest spring in Pakistan?
Of the springs with published measurements, Tatta Pani in Kotli reached 60.8°C at the surface in a 2017 study. Garam Chashma's sulphur springs are also very hot at source.
Is Chutron easy to visit from Skardu?
Yes, with a jeep. Shigar is about 30 km from Skardu, and Chutron lies up the Basha valley beyond it on a slower, rougher road. Allow most of a day for the round trip.
Can you drink the water at Pakistan's hot springs?
No. The 2021 study of Chutron found fluoride levels too high for drinking, though the water was suitable for bathing. Bring your own water to every spring.
Do hot springs in Pakistan have separate bathing for men and women?
Arrangements vary by site and are often informal, and mixed bathing is not the norm. Ask locally before you arrive and bring modest clothing for bathing.
Is it safe to visit Tatta Pani in Azad Kashmir right now?
Check before you go. Kotli district runs along the Line of Control, the UK advises against all travel within 10 miles of it, and Azad Kashmir saw serious unrest in 2026. Confirm local conditions and any restrictions first.
