The hot water spring on private land in Batladka, Bandaaru village, which had been drying up during summer for the past two years, has resumed flowing with the onset of the monsoon. This spring, situated on the property of Mohammed Bandaaru, a diving expert from Ankaramajalu, measures 12 feet long, seven feet wide, and five feet deep. About half an inch of hot water trickles into the pond between the stones, adjacent to a paddy field and about 100 meters from the Netravati river.
Mohammed shares, “This hot water spring has remained unchanged since my grandfather’s time, over 500 years. It used to flow year-round, even when the Netravati river dried up during summer. However, for the past two years, it has been drying up during summer.”
A team of scientists has been studying this rare phenomenon for the past ten years. Initially, researchers from Chennai visited, but now a team from Kerala conducts studies every six months. Mohammed monitors the water temperature daily, reporting readings that reach up to 36.6°C, and even 41.4°C on one morning last week. Despite the cool surroundings, the spring water remains hot.
During the monsoon, the water flow from the rocks increases. Although scientists have not provided a precise explanation, they suggest that the water is much hotter inside the earth and cools down as it surfaces. They also note that this is the only hot water spring in South India.