A soak in Gasa Tsachu

Gasa Tsachu lies below the town, near the river, where hot water rises from the ground. The springs have been used for generations, and the government has rebuilt the bathing area with several covered pools, changing rooms and nearby lodging. Each pool is fed by a different spring and has its own temperature, from warm to very hot. Bhutanese believe that different springs help different ailments, and you will see people moving between pools with purpose.

The busy season is winter, especially December to February, after the harvest. Families arrive with bedding, food and cooking pots and stay in the lodges for a week or more, bathing several times a day. The pools then become social places, full of talk and laughter. In spring and autumn they are quieter. For visitors, an evening soak and another at dawn is ideal, which means staying a night.

Bring a swimsuit and towel; locals bathe in shorts or wrapped in cloth, and full nakedness is not the custom in mixed or shared pools. Shower or rinse before getting in, do not use soap or shampoo in the pools, and keep your voice down. Do not stay too long in the hottest pool, drink water, and get out if you feel dizzy. People with heart conditions should take medical advice before using very hot pools.