Located 42 kilometers from Khorog on the road to Ishkashim, slightly off the old Pamir Highway, are the therapeutic mineral springs and the thermal baths built around them. These mineral waters emerge from deep underground in the form of gushing fountains, known as griffons. The springs are situated along the ridge of a travertine hill that has formed over thousands of years, rising to a height of 7-8 meters.
The Garm-Chashma resort, established in 1957 near these mineral springs, is the most renowned balneological resort in the Pamir region. The healing properties of Garm-Chashma’s mineral waters are recognized far beyond the borders of the country. The waters are sulfurous and carbonic, chloride-hydrocarbonate, sodium-silicon based, with a hydrogen sulfide content of 170 mg/l. The average temperature of the water is 59°C.
These springs have existed for several thousand years. The mineral water rises to the surface from great depths, emerging in small and large jets ranging from 10 cm to 1.5 m. A single jet can produce 5 to 7 liters of hot water per second. The water, rich in lime deposits, is cloudy and contains small calcium balls.
The Garm-Chashma springs are particularly beneficial for treating skin conditions, including psoriasis. Next to the travertine hill, thermal baths have been constructed where visitors can soak, and a sanatorium is located nearby. It’s important to note that channels have been laid along the travertine hill, allowing the hot water to flow into the pool, cooling slightly on its way. However, even after cooling, standing under the water streams in the pool can be dangerously hot. The grotto at the base of the hill also poses a risk, as hydrogen sulfide accumulates there, and the combination of high temperatures and the gas can cause one to lose consciousness.
Beyond the unique and healing properties of the Garm-Chashma springs, the site is incredibly beautiful. Situated at an altitude of 2,770 meters, surrounded by the towering Pamir mountain ranges, the springs form natural pools lined with fantastically shaped white stalactites of various forms and sizes—deposits of carbonic salts. This creates the impression of immersing oneself in a small glacial lake. For centuries, the water has carried salts, limestone, and other minerals from deep within the earth, gradually building the milky-white hill covered in intricate patterns. These mineral-laden waters pass through deep cracks in ancient crystalline structures, becoming enriched with hydrogen sulfide, silicic acid, iron, barium, aluminum, fluoride, and other active micro- and macroelements. The temperature of the hyperthermal sulfurous-carbonic siliceous mineral water at Garm-Chashma reaches up to 64°C.
In the pools, the schedule is strictly organized—separate baths and times are designated for men and women.