Tehri Travel Guide
New Tehri stands above Asia's highest earth-fill dam — the lake offers jet skiing, bungee and a drowned-city backstory.
- Altitude
- 770 m
- Best season
- Year round · best Oct–Jun
- From Dehradun
- ~100 km
- Category
- Lake Town
Why visit Tehri
- Home to the Tehri Dam — one of the highest earth-and-rock-fill dams in the world (260 m) and among the largest in Asia, creating a vast emerald reservoir in the Garhwal hills.
- The Tehri Lake stretches over 42 sq km and has become a premier adventure water-sports destination, offering jet skiing, kayaking, banana boat rides, and India's highest bungee jumping over open water.
- The submerged old Tehri town — a 1,000-year-old royal capital of the Tehri Garhwal kingdom — lies beneath the reservoir, giving the lake a hauntingly historic dimension.
- New Tehri town at 1,750 m is a well-planned hill settlement with clean roads, good connectivity, and dramatic views over the dam reservoir.
- The dam viewpoint is one of the most striking pieces of infrastructure in the Indian Himalayas — the scale of the earth wall against the mountain backdrop is genuinely awe-inspiring.
- Growing destination for camping, water sports, and weekend escapes from Dehradun, with new resorts and activity operators setting up on the lake shores.
New Tehri town was built on the ridges above when the Tehri Dam — at 260.5 m, Asia's highest earth-and-rock-fill dam — submerged the original Tehri town and the confluence of the Bhagirathi and Bhilangna rivers in the early 2000s. The resulting 45 sq km reservoir, Tehri Lake, has become one of Uttarakhand's fastest-growing adventure tourism destinations.
Jet skiing, banana boat rides, kayaking, parasailing and India's highest bungee jump (120 m, operated by Jumpin Heights) are all available on and around the lake. The drowned town — including temples, markets and the old palace — still occasionally surfaces during low-water periods in summer, giving the lake an eerie historical dimension.
Explore around
Places near Tehri
Scenic hill town with mountain views; apple orchards
Dhanaulti29 kmHill resort with eco-park and forest walks
Kanatal38 kmQuiet retreat; camping and apple country
Devprayag54 kmPanch Prayag confluence; origin of the Ganga
Rishikesh86 kmYoga capital; river rafting; transport hub
Surkanda Devi50 kmImportant Shakti temple at 3,030 m; panoramic views
What to do
Activities at Tehri
Water Sports on Tehri Lake
The Tehri Lake is the premier water-sports venue in Uttarakhand. Activities include jet skiing, speedboat rides, banana boat, kayaking, paddle boating, and parasailing. The calm upper reaches of the reservoir are suitable for beginners while the main lake body challenges experienced water-sports enthusiasts. Operators are concentrated near the Dobra-Chanthi suspension bridge area and the main lake ghat.
Bungee Jumping Over the Lake
A 83-metre bungee jump platform operated by experienced outfitters is positioned over the Tehri Lake — the jump over open water makes it uniquely thrilling. India's highest bungee over water; prior booking essential during peak season.
Dam Viewpoint & Visitor Centre
The Tehri Dam viewpoint offers a vertiginous view down the 260 m face of the earth dam to the Bhilangana and Bhagirathi confluence below. The Tehri Hydro Development Corporation operates a visitor centre explaining the dam's construction and power generation. The sheer scale of the structure is humbling.
Camping on Lake Shore
Several camp operators now run lakeside tent camps on the shores of Tehri Lake, especially around Kotyali, Chamba side, and near Dobra-Chanthi bridge. Overnight stays with campfire, music, and morning kayaking are a growing weekend escape from Dehradun and Delhi.
Dobra-Chanthi Suspension Bridge
India's longest motorable suspension bridge (725 metres) spans the Tehri reservoir, connecting previously cut-off communities. The bridge itself is a remarkable engineering feat and the crossing with views of the blue-green lake in both directions is a memorable experience.
Book with us
Tours covering Tehri
Before you go
Tehri travel tips
- Water sports are typically available from September to June; during monsoon the lake level rises and activities are suspended for safety.
- The dam viewpoint is about 4 km from New Tehri town on the Rishikesh road; take a local jeep or auto if you don't have private transport.
- Weekends (especially October–May) see heavy tourist traffic from Dehradun and Rishikesh; visit on a weekday for a quieter experience and shorter queues at water-sports stalls.
- Book adventure activities in advance during winter holiday weekends (Christmas–New Year, Holi) when the lake is at its busiest.
- New Tehri has a fully functional town with ATMs, pharmacies, petrol stations, and a government hospital — a reliable overnight base for exploring the district.
Getting there
How to reach Tehri
From Rishikesh (86 km, ~3 hrs) take the road via Chamba. From Dehradun (100 km, ~3.5 hrs) via Chamba or Muni-ki-Reti. Frequent buses and shared jeeps operate from both cities. The road is in good condition year-round.
Rishikesh (86 km) and Dehradun (100 km) are the nearest railheads. Both have regular trains to Delhi and other major cities.
Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (115 km, ~3.5 hrs) offers daily flights from Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.
Where to stay in Tehri
- New Tehri has a range of government guesthouses (GMVN, PWD), budget hotels, and a growing number of mid-range properties with lake views.
- Lakeside camp resorts around Kotyali and Chamba side offer the most immersive experience; several package deals include water sports, meals, and accommodation.
- Dhanaulti (29 km) and Chamba (20 km) have more established tourism infrastructure including boutique hotels for those wanting more comfort.
Food & dining
- New Tehri's main market has a good range of restaurants and dhabas serving Garhwali thalis, North Indian dishes, and Chinese food.
- Lakeside shacks and stalls near the water-sports ghats serve chai, Maggi, and fried snacks — perfect for between-activity refreshments.
- A growing number of café-style restaurants have opened catering to the weekend-getaway crowd from Dehradun, offering better coffee and continental options than most hill towns in the area.
Background
History of Tehri
Old Tehri was a town with over a thousand years of history, serving as the capital of the Tehri Garhwal kingdom from the early 19th century after the Gurkha wars. The town sat at the confluence of the Bhagirathi and Bhilangana rivers and was a prosperous trading and pilgrimage centre on the route to Gangotri. Its royal palace, markets, and temples were central to the cultural life of the Garhwal hills.
The decision to dam the Bhagirathi for hydroelectric power generation was taken in the 1960s and the Tehri Dam project was formally launched in 1978. It became one of India's most contested infrastructure projects — environmentalists, geologists, and displaced residents all raised serious objections. The project was challenged on grounds of seismic risk (the area is in seismic zone IV), ecological damage, and the displacement of over 100,000 people from old Tehri and surrounding villages.
The reservoir began filling in 2005 and old Tehri slowly submerged over the following years. Residents were relocated to New Tehri, built on the hillside above. The 2,400 MW Tehri Hydroelectric Complex (including the main dam and Koteshwar dam downstream) is now a major contributor to the northern grid. The submerged town has become the subject of considerable cultural memory, nostalgia literature, and documentary filmmaking in Uttarakhand.
Plan your trip
Suggested Tehri itinerary
- Day 1Arrive from Rishikesh or Dehradun. Check in. Evening walk to the dam viewpoint. Dinner in New Tehri market.
- Day 2Morning water sports session on the lake (2–3 hrs). Cross the Dobra-Chanthi suspension bridge. Lunch at lakeside stall. Afternoon: optional bungee jump. Sunset from the dam viewpoint. Overnight New Tehri or camp.
- Day 3Morning drive to Chamba (20 km) and Dhanaulti (29 km) for mountain views and forest walk. Return to New Tehri for departure or continue to Mussoorie (68 km from Dhanaulti).
Common questions
Tehri FAQ
- Is the old Tehri town still visible underwater?
- The old town is fully submerged and not visible under normal conditions. During very low water-level periods (usually late summer before monsoon) some rooftops and ruins have occasionally become visible, but this is rare. The town exists primarily in photographs, films, and the memories of displaced residents.
- Is Tehri Dam safe from earthquakes?
- The dam is built in seismic zone IV and was designed with significant seismic resistance measures. The dam body is rock-fill and earth-fill (which is actually more earthquake-resistant than concrete). Geologists and engineers continue to debate the risk, but the structure has been operational since 2005 without incident.
- Are water sports available year-round?
- Water sports are generally available from September to June. During July–August monsoon the lake level rises sharply and activities are suspended. March–June and October–November are the most active periods.
- How far is Tehri from Rishikesh?
- Tehri is 86 km from Rishikesh (approximately 3 hours by road via Chamba). This makes it very feasible as a two-night extension after a Rishikesh stay.
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