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The green waters of the Tehri reservoir winding between forested hills, with the dam's grey wall on the right
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Photo: Yogendra singh negi · CC BY-SA 4.0
Day planFirst visitClassicrelaxed

One day at Tehri — the tallest dam in India and an afternoon on the lake

A one-day Tehri plan: India's tallest dam in the morning and boating or water sports on Tehri Lake after lunch, both under 40 minutes from New Tehri. Copy it.
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The essential day at Tehri: the Tehri Dam, 260.5 m high and the tallest in India, and an afternoon on the Tehri Lake that it made over the old town of Tehri. Both are under 40 minutes from New Tehri on our routing. For more of the hills, take the two-day plan, and read things to do around Tehri.

Photos: Yogendra singh negi (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Dr Vikramjit Kakati (CC BY-SA 4.0) · PahadiBhulli (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.

Who this is for

First-time visitors, families and anyone coming up from Rishikesh for a lake day, best between April and June or in October and November.

Day by day

Day 1

The dam in the morning, the water after lunch

3 stops · 45 min on the road

Down from New Tehri to the dam, then the boating point, and back up the hill by evening.

  1. 08:30
    New Tehri
    town · 1 min from Tehri · about 1 h there
    The district town that replaced old Tehri when the reservoir rose. Breakfast with the view over the water, then drive down.
  2. ↓ 37 min by road · 18 km
    10:30
    Tehri Dam
    dam · 37 min from Tehri · about 45 min there
    About 37 minutes from New Tehri. 260.5 m high and 575 m long at the crest, the tallest dam in India. It is a working power plant: follow the signs and ask before you photograph.
  3. ↓ 8 min by road · 5 km
    12:00
    Tehri Lake boating point
    viewpoint · 39 min from Tehri · about 2 h there
    Boating, jet boats, water skiing and other rides, as the district administration lists them. We have no verified operators, prices or timings, so ask on the shore; activities depend on the season and the water.

Getting there

New Tehri is about 68 km and 138 minutes from Rishikesh station on our routing. See how to reach Tehri.

Where to stay

New Tehri, or on the road towards Chamba. We have no verified lodging or prices.

Know before you go

  • The district administration calls April to June the best time for the lake.
  • Carry a cap and water; there is little shade on the water.
  • In July and August, the wettest months, check the road before you set out.

Places on this route

Tehri Dam — India's tallest dam, the lake behind it and the town beneath
Tehri Dam — India's tallest dam, the lake behind it and the town beneath
dam · 37 min from Tehri
Tehri Lake — boating and water sports on the reservoir of the Tehri Dam
Tehri Lake — boating and water sports on the reservoir of the Tehri Dam
viewpoint · 39 min from Tehri

Going together

No one has started a group going on this plan yet. Start one and other travellers can ask to come along.

Start a groupHow groups work

Other ways to do it

All Tehri itineraries →
Tehri in two days — the lake, then the high road through Chamba and Kanatal to Dhanaulti
Tehri in two days — the lake, then the high road through Chamba and Kanatal to Dhanaulti
1 night · 2 days · Couples · nature
A two-day plan from Tehri: the dam and water sports on the lake, then the high road through Chamba and Kanatal to the Surkanda Devi path and Dhanaulti.
Best Apr–Jun · Oct–Nov
See the plan →

More places nearby

All of Tehri →
Dhanaulti — the pine-forest hill station between Mussoorie and Tehri
Dhanaulti — the pine-forest hill station between Mussoorie and Tehri
town · 19 km away

Nearby destinations

All destinations →
The green Ganges flowing between forested hills at Rishikesh, with buildings on the left bank
Rishikesh
33 km away · 2 itineraries · 4 places
Mussoorie's houses and hotels stacked along a green ridge, with hazy hills behind
Mussoorie
35 km away · 3 itineraries · 5 places
The long red-brick Forest Research Institute with white columns and two domed towers across a wide lawn
Dehradun
38 km away · 2 itineraries · 5 places
The ghats of Har Ki Pauri on the Ganga, with the clock tower, small red-roofed shrines and bathers on the steps
Haridwar
53 km away · 2 itineraries · 5 places
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Questions people ask

Can Tehri be done in one day?

Yes, from New Tehri: the dam is about 37 minutes away and the lake's boating point about 39 minutes on our routing, so the morning and the afternoon cover both. From Rishikesh it is a long day, since New Tehri alone is about 138 minutes up the road; stay a night if you can.

What are the water sports at Tehri Lake?

The Tehri district administration lists boating, jet boat rides, water skiing, zorbing, banana, bandwagon and hot-dog boat rides, and paragliding. We have no verified operators, prices or timings, and the list depends on the season and the water level, so ask at the boating point before you plan around one.

Can you go on top of the Tehri Dam?

We have no verified rules for visitors on the dam itself; it is a working power plant run for the hydropower complex. Follow the signs and any instructions from staff, and ask before you photograph. The roads above give views of the dam and the lake together.