Tehri Lake Uttarakhand

Tehri Lake is an artificial lake developed on one of India’s highest dams in Uttarakhand. Tehri Dam is situated on the Bhagirathi River in the New Tehri district. The gigantic Tehri dam is a major attraction for tourists across the world.

The lake reservoir has also been established as a popular tourist place for water sports and adventure activities like boating, jet skiing, surfing, paragliding, river rafting, etc.

The location is surrounded by majestic Himalayan peaks and the scenic visuals of Tehri Lake has also been popularized through Bollywood. A major portion of a Shahid Kapoor starrer-movie, ‘Batti Gul Meter Chalu’ was shot here which highly attracted tourists to the destination.

The place is a perfect weekend getaway for travelers who want to experience the thrill of water sports along with a surreal landscape of Himalayan mountains.

Know About Tehri Dam:

The construction of Tehri Dam began in 1978, it is built at an elevation of 855 feet and was inaugurated in 2008. To create the reservoir for the dam, the entire Tehri town, and more than 80 nearby villages were submerged, leading to the displacement of thousands of people.

This also led to a state-wide Anti-Tehri Dam protest. Environmental activists objected to the displacement of locals and highlighted that the dam will be a disaster for the ecosystem of the Himalayan foothills.

In spite of the protests, the operation of the Tehri dam continued and is now generating around 3,000 GWh of electricity annually from this dam.

Tehri Lake and Water Sports

Tehri Lake and Water Sports:

The Tehri Lake overlooking this huge engineering marvel is Asia’s largest man-made lake. The destination is gradually being developed as the hub for adventure tourism in India by the government of Uttarakhand.

Here is a list of all the adventure activities and water sports that travellers can enjoy in Tehri:

  • River rafting
  • Banana ride
  • Surfing
  • Boating
  • Jet Skiing
  • Speed boating
  • Paragliding
  • Zorbing, etc

Along with these adrenaline-rushing activities, Tehri is also famous for the Tehri Lake Festival. The widely popular festival is celebrated every year to promote tourism in Tehri. The visitors have a great time with the display of water sports along with musical, and cultural performances, yoga sessions, and aerial sports.

Nearby locations to visit around Tehri Lake:

New Tehri: The town of New Tehri is the first planned settlement in Uttarakhand. It was built after the old city of Tehri was submerged to create the Tehri Lake or Dam reservoir. Surrounded by varied hues of blue water and lush green flora, the place is a picturesque location.

The city has some beautiful locations and is a great place for shopaholics. There are a number of happening cafes and restaurants along with some really warm and hospitable people.

Devprayag

Devprayag: One of the most religious places for the Hindus, Devprayag hosts the confluence of the holy Bhagirathi and Alaknanda River which in turn, paves the way for River Ganga. Devprayag is an important pilgrimage site for Indians and is also home to the priests of Badrinath.

Sem Mukhem Temple: This ancient temple dedicated to Lord Krishna is situated in the Tehri Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. Sem Mukhem Nagaraja or the temple of the King of snakes is a famous pilgrimage site in India.

How to reach Tehri Lake:

By Flight: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun (around 90 kms) from Tehri. You can take either local buses or taxis to reach New Tehri and neighboring areas.

By Train: Dehradun, Haridwar, and Rishikesh are the nearest railway stations to Tehri. You can book taxis or buses from these stations. Taxis or buses are readily available outside the railway stations.

By Road: You can reach Tehri by road in approximately 5 hours from Dehradun. The roads and highways are well-connected from Delhi also. The ride from Delhi to Tehri will take around 6-8 hours. The distance between Delhi and Tehri is 300 km.

Accommodation:

You can find a wide range of hotels and homestays according to your budget while you stay in Tehri. One of the highest-reviewed hotels in Tehri is the Le ROI Hotel with Floating Huts and Eco Rooms.

The hotel provides a great view of the lake and mountains along with decent hospitality. Some other famous hotels are Tehri Retreat, Into the Woods, Classic Hill Top Resort. Travelers can easily book their stays throughout the year.

Apart from hotels, if you are an adventure junkie and want to spend your nights under the clear skies, then camping is also a great option for you. There are a number of camping sites near Tehri Lake where you can have a memorable stay. The camps are well-placed with basic amenities.

Local Cuisine:

The hotels and restaurants in Tehri serve delicious North Indian food along with the local cuisine of Uttarakhand which is greatly relished by people. Arsa, Bhattwani, Gulthiya, Jhongora, etc, are some popular dishes in the region to try.

Best Time to Visit:

Though the city of New Tehri and Tehri Dam can be visited throughout the year, the best time to experience the water sports and adventure activities is during the summer season. April to June is considered to be the best time to visit Tehri Lake as the weather is pleasant.

You can also visit Tehri for the Tehri Lake Festival which is usually held in the month of February. Avoid travelling to hilly areas during the monsoon as the region is generally prone to floods and landslides due to heavy rains. Also, go through the travel guidelines that are required to be followed while travelling to Uttarakhand.

Conclusion:

The alluring beauty of Tehri Lake is sure to captivate you and urge you to explore more of this beautiful town. The place is a heaven for adventurous travelers and is a must addition to your travel bucket list.

Also Read: Visit the Beatles Ashram in the Yoga Capital of the World

Tanusha Verma

https://thetravelb.com/

Tanusha is a creative writer and a journalist by profession. She hails from Uttarakhand and is on a mission to spread awareness about local culture and heritage.