Tehri Dam — the tallest dam in India and one of the tallest dams in the entire world — is a spectacular rock and earth-fill embankment dam on the sacred Bhagirathi River near the town of New Tehri in the Tehri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand, soaring to a staggering height of 260 metres (850 feet) and stretching 575 metres in length across one of the most dramatic Himalayan river gorges in northern India. Commissioned in 2006 after an extraordinary 28-year construction journey beginning in 1978, Tehri Dam represents one of the most ambitious and complex engineering undertakings in independent India’s history — overcoming Himalayan terrain, seismic risk calculations, environmental opposition, and the logistical enormity of damming a Himalayan river fed by glaciers in the Gangotri range. When Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru first sanctioned the project, its primary purpose was to harness the Bhagirathi and Bhilangana rivers for irrigation, hydroelectric power generation, and domestic water supply — the dam today generates over 1,000 MW of hydroelectric power, with a total installed capacity of 2,400 MW across its hydroelectric complex, supplying electricity to Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and Chandigarh.
The dam creates the magnificent Tehri Lake — an artificial reservoir with a capacity of 4.0 billion cubic metres, a surface area of 52 square kilometres, and a shimmering expanse of Himalayan-blue water set against the densely forested ridgelines of the Garhwal Himalayas. The Old Tehri town — once a historic Garhwali settlement — lies submerged beneath the lake, a poignant reminder of the human sacrifice made for national development. Tehri Lake has rapidly become one of Uttarakhand’s most exciting adventure tourism destinations — with jet skiing, kayaking, river rafting, zorbing, banana boat rides, paragliding, and ropeway rides all available on and around the reservoir, drawing adventure seekers from across northern India and beyond.
Tehri Dam Location
Tehri Dam is located in the Tehri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand, on the Bhagirathi River — a primary tributary of the Ganges — near the newly planned town of New Tehri, set in the lower Himalayan ranges.
- Address: Tehri Dam, New Tehri, Tehri Garhwal District, Uttarakhand — 249001
- Pin Code: 249001
- STD Code: 01376
- Administrative Zone: Tehri Garhwal District — Uttarakhand / Tehri Garhwal Lok Sabha Constituency
| Reference Point | Distance |
| Tehri Lake (reservoir) | At the dam |
| New Tehri Town | At the dam |
| Chamba | 18 kilometres |
| Dhanaulti | 50 kilometres |
| Rishikesh | 80 kilometres |
| Haridwar | 100 kilometres |
| Dehradun | 100 kilometres |
| Mussoorie | 75 kilometres |
| Delhi | 300 kilometres |
| Dehradun Airport (Jolly Grant) | 115 kilometres |
| Devprayag | 65 kilometres |
| Surkanda Devi Temple | 25 kilometres |
Timings and Entry Fee of Tehri Dam
Tehri Dam is open for visitors daily, with water sports and adventure activities at Tehri Lake operating during standard daylight hours — however the dam structure itself requires prior security clearance for close access.
| Activity | Timings | Fee / Charges |
| Dam Viewing (external) | 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM | Free — no entry fee |
| Dam Internal Access | By special permission only | Prior pass from THDC India Ltd required |
| Jet Skiing (30 minutes) | 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM | Approximately ₹ 2,500 per session |
| Kayaking / Rafting | 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM | Per-session charges — operator-dependent |
| Banana Boat / Zorbing | 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM | ₹ 200 to ₹ 500 per activity |
| Ropeway (Tipri) | 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM | Nominal per-person charges |
| Paragliding | Season-dependent | ₹ 1,500 to ₹ 3,000 per flight |
| Boating / Cruise | Morning to evening | Per-trip charges |
How to Reach Tehri Dam
Tehri Dam is best reached by road from Rishikesh, Haridwar, Dehradun, and Delhi — all connected by well-maintained National Highways and state roads through spectacular Himalayan scenery.
From Delhi
Take NH-334 toward Haridwar → NH-58 via Rishikesh → continue to New Tehri → approximately 300 kilometres — 6 to 9 hours depending on traffic.
From Rishikesh
Take NH-58 / State Highway northward via Devprayag → New Tehri → approximately 80 kilometres — 2.5 to 3.5 hours of mountain driving.
From Dehradun
Take NH-707A or Chamba–Tehri road → approximately 100 kilometres — 3 to 4 hours.
From Haridwar
Take NH-58 northward via Rishikesh → continue to Tehri → approximately 100 kilometres — 3.5 to 4.5 hours.
Best Time to Visit Tehri Dam
Tehri Dam and Tehri Lake offer dramatically different experiences across seasons — summer is ideal for water sports, post-monsoon delivers the most scenic vistas, and winter brings magical snowfall on the surrounding Himalayan peaks.
| Season | Months | Experience |
| Summer (Peak Water Sports) | April to June | Comfortable temperatures — all water sports fully operational — excellent visibility |
| Post-Monsoon | September to November | Dam at maximum capacity — lush green mountains — spectacular photography |
| Winter | December to February | Snow on distant peaks — peaceful and fewer tourists — cold temperatures |
| Monsoon | July to August | Dam at full level — dramatic scenery — some activities restricted — road caution needed |
The ideal overall period is April to June for adventure activities, and October to November for the most visually spectacular combination of full reservoir levels and crisp Himalayan skies.
Nearby Places to Visit Tehri Dam
The Tehri Garhwal region is one of Uttarakhand’s richest travel circuits — combining Hindu pilgrimage sites, adventure sports, heritage hill towns, and Himalayan trek routes within easy reach of the dam.
| Place | Distance | Description |
| Tehri Lake (water sports zone) | At the dam | Jet skiing, kayaking, rafting, zorbing, banana boat, paragliding — northern India’s adventure hub |
| Chamba | 18 km | Charming hill town — panoramic Himalayan views — local markets and temples |
| Surkanda Devi Temple | 25 km | Revered 10,000-feet hilltop Shakti temple — trekking + breathtaking Himalayan panorama |
| Devprayag | 65 km | Sacred Garhwali pilgrimage site — confluence of Bhagirathi and Alaknanda rivers forming the Ganges |
| Rishikesh | 80 km | Yoga capital of the world — white-water rafting, bungee jumping, Beatles Ashram |
| Mussoorie | 75 km | Queen of Hill Stations — Mall Road, Kempty Falls, Landour |
| Dhanaulti | 50 km | Peaceful Himalayan escape — Eco Park, apple orchards, Surkanda Devi circuit |
| Narendranagar | 55 km | Heritage hill town — Ananda Spa Resort — former royal palace of the Tehri Garhwal kings |
| Ropeway at Tipri | 15 km | Popular cable car offering aerial views of Tehri Lake and surrounding mountains |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Where is Tehri Dam located?
A: Tehri Dam is on the Bhagirathi River near New Tehri, Tehri Garhwal District, Uttarakhand — PIN 249001 — approximately 300 kilometres from Delhi and 80 kilometres from Rishikesh. It is India’s tallest dam at 260 metres.
Q2. What are the timings of Tehri Dam?
A: External viewing is available from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily, free of charge. Internal access requires prior permission from THDC India Ltd. Water sports at Tehri Lake operate from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Q3. Is there an entry fee at Tehri Dam?
A: General viewing of the dam is free. Water sports and adventure activities like jet skiing (₹ 2,500), rafting, zorbing, and paragliding carry individual charges payable to licensed operators at Tehri Lake.
Q4. What is the best time to visit Tehri Dam?
A: April to June is ideal for water sports with comfortable temperatures. October to November offers spectacular post-monsoon scenery with the lake at full capacity and clear Himalayan skies. Winter brings beautiful snowfall on surrounding peaks.
Q5. What is Old Tehri and where is it?
A: Old Tehri was the historic town of Tehri Garhwal, now submerged under Tehri Lake since the dam’s construction was completed. It remains a poignant cultural memory for the region and a reminder of the town sacrificed for national development.
Leave a Reply