Tehri Lake

The Tehri dam on the Bhagirathi stands about 260 metres high, among the tallest dams anywhere, and the reservoir behind it fills a long branching valley. The old town of Tehri was submerged when it filled in the 2000s and its population moved to New Tehri, built on the ridge above. The lake is now used for watersports, with jet skis, kayaking, boating and a floating hut arrangement on the water, and a road runs around parts of the shoreline giving views down the arms of the reservoir. The dam itself is a restricted area with photography prohibited from close range.

What you actually see

• The reservoir arms - long branches of water filling the old valleys.
• The dam - one of the tallest in the world, seen from a distance.
• The watersports - jet skis, kayaks and boats operating from the shore.
• New Tehri - the planned town built on the ridge above the water.

When to go

March to June and September to November; the monsoon brings landslides on the approach roads and rough water. Water levels vary considerably through the year and affect access points.

Honest expectations

The dam is a restricted zone with photography prohibited nearby. Facilities around the lake are still developing and uneven. Water levels fluctuate and some launch points become unusable.

Nearby

Rishikesh lies south; Mussoorie is west.