New Tehri

Perched at an elevation of 1,750 metres (5,741 feet) on a sunny mountain ridge overlooking the colossal expanse of the Tehri Lake, New Tehri is India's only planned hill city and the modern administrative capital of Tehri Garhwal district. Created following the construction of the monumental Tehri Dam which submerged the old historic town, New Tehri has evolved into Uttarakhand's most dynamic watersports and adventure hub.

The undisputed centerpiece of the region is the awe-inspiring Tehri Dam, a colossal 260-metre-high rockfill engineering marvel that harnesses the combined power of the Bhagirathi and Bhilangna rivers. The resulting emerald-blue reservoir spans an astonishing 42 square kilometres, creating a vast fjord-like water body hemmed in by towering Himalayan ridges.

Today, Tehri Lake is the adventure capital of northern India. Visitors can experience heart-pounding thrills including jet skiing, speed boating, banana boat rides, flyboarding, and parasailing over the open water. For a tranquil luxury experience, modern floating houseboats and eco-resorts allow guests to sleep directly on the water beneath star-studded mountain skies.

Spanning a narrow arm of the lake stands the magnificent Dobra Chanti Bridge, India's longest motorable single-lane suspension bridge stretching 440 metres. Illuminated with thousands of programmable LED lights at night, the bridge casts a dazzling multicolored reflection across the dark lake waters, attracting photographers and sightseers from across the country.

The modern city of New Tehri is thoughtfully designed with broad roads, panoramic terraced viewpoints, and comfortable government and private hotels. From nearby high ridges like Tipri, tandem paragliding pilots launch into thermal currents, offering flyers an exhilarating bird's-eye view of the reservoir and distant snow-clad peaks.

Blending monumental hydraulic engineering with cutting-edge adventure tourism and serene mountain living, New Tehri represents the vibrant, forward-looking spirit of modern Uttarakhand.