Rishikesh to Tehri Lake by Bike
| Distance to New Tehri | Around 75 km |
|---|---|
| Distance to Tehri Dam | Around 85 km |
| Riding time | 2.5–3 hours each way |
| Route | Rishikesh → Narendra Nagar → Chamba → Tehri |
| Lake elevation | Around 1,700 m |
| Suitable bikes | 350cc and up |
| Time needed | A full day |
| Best months | October to March |
This is the other direction.
Where Devprayag and Chopta take you north up the Alaknanda on the Badrinath highway, Tehri takes you west and up — climbing out of Rishikesh through Narendra Nagar, along a ridge road through Chamba's apple country, and down to a reservoir sitting green in the hills at 1,700 metres.
The lake was made by the Tehri Dam, at 260 metres the tallest in India. It drowned the old town of Tehri, which is a genuinely uncomfortable piece of history worth knowing before you go and photograph it. What's there now is a big body of still water in steep hills, with jet skis on it.
The riding is the reason to go. It's the best sustained hill road within a day of Rishikesh.
The Ride
Rishikesh → Narendra Nagar → Chamba → New Tehri / Tehri Dam.
The general character: this is a proper hill road from the moment you leave Rishikesh. Continuous climbing, plenty of bends, good views once you're above Narendra Nagar. Very different riding from the Badrinath highway — less traffic, more corners, more altitude gained.
What's There
Water sports. Tehri Lake has become the main watersports destination in Uttarakhand — jet skis, banana boats, speedboats, and increasingly kayaking and paddleboarding. Koti Colony is the usual hub. Ask us or your guesthouse for current operators and pricing.
The dam viewpoint. The Tehri Dam is 260.5 metres tall, one of the tallest in the world, and the scale of it is genuinely difficult to take in from a photograph.
The lake road. For a lot of riders this is the best part. Riding the road along the reservoir with the water below is the reason to bring a motorcycle rather than take a taxi.
Staying over. New Tehri and Koti Colony have accommodation, and there's an increasing amount of it around the lake. Worth considering if you want to be on the water in the morning.
What's Under the Water
Tehri was a town of some 25,000 people and a great deal older than that. It was submerged when the reservoir filled in the early 2000s, and its residents were resettled in New Tehri, built on the ridge above.
The dam was fought over for decades — on displacement grounds, on seismic grounds, on environmental grounds — and the arguments have not entirely gone away. You don't need to take a position on it to visit, but it's worth knowing that the lake people jet-ski on is sitting on top of somebody's home town. It changes what you're looking at.
Timing
Leave by 7 AM. Three hours up, a few hours there, three hours back. You want to be off the hill road before dark.
October to March — the best window. Clear air, comfortable riding, and the lake at its most photogenic. Cold at 1,700 m in December and January, so layer up.
April to June — warm and busy, and the watersports season is in full swing.
Monsoon — July to mid-September. Landslide risk on the climb, and the lake is often invisible in cloud. Check conditions.
What to Ride
Guerrilla 450 (₹1,800/day) — the best bike we own for this road. It's continuous bends and good tarmac, which is exactly what the Guerrilla is for. Watch the 11-litre tank on a 170 km round trip. Details →
Classic 350 (₹1,300/day) — comfortable over the distance and enjoyable on the ridge section.
Hunter 350 (₹1,200/day) — light and quick-steering, which suits the climb out of Rishikesh well.
Himalayan (₹1,400–2,000/day) — more than the road needs, but right if you're continuing to Dhanaulti or Mussoorie.
Activa 125 (₹500/day) — it's 170 km round trip with continuous climbing on a 125cc. Possible, slow, and a long day. Not recommended. Compare the fleet →
What's Nearby
The Tehri road opens onto a whole cluster most Rishikesh visitors never see:
- Chamba — on the way, at around 1,600 m. Apple orchards, pine, and a good place to stop
- Kanatal — around 25 km from Tehri, a quiet hill village
- Surkanda Devi — around 35 km from Tehri, a hilltop temple with a short steep walk up and views to match Kunjapuri's
- Dhanaulti — around 43 km from Tehri, deodar forest and eco-parks
- Mussoorie — around 75 km from Tehri
- Devprayag — around 37 km from Tehri, meaning you can ride out via Narendra Nagar and back via the Badrinath highway as a loop rather than an out-and-back
Before You Go
- Full tank in Rishikesh
- Layers — 1,700 m is a lot colder than Tapovan, particularly in the morning and after October
- Cash for parking, food and watersports
- Sunglasses — the ridge road is bright and exposed
- Helmets, both riders
- Don't ride the descent after dark
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Tehri Lake from Rishikesh?
Can I do Tehri Lake as a day trip from Rishikesh?
Which bike is best for Tehri?
Can I ride to Tehri on a scooty?
How tall is the Tehri Dam?
Can I stay overnight at Tehri Lake?
What's the best time to visit Tehri Lake?
Riding to Tehri?
A Classic 350 for the day is ₹1,300, a Guerrilla 450 is ₹1,800 — two helmets, tool kit and roadside support included, delivered free anywhere in Tapovan.