Tehri Garhwal: Trekking, Temples and Tehri Lake
Accommodation in Tehri Garhwal
Tehri Garhwal brings together trekking routes in the Himalayas, sacred temples and Tehri Lake. A trip can have many different focuses: multi-day treks, an ancient pilgrimage route, temple visits or time by the lake. When choosing a holiday rental, it is therefore worth deciding on your main interests first. New Tehri serves as a base for exploring higher-altitude areas of the Garhwal Himalayas; the trekking routes, meanwhile, start at different places and pass through landscapes of their own.
Trekking among glaciers, meadows and forests
The Khatling Glacier trekking route starts in Ghuttu and is about 45 km long. Khatling Glacier is the source of the Bhilangna River and is surrounded by snow-capped Himalayan peaks. Gangi is the last village on the route. Beyond it, trekkers must make their own arrangements for supplies and other needs. If this trek is the main focus of your trip, take this change into account when planning.
The Panwali Kantha route follows the ancient pilgrimage route from Gangotri to Sri Kedarnath. Its landscapes include high-altitude meadows with flowers and herbs. Red and pink rhododendrons bloom in April and May. The meadows are described as habitats for bharal, also known as blue sheep, gorals, Himalayan bears, weasels and musk deer. The trekking region thus combines mountain scenery with diverse wildlife.
Another option is the Nagtibba trekking route, which starts in Thatyur and passes through Dewalsari. From Dewalsari, it is 14 km to Nagtibba. Dense forests, natural scenery and expansive views of the Himalayas characterize the destination. The different starting points, routes and landscapes show that trekking in Tehri Garhwal is not limited to a single route.
Temples, pilgrimage sites and views
Surkanda Devi Temple combines a temple visit with an uphill walk: turn off at Kadu Khal from the road between Mussoorie and Chamba, then climb about 2.5 km. Surkanda is surrounded by dense forest. From there, you can enjoy views of Dehradun, Rishikesh, Chandrabadni, Pratapnagar and Chakrata. Every year between May and June, the Ganga Dussehra festival is celebrated in Surkanda, attracting pilgrims.
Kunjapuri and Chandrabadni are also among the sacred temples associated with Tehri Garhwal. Kunjapuri is one of the district’s three Shakti Peethas and, together with Surkanda Devi and Chandrabadni, forms a sacred triangle. Chandrabadni Temple is one of the well-known sacred temples that draw visitors to Tehri Garhwal. Those interested in temples and pilgrimage traditions will find several distinct religious connections here, rather than just a single destination.
New Tehri, the lake and its history
New Tehri is the district administrative headquarters and overlooks Tehri Lake and the Tehri Dam. Visitors can kayak on the lake. At the same time, the town’s history is closely tied to the reservoir: New Tehri was established after Old Tehri, the historic town and former capital of the Garhwal Kingdom, was submerged by the reservoir created by the Tehri Dam. The lake is therefore not only a place for activities but also part of the history of the development of the present-day town.
New Tehri is connected by road to Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Mussoorie and Srinagar. The Bhagirathi and Alaknanda meet at Devprayag; the Ganga begins there. These different places represent different sides of the district: town and reservoir, river confluence, temple culture and mountain treks. When choosing a holiday rental, consider whether you want to use New Tehri as a base for higher-altitude areas or focus on a particular trekking or temple region.
Other places in the area
For more places to explore within Tehri Garhwal, you can also discover Narendranagar, Chham, New Tehri, Dhanolti and Kaudia Range.
For the broader travel overview: Uttarakhand.
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