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Voykit pocket guide · India
Tehri
टिहरी
One day is enough for New Tehri and the lake. Use it as a base for trekking routes (Mahasar Taal, Khatling Glacier) or a stop between Rishikesh and Uttarkashi.
Tehri is the gateway to the Tehri Dam reservoir and high-altitude treks in Garhwal. The old town was submerged by the dam; New Tehri is a clean, planned hill town with lake views. Most travellers pass through in a day, but trekkers stay 2–3 nights.
- Country
- India
- Local name
- टिहरी
- Best months
- Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (heavy monsoon, landslides possible), Dec–Feb (cold, snow on higher routes)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹1,500–2,500 excl. bed · Mid ₹2,500–5,000 excl. bed · High ₹5,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 112 · Fire 101 · Ambulance 102
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Chai at a roadside stall | ₹10–20 |
| Vegetarian thali at a local restaurant | ₹100–200 |
| Singori sweet (per piece) | ₹20–50 |
| Shared jeep ride within town | ₹10–30 |
| Taxi from New Tehri to Devi Koonjapuri (one way) | ₹500–800 |
| Bottle of water (1 L) | ₹20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- DED · Jolly Grant Airport (Dehradun)
- 93 km (58 mi) from New Tehri; taxi or bus to Dehradun then bus to Tehri58 mi (93 km) from New Tehri; taxi or bus to Dehradun then bus to Tehri
Typical fares
- Dehradun → Tehri (bus)
- about ₹200–300, 3–4 h (check)
- Rishikesh → Tehri (shared jeep)
- about ₹300, 2–3 h (check)
- Tehri → Uttarkashi (bus)
- about ₹150–250, 2–3 h (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Public buses and shared jeeps connect New Tehri's neighbourhoods. Walking covers the main market and lake viewpoint. Taxis can be hired for day trips.
See and do
Known for
- Tehri Dam and Tehri Lake
- Devi Koonjapuri Temple
- Chandrabadni Temple
- Trekking routes: Mahasar Taal, Sehstra Taal, Khatling Glacier
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Devi Koonjapuri Temple | Taxi or shared jeep from New Tehri, about 30 min | About 1 h |
| Chandrabadni Temple | Taxi from New Tehri, about 45 min, then a short walk | About 1.5 h |
| Tehri Dam viewpoint | Walk or auto-rickshaw from New Tehri centre, about 15 min | About 30 min |
| Mahasar Taal trek start | Taxi to the trailhead, about 1 h from New Tehri | About 1.5 h |
Sleep
- New Tehri main road
- Midrange hotels and guesthouses near the bus station and market.
- Narendra Nagar
- About 15 km (9.3 mi) from New Tehri; home to Ananda in the Himalayas spa resort.About 9.3 mi (15 km) from New Tehri; home to Ananda in the Himalayas spa resort.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello / Namaste | नमस्तेnamaste |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyavaad |
| How much? | कितना?kitna? |
| Where is the bus stop? | बस स्टॉप कहाँ है?bus stop kahaan hai? |
| I need a taxi | मुझे टैक्सी चाहिएmujhe taxi chahiye |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Landslides can block roads during monsoon (Jul–Aug); check conditions before travel.
- Tehri Dam area may have restricted zones; ask locally before exploring.
- Trekking routes require a guide or local knowledge; no marked trails in some areas.
Tehri is generally safe for tourists. The main risks are road conditions (landslides, narrow mountain roads) and altitude on treks. Keep valuables secure in crowded buses.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Tehri yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Tehri Dam and Tehri Lake
- Devi Koonjapuri Temple
- Chandrabadni Temple
- Trekking routes: Mahasar Taal, Sehstra Taal, Khatling Glacier
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Tehri, revision 4383845 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4383845
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/tehri). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.