Rishikesh to Tehri Lake by Bike
- Distance
- ~90 km each way
- Riding time
- ~3 hours
- Days needed
- Long day trip, or 2 days relaxed
- Altitude
- ~1,700 m at the lake
- Season
- Year-round
- Road
- Good throughout. Sealed, twisty, quiet
- Bike we'd recommend
- Guerrilla 450 or Classic 350
- Rough cost, 2 days, per person sharing
- ₹2,500–4,000
Ninety kilometres of consistently good, consistently empty tarmac ending at a reservoir the size of a small sea, sitting improbably in the middle of the Garhwal hills.
Tehri gets a fraction of the motorcycle traffic that the yatra roads get, which is exactly why it’s worth going. The road that runs above the water on the way to New Tehri is one of the most underrated pieces of riding in Uttarakhand.
The Ride
Out via Narendra Nagar, climbing immediately out of the Ganga valley on a good road with a long series of switchbacks. Narendra Nagar sits on the ridge with views back down over Rishikesh and the plains beyond.
Then Chamba (~60 km), a small hill town at a junction — one road goes to Mussoorie and Dhanaulti, the other drops toward Tehri. Reasonable food, fuel, and a good place to stop.
From Chamba the road descends toward the reservoir and then runs above the water for a long stretch. Blue below on one side, hillside on the other, essentially no traffic. This is the part you came for.
New Tehri sits above the lake — a planned town built to replace the old Tehri, which is under the water you’ve been riding beside. Worth knowing, and worth sitting with for a minute.
At the Lake
Water sports. Jet skis, boating and banana rides operate at Koti Colony and around, mostly March to November. Prices are negotiable and it pays to ask more than one operator.
Staying overnight. Lakeside camps and resorts at Koti Colony from about ₹1,500, and hotels in New Tehri from ₹1,000. Weekends fill in season — book ahead.
The dam. One of the tallest in India. There are viewpoints; photography restrictions apply in places, so take local guidance rather than assuming.
Which Bike
Sealed road throughout, so the road bikes are in their element.
Guerrilla 450 — ₹1,800/day. The Narendra Nagar switchbacks and the lakeside road are exactly its territory.
Classic 350 — ₹1,300/day. Relaxed, comfortable, and it photographs beautifully against the water.
Hunter 350 — ₹1,200/day. Good and cheap. Light through the switchbacks.
Himalayan 411 — more bike than the road needs, but if you’re continuing to Chopta or the hills beyond, take it.
Activa 125 — 90 km each way with a lot of climbing is a long day on a 125. Possible, not enjoyable.
Extending It
The Chamba junction is the key. From there:
- Left to Mussoorie, Dhanaulti and Kanatal — makes a proper two-day loop
- On toward Dharasu and Uttarkashi — the start of the Gangotri route
- Down to Devprayag and back along the Ganga — a full-day circuit rather than an out-and-back
The Tehri–Chamba–Dhanaulti–Mussoorie–Dehradun–Rishikesh loop over two days is one of the best weekend rides available from here.
Practical
Fuel: Rishikesh, then Chamba. Both reliable.
Season: year-round. Cold at the lake in December and January. Best March to June and September to November.
Traffic: almost none on weekdays. Weekends bring Dehradun and Delhi day-trippers to the water sports.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Tehri Lake from Rishikesh?
Can I do it as a day trip?
Is the road good?
Are there water sports?
Where should I stay?
Can I combine Tehri with Mussoorie?
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