Tehri Garhwal is a hilly district in Uttarakhand, on the southern slopes of the Himalayas. The old town of Tehri was submerged when the Tehri Dam — one of the tallest in the world — was completed across the Bhagirathi River, creating a vast reservoir. The new town sits above the waterline, and the Tehri Lake has become an unexpected draw, with water sports, bungee jumping from the dam structure, and the haunting outline of submerged buildings visible at low water.
The district is one of the gateways to the Garhwal Himalayas. Rishikesh and its ashrams lie at the southern edge. From there, roads climb into the mountains towards the pilgrimage sites of Badrinath and Kedarnath, passing through dense forests of deodar and pine. The hilly terrain and limited roads have helped preserve a traditional culture that feels distinct from the plains below.
Narendra Nagar, the former royal capital perched on a ridge above the Ganges valley, offers fine views and a handful of heritage buildings from the Tehri royal dynasty. Dhanolti, further up the ridge road above Mussoorie, is one of the quieter hill stations in the region — all deodar forest and mountain air, without the crowds of more famous destinations.