Route library · Weekend · Mountains
Delhi to New Tehri & the Reservoir
New Tehri sits on a ridge above the vast Tehri reservoir, built after the old town was submerged by the dam. It is a strange, striking landscape — a genuinely enormous artificial lake ringed by Garhwal hills, with watersports and houseboats developing around Koti Colony, and quiet viewpoints along the ridge road above.
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At a glance
- Round trip
- About 630–670 km
- Riding time
- 8–9 hours each way
- Nights
- One night is enough for the lake viewpoints; two lets you add watersports at Koti Colony
- Start point
- Delhi (via Rishikesh and Chamba)
- Highest point
- About 1,550 m at New Tehri town
- Difficulty
- Moderate. Good hill roads, with a couple of genuinely dramatic viewpoints over the reservoir.
- Surface
- Good sealed road throughout, including the Chamba–New Tehri ridge run
- Best season
- October to June. Winter can be cold on the ridge; the monsoon fills the reservoir but reduces visibility.
The ride
Delhi → Rishikesh → Chamba → New Tehri, riding up onto the ridge above the reservoir with the lake opening out below in long blue stretches once you clear Chamba. The scale of the water is the whole point — this was one of India's biggest dam projects, and it shows.
New Tehri town itself is functional rather than picturesque, rebuilt after the old town was submerged, but the ridge road around it has genuinely good viewpoints. Ride down to Koti Colony on the lake's edge for boating and jet-skiing if that's of interest, or simply take the loop road for the views.
Day by day
Delhi to New Tehri
Delhi → Rishikesh → Chamba → New Tehri (8–9 hours). Settle in and catch a viewpoint before dark.
The reservoir and Koti Colony
Ride down to the lake edge for watersports, or take the ridge loop road for the views. An easy, unhurried day.
New Tehri to Delhi
Back through Chamba and Rishikesh. Start reasonably early to clear the plains before the afternoon heat.
Fuel & services
- Fuel is easy the whole way — Rishikesh, Chamba and New Tehri all have pumps.
- New Tehri has hotels and guesthouses; Koti Colony has a growing number of lakeside resorts if you want to be closer to the water.
Road & conditions
Sealed and in good condition throughout. The climb from Rishikesh to Chamba is a well-known, well-maintained hill road; the ridge run on to New Tehri has a couple of genuinely striking viewpoints but stays easy riding. Weekend traffic builds around Chamba, a junction town for several routes, but thins out on the New Tehri ridge itself.
Bike, fuel & getting help
- Suggested bike
- Fine on a well-maintained 150–200cc commuter.
- Fuel gap
- Longest dry stretch is short — a normal tank covers it with margin.
- Spare fuel
- None needed for this route.
- Emergency & logistics
- The nearest well-equipped hospital is the valley/district town, one to two hours off; signal is patchy above the bazaar; carry the group lead's number and an emergency card.
Best time to ride
October to June is good. Post-monsoon (October–November) gives the clearest views of the full reservoir; spring is mild. Winter is cold on the ridge but usually clear. The monsoon fills the lake to its most dramatic level but often reduces visibility with haze and cloud.
What to add to your kit
Beyond the standard ride kit: swimwear and a change of clothes if you plan to try the watersports at Koti Colony. Nothing technical.
Ride this with a group
We run New Tehri as an easy one-night weekend, built around the ridge viewpoints and a stop at the lake for anyone who wants to get on the water.