Tehri Garhwal: Trekking Routes, Temples and Mountain Landscapes

Tehri Garhwal brings together glacier and mountain landscapes, trekking routes, temple sites and Tehri Lake. Experiences range from a route of about 45 kilometres at Khatling Glacier to flowering alpine meadows and kayaking on the lake. The history of New Tehri is also closely connected to the landscape: the town was established after a reservoir flooded historic Tehri.

Trekking among glaciers, meadows and forests

Khatling Glacier is the source of the Bhilangna River and is surrounded by snow-capped Himalayan peaks. The Khatling Glacier trekking route starts in Ghuttu and is about 45 km long. Gangi is the last village on the route. Beyond it, trekkers must arrange their own supplies and make any further preparations. Take this limitation and the route length into account when planning; local trail conditions may change.

At Panwali, the trekking route follows the old pilgrimage trail from Gangotri to Sri Kedarnath. The high-altitude meadows are home to flowers and herbs; red and pink rhododendrons bloom there in April and May. The Panwali meadows are considered a habitat for bharal, also known as blue sheep, gorals, Himalayan bears, weasels and musk deer. However, sightings of individual animals are not guaranteed.

The Nagtibba trekking route starts in Thatyur and passes through Dewalsari. From Dewalsari, it is 14 km to Nagtibba; trail conditions may vary. Dense forests, natural scenery and sweeping views of the Himalayas define Nagtibba. In Dhanaulti, the landscape is characterised by forests of deodar cedars, rhododendrons and oaks. Wooded slopes and views of snow-capped mountains complete the scene.

Temples, pilgrimage sites and the story of the rivers

To visit Surkanda Devi Temple, leave the Mussoorie-to-Chamba road at Kadu Khal and walk uphill for about 2.5 km. The temple is surrounded by dense forest, and from there you can see Dehradun, Rishikesh, Chandrabadni, Pratapnagar and Chakrata. The Ganga Dussehra festival is celebrated in Surkanda every year between May and June, attracting pilgrims. The exact festival dates may vary within this period; check the dates if you are planning your visit around the festival.

Kunjapuri Temple is one of three Shakti Peethas in Tehri district and, together with Surkanda Devi and Chandrabadni, forms a sacred triangle. Chandrabadni Temple is also among the well-known sacred temples that draw visitors to Tehri Garhwal. The Bhagirathi and Alaknanda rivers meet at Devprayag, where the Ganga begins.

New Tehri and Tehri Lake

New Tehri is the administrative headquarters of Tehri Garhwal district and offers views of Tehri Lake and the Tehri Dam. The town was established after the reservoir formed by the dam flooded historic Tehri. Old Tehri was the former capital of the Garhwal Kingdom. The history of the former town and the creation of the reservoir are therefore part of understanding present-day New Tehri.

New Tehri is connected by road to Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Mussoorie and Srinagar. The town also serves as a base for exploring higher-altitude areas of the Garhwal Himalayas. Visitors can go kayaking on Tehri Lake in New Tehri. If you are planning this activity, check its current availability in advance.

When planning a hotel stay, it helps to first decide what to focus on: trekking routes and landscapes, temples and pilgrimage traditions, or New Tehri and the lake. For trekking trips, it is worth checking local trail conditions before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Narendranagar, Chham, New Tehri, Dhanolti, Kaudia Range; Bageshwar, Chamoli, Yusufeli.

For the broader travel overview: Uttarakhand.