Tehri Lake Festival Highlights Tehri’s Growing Adventure Tourism Potential

Tehri Lake in Uttarakhand hosted the Himalayan O₂ – Tehri Lake Festival from March 7–9, bringing together athletes, tourists, performers and local residents. The event highlighted the state government’s plans to develop the region as a major destination for adventure tourism and water sports.

The festival was inaugurated by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at Koti Colony near Tehri Lake. Speaking at the event, Dhami said the government aims to develop Tehri into an international centre for tourism, adventure sports and outdoor recreation.

The multi-day festival included adventure sports, cultural programmes, and public events intended to promote the tourism potential of the Tehri region.

Tehri Lake As An Adventure Tourism Hub

Tehri Lake has increasingly been used as a venue for water sports and outdoor activities. During the festival, the lake hosted competitions in kayaking, canoeing, jet-skiing, parasailing and scuba diving. According to Chief Minister Dhami, Tehri Lake has recently hosted several large sporting events and is gradually gaining recognition as an adventure sports destination. He noted that the current festival marks the third international-level event held at the lake in the past two months.

“The initiative brings together tourism, sports, environmental awareness, and local culture on a single platform,” Dhami said. He added that Tehri Lake has the potential to become a key destination for adventure sports in the region.

Officials say the lake’s size and surrounding terrain support a variety of water and aerial sports, making it suitable for organised sporting events and training programmes.

Major Tourism Infrastructure Projects Announced For Tehri

During the inauguration, the state government also outlined several infrastructure projects planned for the Tehri area. Dhami said that projects worth more than INR 1,300 crore are currently underway to improve tourism infrastructure and connectivity. These include further development around Tehri Lake, construction of a ring road around the reservoir and plans to develop Timad village as a tourism village.

The Chief Minister also announced the construction of the Koti Colony–New Tehri Ropeway. The ropeway is expected to improve access to the lake area and provide transport links between nearby locations. Officials say these projects are intended to support tourism growth while also creating employment opportunities for local residents in sectors such as hospitality, transport, and adventure sports.

Cultural Events Mark Tehri Lake Festival

In addition to adventure sports, the Himalayan O₂ festival included cultural performances, live music programmes and youth activities. Participants included athletes, performers and artists from different parts of India.  

Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal said the event helps connect different parts of the district and encourages tourism development. Tehri Member of Parliament Mala Rajya Lakshmi Shah said that continued efforts are needed to improve the district’s national and international visibility.

Several public representatives and officials attended the event, including MLAs Kishore Upadhyay, Vikram Singh Negi, Vinod Kandari and Shakti Lal Shah. Also present were OBC Commission Chairman Sanjay Negi, District Panchayat President Ishita Sajwan and District Magistrate Nitika Khandelwal.

The festival also attracted a large number of visitors, including tourists and local residents.

Tehri Garhwal's Heritage And Growing Tourism Appeal

Tehri Garhwal district is located in the mid-Himalayan region of Uttarakhand. The name “Tehri” is believed to come from the word Trihari, which refers to the removal of three kinds of sins.  

The district extends from the Himalayan peaks of Thalaiya Sagar, Jonli and the Gangotri group to areas near Rishikesh. It is bordered by Uttarkashi district to the north, Pauri Garhwal to the south, Rudraprayag to the east and Dehradun to the west.

The Bhagirathi River flows through the district, while the Bhilangna, Alaknanda, Ganga and Yamuna rivers form part of the broader regional river system.

The region has long been associated with religious and cultural traditions. Local beliefs connect the area to Lord Brahma’s meditation and to ancient sages believed to have practised austerities at locations such as Muni-ki-Reti and Tapovan.

With the development of tourism infrastructure and events such as the Himalayan O₂ festival, officials aim to position Tehri Lake as an important destination for adventure tourism and outdoor activities in Uttarakhand.

FAQs

1. What is the Tehri Lake Festival? 

The Himalayan O₂ Tehri Lake Festival is a multi-day event featuring adventure sports, cultural programmes and tourism promotion activities. 

2. Where is Tehri Lake located? 

Tehri Lake is located in the Tehri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand. 

3. What activities take place at the Tehri Lake Festival? 

Activities include kayaking, canoeing, jet skiing, parasailing, scuba diving and cultural performances. 

4. What tourism projects are planned for Tehri? 

The Uttarakhand government has announced tourism and infrastructure projects worth more than INR 1,300 crore around Tehri Lake. 

5. Who inaugurated the Tehri Lake Festival? 

The Tehri Lake Festival was inaugurated by Pushkar Singh Dhami.