Tehri Garhwal is one of the 13 districts of Uttarakhand and is the seventh district in the Garhwal region. With a population of more than 6 lakhs (as per the 2011 census), it is one of the districts, known for its rich culture, scenic beauty, spirituality and of course the Tehri dam. Formerly called “Trihari”, Tehri has a symbolic power to cleanse sins originating from one’s thoughts, words and mansa. According to legends, before creating a universe, Lord Brahma meditated on this place. Alongside its picturesque landscape, lush green valleys, sacred rivers, and snow clad mountains, the district boasts its rich dating history. Tehri was once ruled by many dynasties, which earned the status of princely state. However, this princely state is submerged in the tehri dam, which stands as the world's highest dam and a notable landmark and centre of attraction for tourists.
In addition to its scenic and cultural heritage, Tehri Garhwal is famous for its spirituality, featuring various Shakti Piths and temples that allure tourists from afar. Since ages, Tehri has been one of the prime tourist destinations, which offers a wide array of attractions. In tehri, the visitors can indulge in various activities such as trekking, river rafting, camping, and pilgrimage tours. Kunjapuri temple, Dhanaulti, Devprayag, Kempty falls, Narendar Nagar, Chamba, and Surkanda temple are some of the notable attractions for the tourists, offering an opportunity to explore the scenic and spiritual beauty of the region.
However, the major centre of attractions for tourists is Tehri Dam. Built over a height of 260.5 metres, it is one of the tallest dams in India and the 13th tallest in the world. In Tehri lake, tourists can take part in various adventurous activities like Jet Speed, Jet Skiing, Banana ride, Paragliding and can also enjoy a day in floating huts which gives you a Maldives experience. Tehri shares its boundaries with Rudraprayag from east, Dehradun from the west, Uttarkashi to the North, and Pauri to the South. The Bhagirathi river, on which the tehri dam was built, bifurcates the district into two parts. Whereas, Bhilangna, Alaknanda, Ganga, and Yamuna river flows through its eastern and western border.
Located just 147 km away from Dehradun, 73 km from Rishikesh, and 103 km from Haridwar main city, tehri can be accessed by various modes like bus, taxi, and cabs. Tehri Garhwal was ruled by the Rajput Parmar Shah dynasty which later became a part of Punjab Hill States Agency of British India. During his reign, King Sudarshan Shah established his capital Tehri but his successors like Pratap Shah, Kirti Shah and Narendra Shah established their capital in Pratap Nagar, Kirti Nagar and Narendra Nagar respectively.
However, after getting independence in 1947, the locals sought to get freed from the maharaja rule. Therefore, in 1949 Manabendra Shah the 60th king accepted the Indian government sovereignty, and Tehri Riyasat was merged into Uttar Pradesh, receiving the status of a new district. Its economy mainly revolves around agriculture, which produces crops like wheat, barley, mustard, pea, rice, black and red gram, soyabean and tourism to draw a number of people from far and wide.
