As you drive through the Garhwal mountains, you will spot a huge, emerald-green body of water cutting through the dry valley. This is Tehri Lake. Created by a dam on the Bhagirathi River, it is now the ultimate hub for Tehri Lake water sports.
Many brochures claim this lake (officially named Suman Sagar) is the largest man-made lake in Asia. That is not true. The lake covers 42 square kilometers, and grows to 52 sq km when completely full at 830 meters. Other Indian reservoirs like Indira Sagar (MP) and Rihand (UP/MP) are actually much bigger. However, the Tehri Dam holding the water back is 260.5 meters high, making it the tallest dam in India.
To enjoy your day here, you need to know how the lake changes, what the rides actually cost, and how to avoid local tourist traps.
Where to Go: Koti Colony & Official Timings
Do not drive to the Dobra Chanti Bridge looking for boats. It is great for photos, but the actual water sports are 15 kilometers away.
Type Koti Colony into your GPS instead. It sits just 4 kilometers from the main Tehri Dam wall. A government group (TADA) manages this spot, and 90% of the licensed boats park here.
- Timings: You can ride the boats every day from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The place gets very crowded between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Try to reach early in the morning to skip the long lines.
How to Reach Tehri Lake
Tehri Lake (Koti Colony) is 80 km from Rishikesh and 110 km from Dehradun.
By Air
The nearest airport is Jolly Grant in Dehradun. It sits 85 to 91 km from the docks. Just book a direct taxi outside. The drive takes around 2.5 hours.
By Train
Your best stop is Yog Nagari Rishikesh (YNRK) station. It is 75 to 80 km away. Right outside the gate, you will find plenty of buses and shared taxis going to Chamba.
By Car or Cab
From Rishikesh, the drive takes 2.5 to 3 hours via Narendra Nagar and Chamba.
From Dehradun, you have two choices:
- The Mountain Route: Drive 108 to 115 km through Mussoorie, Dhanaulti, and Chamba. This takes 3.5 to 4 hours on narrow, twisting roads.
- The Highway Route: Drive 125 km through Rishikesh and Narendra Nagar. It is longer but much wider. Tip: Stick to this wider road during heavy rain or winter fog. The Dhanaulti route gets dangerous in bad weather.
Important Driving Rule: When leaving Chamba, take the lower bypass road directly to Koti Colony. Never try to drive over the Tehri Dam wall. CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) guards block private cars and strictly ban all photography.
By Bike
Many people ride bikes from Rishikesh because the roads are great. Just remember to buy petrol in Chamba. Once you drive down the hill to the Koti Colony docks, you will not find many fuel stations.
By Bus
This is the cheapest way to travel. Catch a bus from Rishikesh (at Natraj Chowk or Nepali Farm) to Chamba or New Tehri. The ride takes 3 hours and costs ₹300 to ₹400. Buses do not go right to the water. When you get to the bus stand, just take a shared jeep or taxi for the last 15 kilometers down to the docks.
Distance from Nearby Hill Stations (Day-Trip Matrix)
If you are staying at a nearby hill station, Tehri Lake is the perfect day trip:
- Chamba to Koti Colony: 20 km (35 mins). Note: This is your last reliable fuel and ATM stop.
- Kanatal to Tehri Lake: 32 km (50 mins downhill drive).
- Dhanaulti to Tehri Lake: 48 km (1 hr 30 mins).
- Mussoorie to Tehri Lake: 75 km (2.5 to 3 hours).
The Water-Level Secret
The lake changes shape every month. The Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC) controls the water to make electricity.
From October to February, the lake is full. The water comes right up to the main road, making it very easy to step onto your boat.
But in May and early June, the water drops by over 70 meters. This leaves behind deep mud and gravel. You have to walk far down steep dirt paths and floating pontoons to reach the boats. Climbing back up this hill in the summer heat is very tiring, so take your time.
2026 Pricing for Water Sports
All operators at Koti Colony work under TADA permits. When you arrive, always verify rates against the physical TADA metal rate board located right at the Koti Colony jetty gate.
| Activity Name | Real Duration | Counter Rate (Per Person) | Min. Age / Weight | Get Wet % |
| Speed Boat Cruise | 10 – 12 Mins | ₹400 – ₹600 | All Ages | 10% |
| Jet Ski (Pillion / 1 Round) | 2 – 3 Mins | ₹500 – ₹600 | 10+ Years | 40% |
| Jet Ski (Self-Drive w/ Guide) | 5 – 8 Mins | ₹800 – ₹1,000 | 16+ Years | 60% |
| Jet Attack (360° Spins) | 10 – 15 Mins | ₹1,000 – ₹1,500 | 14+ Years | 100% |
| Banana Boat / Bumper Ride | 10 – 15 Mins | ₹400 – ₹600 | 10+ Years | 100% |
| Surfing / Kneeboarding | 3 Rounds (5 Tries) | ₹900 | 14+ Years | 100% |
| Flyboarding (Standard) | 8 – 10 Mins | ₹1,400 – ₹2,500 | 16+ Yrs (45–95 kg) | 100% |
| Flyboarding (Pro + Video) | 15 Mins | ₹3,500 | 16+ Yrs (45–95 kg) | 100% |
| Parasailing (Winch Boat) | 3 – 5 Mins Air Time | ₹2,500 – ₹3,000 | 16+ Yrs (40–100 kg) | 0% |
| Kayaking (Single/Double) | 30 Mins | ₹300 – ₹700 | 12+ Years | 20% |
| PalNoka (Sailing Boat) | 30 Mins | ₹200 – ₹300 | All Ages | 0% |
| Chappu Boat / Shikara | 30 Mins | ₹150 – ₹400 | All Ages | 0% |
| Water Zorbing / Pedal Boat | 15 – 30 Mins | ₹150 – ₹400 | All Ages | 0% |
| Caged Pontoon Swimming | 30 Mins | ₹100 | 10+ Years | 100% |
Want to quickly calculate your budget? Use our interactive filter tool below to sort the main activities by thrill level and price:
Verified Koti Colony Operator Directory
Skip the highway agents. Book your rides directly with these official operators at the Koti Colony docks.
| Operator / Collective | Counter Location | Primary Services |
| GMVN Water Sports Complex | Main Koti Colony Jetty | Speed boats, Jet Skis, Government-regulated rates |
| Tehri Lake Water Sports & Adventure Group | TADA Central Booths | High-speed combo packages, Flyboarding, Parasailing |
| Divine Lake Cruise Tehri | Upper Houseboat Dock | Daytime houseboat cruises, Overnight luxury stays |
For any safety issues, call the UTDB or TADA government helplines. Their phone numbers are printed right on the main jetty gates.
How Combo Packages & Jet Ski Pricing Really Work
Many first-time visitors get confused when one operator quotes ₹500 for a Jet Ski and another quotes ₹900. Here is the catch: a ₹500 ticket only buys you a single short loop (2 to 3 kilometers) sitting as a passenger behind the driver. If you want to hold the handlebars yourself (with the instructor seated behind you holding the kill-switch lanyard) and take a longer loop toward the dam, the rate jumps to ₹800–₹1,000.
If you plan to do more than two rides, never buy individual tickets. Ask the Koti Colony booth for a Combo Package:
- Standard 4-Ride Combo (₹1,400 – ₹1,800): Includes Speed Boat, Banana Ride, Bumper Tube, and 1-Round Jet Ski. You save ₹300–₹400 per person by bargaining as a group.
- Adrenaline 5-Ride Combo (₹2,200 – ₹2,800): Adds the high-speed Jet Attack or Kneeboarding to the standard combo.
The Best Rides Explained
Flyboarding Levels
Riding a flyboard pushes you high into the air on strong jets of water. Many people think this always costs ₹3,500, but that is not true. A normal 8 to 10-minute beginner ride only costs between ₹1,400 and ₹2,500. You only pay the full ₹3,500 for the 15-minute pro package. That higher ticket price pays for the extra time, a personal rescue boat on standby, and a full video recording of your ride.
Parasailing and Wind Rules
Being pulled into the sky by a winch-boat gives you a massive, silent view of the Garhwal Himalayas. However, parasailing is heavily dependent on the wind. If the valley winds get too strong, or if the summer water levels drop too low, TADA authorities will immediately suspend all parasailing for the day. Always book this in the early morning when the thermal winds are calmest.
High-Speed Group Rides
If you have a group, skip the slow boats and book the Jet Attack or the Banana Ride. The Jet Attack is a specialized high-speed boat that does full 360-degree spins on the water, throwing giant walls of water over the passengers. The Banana boat and Bumper tubes have only one goal: the driver will make sharp turns to safely throw you into the lake. You will get completely soaked, so leave your phone and shoes on the dock.
Slow Boating & PalNoka Nuance
If high-speed spins and flying aren’t your style, or if you are traveling with elderly parents, the lake is highly accessible. Local rate boards list traditional manual options like the PalNoka (Sailing Boat) for ₹200–₹300 and the Chappu Boat (Row Boat) for just ₹150 per person. These slower boats are perfect in the late afternoon (around 4:30 PM) when the harsh sun drops and you can quietly watch the sunset hit the surrounding mountains.
Floating Huts & Houseboat Cruises at Tehri Lake
Not everyone wants to ride a fast jet ski. You can also just relax on a slow houseboat cruise. A local operator named Divine Lake Cruise Tehri runs these boats directly from Koti Colony. They charge between ₹500 and ₹800 per person for a 45-minute daytime ride, which usually includes lunch or a cup of tea.
You can even sleep directly on the lake water. Divine Lake Cruise lets you book an overnight room on their upper deck. You can also book the well-known Le ROI Floating Huts & Eco Rooms near Sahrai/Koti. Staying there costs between ₹7,500 and ₹20,000 per night. That price automatically covers your private boat ride to reach your floating room.
Tehri Lake Festival & International Competitions
If you visit in February or March, you might run into the big Tehri Lake Festival. Three official groups (UTDB, TADA, and THDC) organize this event. You can watch athletes do international kayaking, canoeing, and acro paragliding. But here is a quick warning for normal tourists. If you travel on these exact dates, your regular boat rides might get paused or shifted. The docks get very busy to make space for the actual sports matches.
The Hidden Cost: Action Cameras
Before you start a high-speed ride, the boat operator will offer to record your trip on a GoPro or Insta360 camera. This is a hidden fee of ₹300 to ₹500 for the raw video footage, transferred directly to your phone. Agree on this price at the ticket counter before putting your life jacket on.
Debunking the “Old Tehri Scuba Diving” Myth
Several travel agencies advertise “Freshwater Scuba Diving in Tehri Lake” for ₹2,500 to ₹4,500, claiming you can dive down to see the submerged ruins of Old Tehri and the King’s Palace. Do not fall for this.
While Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Uttarakhand Tourism (UTDB) have announced and conducted experimental shallow-water diving trials during adventure festivals, commercial deep-water diving to the submerged ruins of Old Tehri does not exist at the public Koti Colony counters. The ruins sit at the bottom of a reservoir up to 260 meters deep—far beyond human recreational diving limits. Second, the Bhagirathi river feeds glacial silt into the reservoir, causing underwater visibility to drop to near zero below 15 feet. Stick to surface water sports.
Can You Swim in Tehri Lake?
Open swimming in Tehri Lake is completely banned due to the extreme depth, submerged trees, and freezing underwater currents.
However, you can swim safely inside the designated caged pontoons. Operators sell a dedicated “Swimming in Tehri Lake” ticket for ₹100 per person for 30 minutes inside this floating cage. Wearing a TADA-approved life jacket is 100% mandatory even inside the cage.
Parking Fees & Travel Preparation
- Eco Park & Parking: Vehicle parking at the Koti Colony jetty costs ₹50 per car and ₹20–₹30 per bike. There is no separate entry ticket just to walk onto the Koti Colony viewpoint or promenade. While you wait for your group, you can easily relax in the adjacent Koti Colony Eco Park.
- Carry Physical Cash (₹3,000–₹5,000): Jio and Airtel work decently at the upper parking lot, but mobile data drops out frequently down on the metal floating pontoons. UPI QR codes often fail to load at the lower boat counters.
- Lockers and Changing Cubicles: Basic fiberglass changing rooms sit above the ramp (expect a ₹10–₹20 maintenance fee). There are no secure digital lockers on the floating docks. Leave gold jewelry, passports, and laptops locked inside your car trunk.
- What to Pack: Bring a full change of dry clothes, a microfiber towel, and a waterproof pouch for your phone.
Perfect 1-Day Tehri Lake Itinerary
Follow this quick schedule so you do not waste time waiting in lines:
| Time | Activity / Stop | Details |
| 08:30 AM | Arrive & Parasail | Get to Koti Colony early. Book parasailing right away because the wind is much calmer in the morning. |
| 10:00 AM | 4-Ride Combo | Enjoy your Jet Ski, Banana Boat, Bumper Tube, and Speedboat rides. |
| 12:30 PM | Change Clothes | Grab your dry clothes and use the basic changing rooms down at the docks. |
| 01:00 PM | Pahadi Lunch | Drive up to New Tehri town and grab a local Garhwali lunch. |
| 02:30 PM | Dam Viewpoint | Stop by the main viewpoint to check out the huge 260.5-meter dam wall. |
| 05:30 PM | Dobra Chanti Bridge | Drive over to the bridge to catch the sunset and the LED lights. |
Final Tips for a Smooth Trip
Get there early. The boats run from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, but the docks get super busy between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM. If you show up around 8:30 AM, you get calm water, zero ticket lines, and an easy ₹50 parking spot.
One last thing: do not stop for the men waving papers on the road from Chamba. They are just middlemen looking for a cut. Just drive straight to Koti Colony and buy your tickets at the real counters.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the best time to visit Tehri Lake for water sports?
If you want a full lake where the water comes right up to the road, visit between October and February. If you want warm weather for getting wet on Banana Boats and Flyboards, go from March to June. Just remember the water level drops in May and June, so you will have to walk down steep ramps. Avoid July and August because monsoon rains often force the rides to close.
Is it safe to do water sports at Tehri Lake?
Yes. The Tehri Special Area Tourism Development Authority (TADA) gives licenses to all the boat operators at Koti Colony. You must wear a TADA-approved life jacket on every single ride. Plus, the state river police and rescue boats watch the water carefully from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Do I need to know how to swim to participate?
No. Your thick life jacket will easily keep you floating safely on top of the water. This works even if you fall in during a Banana Boat or Bumper Tube ride.
Are there age and weight limits for the rides?
Yes. Slow rides like Shikaras, Pedal Boats, and PalNoka have no age limits at all. For rides like the Banana Boat or Bumper Tube, kids must be at least 10 years old. For extreme rides like Flyboarding and Parasailing, you must be at least 16 years old and weigh between 40 kg and 95–100 kg.