Tehri Lake to be Developed as a Global Tourism Destination; Comprehensive Master Plan to Cover 8,000 Hectares
Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan reviews tourism development plan, stresses year-round activities and phased development
Water sports, adventure, trekking, nature, culture and village tourism to be integrated across Tehri Lake region
Dehradun, September 24, 2026: The Uttarakhand government is preparing a comprehensive development strategy to transform the Tehri Lake region into an international-level tourism destination. Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan on Thursday chaired a meeting with the Tourism Department at the Secretariat and directed officials to prepare an integrated master plan for developing Tehri Lake as a “One State, One Global Destination.”
The Chief Secretary directed that a comprehensive master plan and zonal plan be prepared covering approximately 8,000 hectares around Tehri Lake. Both government and private land should be incorporated into the planning exercise to ensure coordinated and long-term development of the entire region.
He also stressed the need to prevent unplanned development by identifying suitable zones for different activities and development requirements.
Planning to Consider Local Needs and Environmental Sensitivity
Bardhan directed officials to hold consultations with all relevant stakeholders while preparing the master plan. The plan should take into account the region’s geographical conditions, local requirements, environmental sensitivity and tourism potential.
Officials were also asked to explore the possibility of obtaining technical support from the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), New Delhi, and SPA, Bhopal for the master planning exercise.
Phased Development of Tourism Activities
The Chief Secretary said the entire lake area should be developed by integrating a range of tourism activities and creating key attraction or “magnet areas.” A phased development plan should be prepared so that projects can be taken up according to priority.
He emphasized developing tourism activities that encourage visitors to stay in the region for one or two days or longer, rather than making short visits. Water sports should be integrated with adventure tourism, trekking, nature tourism, cultural tourism and village tourism to create a diverse tourism experience.
Year-Round Tourism Activities
Bardhan directed officials to prepare a special action plan for the months of April, May and June, when the water level in Tehri Lake remains comparatively low. He stressed the need for a year-round tourism calendar based on seasonal conditions and lake water levels.
Officials were also directed to develop new trekking routes and trails in the Tehri Lake region and connect nearby villages with tourism activities.
Village and cultural visits can provide tourists with opportunities to experience local traditions, cuisine, culture and rural life, while also creating new employment and self-employment opportunities for local communities, he said.
Detailed Proposal to be Prepared for Presentation to Prime Minister
The Chief Secretary directed officials to prepare a detailed presentation covering the overall development strategy and proposed tourism activities for transforming Tehri Lake into a global destination. The presentation may subsequently be placed before the Prime Minister.
He also directed that officials from THDC be invited to the next meeting so that issues related to the development of the lake region can be discussed in a coordinated manner.
The meeting was attended by Secretary Dhiraj Singh Garbyal, APCCF Dr Vivek Pandey, Surendra Mehra, CCF Prasanna Kumar Patro, Additional Secretary Vineet Kumar, Himanshu Khurana, Abhishek Rohila and Tehri District Magistrate Nitika Khandelwal.
