Tehri Lake came alive with colour and excitement as the “Himalayan 0.2 – The Tehri Lake Festival” opened with great enthusiasm. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who inaugurated the event on Friday, expressed confidence that the stunning Tehri Lake will soon become one of the world’s leading destinations for tourism and adventure sports. He also announced the construction of a new ropeway connecting Koti Colony to New Tehri, adding another attraction to the region.
Welcoming athletes and visitors from across India and abroad, the Chief Minister said that Uttarakhand—known as Devbhoomi—has always been a land where spirituality and rich folk culture beautifully converge. He noted that its mountains, rivers, lakes and age-old traditions have drawn global attention for generations. He added that the Tehri Lake Festival reflects this heritage by bringing tourism, sports and local culture onto one common platform.
Describing Tehri Lake as a natural gem in the lap of the Himalayas, he said it is fast developing as a major adventure sports spot. National and international water sports events held here not only showcase athletes’ talents but also help strengthen Uttarakhand’s identity on the world sports map.
Outlining the government’s vision, the Chief Minister said Tehri is being developed as a prime centre for water and adventure sports. Kayaking, canoeing, jet‑skiing, parasailing, scuba diving and several other activities are being promoted on the lake, while modern training facilities are being created for young sportspersons. He said this growing sports-and-tourism ecosystem is opening new avenues for self-employment and boosting the local economy.
He added that the aim is to make Tehri Lake not just a tourist attraction but a global destination where sports, culture and natural beauty come together. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s special emotional connection with Uttarakhand, he said the state is receiving continuous encouragement for tourism and adventure sports. He mentioned recent large-scale events such as the first high-altitude marathon at Adi Kailash, the MTB Challenge in Mana and the Asian Open Short Track Speed Skating Trophy.
The Chief Minister shared that Uttarakhand’s youth are now actively creating opportunities for themselves. Over 400 young people in Tehri are currently undergoing paragliding training, a development he said gives him great confidence that they will one day place Uttarakhand firmly on the world paragliding map.
He also presented an overview of the ongoing development work in Tehri. More than Rs 1,300 crore worth of projects are in progress, which include the lake’s development, a new ring road, and transforming Timad into a tourist village. Sunargaon in the Bhilangana block is being developed as a model village, and a new Anganwadi building based on traditional Pahari architecture is under construction. To strengthen waste management, 10 compactor centres and more than 4,000 garbage collection centres are being set up across the district.
During the programme, he virtually laid the foundation stone of the Koti–Dobara tourist route, a 15‑kilometre project funded by the Asian Development Bank, costing Rs 318 crore. The Tehri Lake Festival will continue till March 9, offering a mix of adventure activities, tourism experiences and vibrant cultural performances throughout its duration.
