Koteshwar Dam Reservoir.
Tehri Lake gets all the visitor traffic; Koteshwar is the second dam in the same hydro complex and most road-trippers don't realise it's there.WHY NOBODY KNOWS
The lower companion to the famous Tehri Dam — a 97.5m run-of-the-river structure on the Bhagirathi, 22km downstream from Tehri Lake. The reservoir behind it is narrower and quieter than Tehri Lake, with rope-bridges and small ghats from the older villages still visible at the waterline. The Koteshwar Mahadev temple, after which the dam is named, sits on the bank and is the original anchor of the place — the dam came later. Best: Year-round. Sep-Nov for clearest water and post-monsoon greenery. Avoid heavy monsoon for landslides on the access road.. Reach: 22km downstream of Tehri Dam, near Pratapnagar. Drive from New Tehri ~45 mins. The Koteshwar Mahadev temple is on the reservoir's east bank.. Tip: No entry fee at the dam viewpoint, but no public access onto the dam itself (security). Photography of the powerhouse restricted. Combine with the Koteshwar Mahadev temple (free) and a meal at the Pratapnagar bazaar. Carry ID — random checks on the access road..
