Chamba is a small but scenic hill town about 18 km from New Tehri, sitting at around 1,600–1,676 m amid dense forests and apple orchards. It lies at a crucial junction where roads from Mussoorie and Rishikesh meet the road going to Tehri Dam and Dhanaulti, so almost every traveller to Tehri passes through its bazaar. The town offers refreshing views of the Bhagirathi valley, Tehri Lake and distant snow peaks, and is surrounded by quiet villages, terraced fields and small homestays. Because it is less crowded than big hill stations, Chamba is gaining popularity as a peaceful base for exploring Tehri Lake, Surkanda Devi, Kanatal and nearby forest trails.
About this place
History & highlights
Chamba grew as a roadside market and administrative stop on the old route linking Narendranagar, Tehri and the upper Bhagirathi valley. When the capital shifted several times (Tehri, Pratapnagar, Kirtinagar, Narendranagar) during the princely state period, the road passing near Chamba became more important, bringing traders, pilgrims and officials. After the creation of Tehri Dam and New Tehri town, Chamba suddenly found itself at the centre of a new tourism map – midway between Rishikesh/Haridwar and the adventure zone of Tehri Lake, with side roads to Dhanaulti and Mussoorie. State tourism now actively promotes it as a “quieter alternative hill station”, so the town’s identity is shifting from simple market village to a gateway resort town for the entire Tehri region.
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