Assan Barrage Bird Sanctuary, Uttarakhand

Location: 40 kms west of Dehradun, in the west of Dehradun valley on Dehradun-Paonta Road.

Famous Activity: Bird Watching

Popularly Known As: Dhalipur Lake

Assan Barrage Bird Sanctuary- A Bird Watchers Paradise

The Asan Barrage, popularly known as Dhalipur lake, was created in the year 1967 as a result of the construction of Asan barrage at the confluence of the river Yamuna & Asan through Dhalipur power house. Asan Barrage is famous for bird watching.

About Assan Barrage Bird Sanctuary

The Asan reservoir attracts 53 species of water birds of which 19 are winter migrants from Eurasia. During winter months 90% of the waterbird population comprises the following 11 migratory species, namely Brahminy Duck, Pintail, Red Crested Pochard, Gadwall, Common Pochard, Mallard, Coot, Wigeon, Common Teal, Tufted Duck, and Shoveller.

Topography of Assan Barrage Bird Sanctuary

The Asan Reservoir is a small man-made wetland of ca. 4 sq km area, located 40 km west of Dehradun, in the west of Dehradun valley on Dehradun-Paonta road. Geographically it is situated between latitude 30o 24'-30o 28' N and longitude 77o 40'-77o 44' E, near the confluence of the rivers Asan and Yamuna. The barrage is 287.5 m long, the river bed being 389.4 m above sea level, with minimum and maximum water levels respectively at 402.4 m and 403.3 m asl.

The Asan reservoir exists throughout the year and is fed from the river Asan and the discharge channel of Yamuna through Dhalipur powerhouse. Although the water level is controlled, it often goes down, and swampy islands in the middle become visible, attracting a variety of marsh-loving birds like Egrets, Herons and Lapwings, etc.

Climate

The reservoir has a typical North Indian monsoon climate, with distinct summer and winter months.
Temperature: summer, max.38o C, min. 14o C;
winter max. 21o C, min. 2o C;
Average Rainfall 250 cm; South West monsoon during June to September.

Vegetation & Flora in Assan Barrage Bird Sanctuary

The aquatic vegetation of the reservoir consists of Eichhornia crassips, Potamogeton pectinatus, Typha elephantina, and Ceratophyllum demersum. The surrounding bushes include Xanthium strumarium, Eclipta prostrata, Ipomoea sp., Mimosa pudica, Achyranthus aspera, Polygonum glabrum, P. lanigerum, Aeschynomene sp., Ageratum conyzoides, phyllanthus sp., Monochoria hastata, Mosla dianthera, and Lantana camara. On the southern side, agricultural fields surround the barrage. Further south there is mixed forest in Siwaliks comprising principally Shorea robusta, Anogeissus Latifolia, Lannea coromandelica, Dalbergia sissoo, and Bombax ceiba.

Birding Season

Arrival & Departure
October November December March-end
Or Early April, Sometimes April- end

Access

Road: The peripheral road has become a preferred route from Himachal, Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh resulting in great traffic.

Wildlife in Assan Barrage Bird Sanctuary

Assan Barrage serves as a winter passage halt for trans-Himalayan migratory birds. These birds are spotted here on their way to southern India (October-November) and again on their way back (late February-March).

During winter months these 11 migratory species, namely Brahminy Duck, Pintail, Red Crested Pochard, Gadwall, Common Pochard, Mallard, Coot, Wigeon, Common Teal, Tufted Duck, Shoveller have the 90% composition in total water birds.

May to September end offer just as exciting opportunities to see local migrants like Painted Stork, Open Billed Stork, Night Heron. A Group of 25- 40 Painted Storks can be seen in these months every year.

Assan Barrage Bird Sanctuary Travel Information

Location : Dehradun, India.

Established : 1976

Nearest City : Dehradun only 40 kms from Sanctuary.

Climate : The reservoir has a typical North Indian monsoon climate, with distinct summer and winter months.

Temperature : summer, max.38o C, min. 14o C
Winter max. 21o C, min. 2o C

Rainfall : 250 cm South West monsoon during June to September.

Time to Visit : October - March

Monsoon : July - September

Summer : April - June

Winter : December - February

Clothes: Cottons in summer and light-woolens in winter

How to Reach :

By Air : The nearest airport to Dehradun is Jolly Grant, 23 km from the city centre.

By Rail : Dehradun is very well connected by daily trains from all major cities.

By Road : Assan Barrage is 38km from Dehradun on the way to Paonta Sahib. State Transport & local buses ply regularly between Assan and Dehradun (45 kms.) Haridwar (100 kms.), Delhi (275 kms. via Dehradun). Regular bus and Taxi services are available from the Dehradun Roadways bus stand or the railway station.