Asan Barage
Bird Sanctuary
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
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.
Description:
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 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
& FloraThe 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 India
