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Assan Barrage Dehradun Address: Assan Barrage, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248142, India
The wetland at Asan Barrage in Dehradun is located at the junction of the Yamuna and Asan perennial rivers. Both waders and divers are drawn to the lake to explore flora and fauna of the place. Asan has a sizable account of birds classified in the IUCN Red Data Book as globally threatened species.
Asan Barrage is a small man made barrage that is quietly tucked between the confluence of the Asan River and the Eastern Yamuna Canal. It is situated near the Uttarakhand-Himachal border in the Northwest of Dehradun and is one of the top tourist attractions in Dehradun.
The riverbed is 389.4 m above sea level, the barrage is 287.5 m long, and the minimum and maximum water levels are 402.4 m and 403.3 m asl, respectively. The Asan reservoir is constantly filled with water from the Asan River and the Yamuna's discharge channel through the Dhalipur Power Plant.
Asan Barrage is a great place to explore the beauty of our winged creatures and a perfect spot for bird lovers and ornithologists. Thousands of migratory birds travel miles at length during the season to make this their home for a couple of months. It is truly incredible to witness a Mallard or a Red-crested Pochard softly swim a few hundred yards through the forest.
History of Asan Barrage, Dehradun
From 1965 to 1967, the UP-Irrigation Department built the Asan Barrage. It takes its name from the Asan River.
Asan Barrage, also spelled Assan or Assan Barrage, was built in 1967 as a tiny artificial wetland at the meeting point of the Eastern Yamuna and Asan rivers.
#Trivia: It is also known as Dhalipur lake because it is close to the Dhalipur Power Plant. The Asan Conservation Reserve is the official name of this Ramsar Wetland. Dhalipur Lake is another name for the barrage.
Numerous birds congregate around the barrage, and some critically endangered species are included in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red Data Book.
The reservoir is a tiny wetland with a maximum water level of 403.3 m, covering an area of around 4 square kilometres.
Birds at Asan Barrage, Dehradun
If you are an eager bird watcher or an ornithologist, you will witness some of the most beautiful sights when you visit the Asan Barrage wetland, nearly 40 kms from Dehradun. The pristine surroundings and the gorgeous flora and fauna will make you fall in love with the location.
As a tourist, you will be enthralled with the beauty that the place emits. Some species you can enjoy watching include, Shoveler, Mallard, Ruddy Shelduck, Pond Heron, Wagtails, Coot, Cormorant, Egrets, etc.
Wagtails are the first to arrive at this location every year. Predators such as the Pallas Fishing Eagle, Marsh Harrier, Greater Spotted Eagle, Osprey, and Steppe Eagle, are a delight when they swing and glide through the breeze and hover around to catch their prey.
The Pallas Fishing Eagle, which builds its nest every winter, has had the honour of making Asan their home for over thirty years. Other raptors use this nest throughout the remainder of the year.
These 11 migratory species—Brahminy Duck, Red-Crested Pochard, Gadwall, Common Pochard, Mallard, Coot, Wigeon, Common Teal, Tufted Duck, and Shoveler—make up 90% of the waterbird population throughout the winter.
Trans-Himalayan migratory birds use Asan Barrage as a stopover during their winter migration. In October and November, as well as on their return, these birds are seen here as they travel to Southern India (late February-March). Asan observes the arrival of migrants from the pale arctic region by the end of October.
Some unique migratory species that will mesmerize you include- Pintail and Shoveller, who arrive in December and depart in March/April. The Greylag, Brahminy, C.Teal, Mallard, and C. Pochard species arrive in October and depart by March/April. The Gadwall, Wigeon, RC pochard and Tufted birds arrive by November and depart by March/April.
Image Gallery of Assan Barrage Dehradun
Vegetation and Flora of Asan Barrage, Dehradun
The Asan Barrage reservoir serves as a breeding site for several aquatic plants, including hornwort, elephant grass, water hyacinth, and fennel pondweed. You will witness some gorgeous bushes around the area, such as Prickly chaff flower, Touch-me-not, Morning glory, False Daisy, Cocklebur, Knotweed, shy-leaf, west Indian lantana, Stonebreaker, Heartleaf, and miniature beefsteak.
A field of crops surrounds the southern side of the reservoir. As you head south, you'll see the Shivalik range's mixed forest, which consists of a beautiful tall thicket of trees that include Sal, Dhaura, Sheesham, Indian Ash tree, and the Red Silk Cotton Tree.
Best time to visit Asan Barrage, Dehradun
For serious bird watchers, early May to September end is an excellent opportunity to witness local migrants like the painted stork, open billed stork, and night heron. Winters may be the most exciting season for bird enthusiasts.
You can spot a flock of 25–40 painted storks every year in these months. The department has identified more than 53 species of waterbirds and sighted nearly 19 species of migratory birds from Europe and Asia.
October through March is the best time to visit the Asan Barrage in Dehradun.
Entry fee and timings of Asan Barrage, Dehradun
This location offers a variety of adventure sports for both kids and adults, including water skiing, kayaking, rowing, and paddling. Ideally, visitors stay for an hour. It is open daily throughout the week.
The barrage is open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. There is no charge to enter this barrage.
How to reach Asan Barrage Bird Sanctuary in Dehradun
Asan Barrage Bird Sanctuary is situated in the village of Dhalipur at the confluence of the Yamuna and Asan rivers. You can hire a private cab from top car rental companies in Dehradun to reach the sanctuary.
The Dehradun-Paonta road leads there from Dehradun 42 kilometres to the west. Only 15 kms separate the sanctuary from Vikasnagar, 22 km from Kalsi, and roughly 66 km from Chakrata.
The closest railhead is Dehradun Railway Station, 42 kilometres away, and the closest airport is Jolly Grant Airport, 71 kilometres away.
Suppose you are already in Dehradun for a short vacation. In that case, you can easily reach the barrage by following the Dehradun – Prem Nagar – Rampura Selakui – Sahaspur – Herbertpur – Asan Barrage Bird Sanctuary route.
OR
Dehradun – Mussoorie – Bhediyana – Kalsi – Dakpatthar – Vikasnagar – Herbertpur – Asan Barrage Bird Sanctuary route.
Experience the surge of excitement in your veins by participating in the water sports activities offered by the GMVN Watersports complex in Asan Barrage, founded by the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam in 1994. From exciting water sports to serene treks, there is much to explore in Asan Barrage.
One of the most popular tourist destinations of Dehradun, it truly is a delight in every way. So if you plan a short vacation to Dehradun, explore the barrage and other tourist spots in Dehradun and enjoy a splendid time with your family and friends by booking a Dehradun tour package with us. At Dehradun Tourism, a division of Holidays DNA, we offer a variety of packages catering to different needs of our customers. Please fill the Contact Us form to know more.