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SANCTUARY SPOTLIGHT

Asan Barrage

Also known as Dhalipur Lake which was created in 1967 when the Asan barrage was built at the confluence of the river Yamuna & Asan, the Asan Barrage a bird watcher's delight. The lake attracts a large number of waterfowls, as well as woodland and scrubland birds that visit the nearby Sal forests.

Though the bird sanctuary is small in size, it more than makes up for it in the number of species found. Some of the birds have been listed in the IUCN Red Data Book of threatened species, and you can find ornithologists and naturalists with their binoculars.

Asan has been the nesting site of the Pallas Fishing Eagle every winter for more than 30 years. The barrage also serves as a winter passage halt for trans-Himalayan migratory birds.

Also visit: The Water Ski Resort run by the GMVN (Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam), a Government of Uttaranchal enterprise which offers you water skiing, rowing, kayaking and other water sports.

Area: 4 sq. km. area. The barrage is 287.5 m long

Birds: 53 species of water birds, including 19 winter migrants from Eurasia. The birds include the brahminy duck, pintail, gadwall, wigeon, common pochard, red crested pochard, mallard, coot, common teal, tufted duck, egrets, herons, lapwings, ruddy shell duck, mallard, cormorant and wagtails. Birds of prey including pallas fishing eagle, marsh harrier, greater spotted eagle, osprey and steppe eagle.

Best time to visit: Spot the migrant birds on their way to south India between October and November and on their way back again from late February till March.

How to get there:

Road: Dehradun (38 km) on the Dehradun-Paonta Road

Rail: Dehradun (38 km)

Air: Jolly Grant Airport (23 km form Dehradun)

Where to stay: The Government Tourist Rest Houses, YMCA or at the Dharamshalas at Dehradun.

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