Asan Barrage / Dhalipur Lake, Dehradun - Timings, Boating, Best Time to Visit

At a distance of 42 km from Dehradun, the Asan Barrage is a barrage in the Uttarakhand-Himachal Pradesh border near Dhalipur village in Dehradun district. It is one of the popular tourist places to visit near Dehradun.

The Asan Barrage was created in 1967 at the confluence of two rivers, Asan and Yamuna. The Reservoir is a small wetland of approximately 4 sq. km area with 403.3 m maximum water level. The reservoir is popularly named as Dhalipur Lake and attracts a large number of birds. Some of the birds listed as globally endangered species in the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) Red Data Book have been spotted at Asan. Though the lake is not quite large by size, the abundance of Birds makes it an ideal place for Bird Watchers.

Asan 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). By the end of October the Asan Barrage witnesses the arrival of migrants from Pale arctic region. As many as 53 species of water birds visit the wetland which is also frequented by almost 19 European and Asian migratory birds. Birds like Shoveller, Mallard, Red Chested Poacher, Ruddy Shelduck, Wagtails, Coot, Pochards, Pintail, Wigeon, Gadwalls, Tufted Duck, and Teals etc. are some of the common visitors. May to September offers opportunity to see local migratory birds like Painted Stork, Open Billed Stork, Night Heron.

Asan Barrage is also famous for water sports resort developed in 1994, by the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam. The resort offers various types of water sports like skiing, boating, rowing, kayaking and canoeing.

The best time to visit Asan Barrage Bird Sanctuary is from October to December and from mid-March to end of April.

Timings: 9 AM to 5 PM