An enjoyable visit to Assan Barrage – a bird watcher’s delight

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An enjoyable visit to Assan Barrage – a bird watcher’s delight

(A photo essay)

 

A panoramic view of the Assan Barrage or Dhalipur lake

         Having visited Rajaji National Park, we headed towards Dehradun, as we also intended to visit the famed Assan Barrage Bird Sanctuary, which is situated about 40 odd Kms. from Dehradun.  We started from Chilla at around 9.30 A.M and headed along the Chilla Dam road, as it was the shortest route to the destination i.e. about 97 Kms. via Rishikeh-Raiwala-Doiwala on the Dehradun Ambala National Highway and as we encountered some blocked roads and heavy traffic in Dehradun, thus it took us around six hours to reach the destination, albeit with quite a few stoppages in between.  While loitering around the barrage looking for a few birds to photograph during the previous day evening, an elderly gentleman had approached me and he introduced himself to be a photographer as well as a guide.  During the course of discussion he had pointed two birding spots to me, the first one was beyond the cut on the road towards the lane leading to village Ganga Bhogpur on the Chilla dam road itself, which was part of Rajaji Wild trail and could be accessed by a small dirt road that digressed from the main road, whereas the other was near ‘Bhumi Devta’ temple and at quite some distance.  So we decided to explore the region of Rajaji Wild trail on our way to Dehradun, since this destination sat right on our path.

Sighted a Mountain Hawk Eagle - on the way

A Rufous Treepie in Rajaji Wildlife trail

A Small Minivet in Rajaji Wildlife trail

        It was easy for us to trace the location we intended to visit and having parked the vehicle under the shade of a tree, the driver preferring to have a cup of piping hot tea at the road side tea stall while enjoying the morning Sun, I proceeded towards the place, which was actually a dirt trail leading upto banks of holy River Ganga and on its banks it bifurcated towards the opposite directions, running parallel to the River banks.  It was a wooded place with shrubs covering most of the forest floor.  However, even before we could reach the site we had to make a stop on the road, having spotted a handsome bird of the Eagle family, whose photograph and identity I have placed in the blog.  This destination too appears to have a great potential for bird watchers, as apart from water birds, I could hear a cacophony of birds chirping in the undergrowth and I could even spot a Red billed Leothrix also commonly called the ‘Liksptick bird’ because of its red coloured bill, but could not capture it in the camera, as I was a bit casual in approach.  Even this short visit showed immense potential and it is advisable for the bird watchers to have a look at this place, next time you visit Chilla.

Entry gate of Tourist Rest House at Assan Barrage run by GMVN ltd.

A group of Bramhiny ducks in the Assan Barrage waters

An Eagle flying in the sky above

We proceeded further and were relying on the Google Map for directions, albeit that I was also continuously back checking from locals also, as there have had been instances where this web based application leads persons to such places wherefrom it becomes very difficult to proceed further.  I had faced this malady earlier too and this time around also having gone past the Rishikesh Railway station, the application led us to a dirt road that seemed to end next to a huge bridge under construction.  We were flummoxed and after approaching some locals, we were told that if we continued along the dirt track that was totally on undulating terrain, we would be able to reach the road and join the traffic just after where the bridge construction ends.  We followed advice, as we did not have many more options and after many a tortuous moments, we were finally able to land of the Ambala-Dehradun Highway.  The Highway was well kept and we made it to Dehradun in good time, but once inside the city we were just pommelled to almost a standstill due to huge traffic snarls, especially in the market region and we lost much time during this part of the journey.  Having gone past the market area, we drove past the Dehradun Airport and thereafter, the traffic was smooth again.  But we were late and I was a bit famished by now, so when I saw some people selling fresh Orange juice along the highway, we stopped and had some quality fresh juice that immediately rejuvenated our flagging spirits.

Bramhiny ducks in flight

Another group of Bramhiny ducks in flight

A Watercock (female) in the lake

A group of Common Coot in the lake waters

        It was almost late afternoon when we reached the Assan Barrage site and as we had pre-booked the Tourist Rest House accommodation managed by the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam, we headed directly for the destination.  But being holidays, the entire place was choked and teeming with people.  I somehow made it to the Managers office and found that every staff had been deployed to serve food and beverages to the customers.  I showed him my booking and he directed some staff member to lead us to our rooms, but due to very heavy rush we had to do the honours of transferring our luggage to our rooms.  Further, due to shortage of staff and coupled with heavy rush on that day, despite placing order for some snacks etc., as we were already a famished lot, I had to remind them for food for quite a few number of times, before the same was delivered. 

A pond heron in the lake

A large conglomeration of water birds away from prying eyes of humans - on distant side of the lake

A pair of Red crested Pochard along with other water birds in the lake

A Ferruginious Pochard in flight over the lake

As the evening sets in - the Bramhiny ducks seek a resting place

A group of Pochard's also doze off as the evening sets in

            Having had the snacks and a cup of tea/coffee as per individual choice, we decided to drive towards the other side of the Assan Barrage or Dhalipur Lake.  This place comprises of a man-made lake that resulted from construction of a barrage across the Asan River and a discharge channel from Yamuna River that draws water to the Dhalipur Power station in the year 1967.  The lake with semi-marshy conditions prevailing in some parts, spread over an area of over four square kilometres.  The altitude is merely 389.4 meters over mean sea level and is a perennial lake i.e. it has water all the year round.  As per the records, the lake has about 53 species of water birds, of which 19 are winter migrants from Europe and Asia. During this period a record of 90% of the water birds population comprises the following 11 (Eleven) migratory species, namely Brahminy Duck, Pintail, Red Crested Pochard, Gadwall, Common Pochard, Mallard, Coot, Wigeon, Common Teal, Tufted Duck, and Shoveller.  We drove across the barrage and headed left towards the village side to watch the birds and were glad that we did so, as many of the birds preferred the isolated region, away from the hustle and bustle of the barrage area, which has a constant flow of traffic.  We spent some quality time watching and photographing the birds and as the evening set in, we headed back to the Tourist Rest House (TRH).

A group of Red crested Pochards at Assang Barrage TRH

A Grey Hornbill at the Assan Barrage TRH

Some Greater Scaup(s) resting in Hathni Kund Barrage

Another view around Hathni Kund Barrage

         By the time we arrived back at the TRH, the visiting hours were well over and the humongous crowd that had gathered during the day the quietly dispersed.  We had the complex all to ourselves and ordered a fresh round of snacks & beverages that not only arrived promptly, but was prepared in much better manner.  We had our dinner at the lakeside enclosure, enjoying the food as well as the starlit night sky and calling of the water birds, comforting each other.  Thereafter, we retired for the night and the next morning was glorious with full view of the lake and birds, I photographed a few birds in the complex itself and also made a video that I have shared below.  Then having B’fast at around 9.00 A.M we headed back towards Delhi via Yamuna Nagar and Karnal.  On the way we stopped over for a few minutes at the Hathni Kund Barrage to check out for migratory birds.  However, as we approached these heavily industrialized zones, the fog that envelopes the plains during winters made an appearance and we were literally crawling at places due to very dense fog and at times traffic.  We reached Delhi late in the evening and thus ended our winter sojourn for the year.

Here is the link to the video for the destination

©S. Roy Biswas