Home

Back to Index

Tourists head for Asan Barrage for bird watching

     Asan Barrage (Uttaranchal): The Asan Bird Conservation Reserve, located 38 kms from Dehradun, is a bird watchers delight. Built at the confluence of the Yamuna Hydel Canal and the River Asan, the reserve attracts a large number of migratory birds during the winter. Birds like the Brahminy and the Gadwall from Thailand, Pakistan, China, Siberia and other cold countries come here in October and stay till March. Bird watchers can enjoy a glimpse of the Pallas Fishing Eagle at the barrage, which also attracts a variety of marsh loving birds like the Egret, the Heron, Lapwings and Waterfowls. "About 45 species of birds come here from Thailand, Pakistan, China, Siberia and other cold countries. Tourists and bird lovers come here to see them," said Vinod Pyal, Manager of the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN), a Government of Uttaranchal enterprise. "We like to watch the birds. Every year, around this time, birds come here and we come to see them," said Om Prakash Nautiyal, a visitor. The Asan Barrage is 287. 5 metre long. It is a nesting place for 53 species of water birds and includes 19 winter migrants from Eurasia. Some of the birds visiting the reserve are the Pintail, the Wigeon, the Common Pochard, the Red Crested Pochard, the Mallard and the Coot. Some of birds of prey that visit the site include the Marsh Harrier, the Great Spotted Eagle, the Osprey and the Steppe Eagle.
-Dec 13,  2006

Leading Indian News Papers

Overseas Tourist
Offices

Tourist offices
in India

Helpline