Dipor Bil or Deepor Beel Bird Sanctuary is located in Guwahati city of Kamrup district in Assam. It is approximately 15 km (9.320 miles) away from Guwahati in Assam. It is also considered as Dipor Bil or Deepor Beel Bird Sanctuary.
History of the Dipor Bil dates back to the year 1989. Dipor Bil or Deepor Beel, a permanent freshwater lake is a home to different species of birds earlier to the establishment of the bird sanctuary. The government of Assam established the Dipor Bil or Deepor Beel Wildlife Sanctuary in the year 1989, to protect different species of birds living near the lake in Guwahati in Assam. Later DPBS was listed as a wetland under the Ramsar Convention in November 2002 to undertake conservational measures on the basis of its biological and environmental importance. Dipor Bil or Deepor Beel Bird Sanctuary got its name due to the word Bil or Beel, which means “lake” in the local Assamese language. Considering the richness of the bird varieties found in the sanctuary area, the Birdlife International has declared Deepor Beel as an Important Bird Area (IBA) with high priority for conservation.
Dipor Bil is geographically situated in the south-west of Guwahati city in Kamrup district. The Deepor Beel Wildlife Sanctuary is covered by wetlands near a permanent freshwater lake in a former channel of the Brahmaputra River. This sanctuary spans an area of 4.14 sq km (1.59 sq miles) in the wetlands spread near Bil or Beel Lake on the south of Brahmaputra River in Assam.
Dipor Bil is a home for different species of flora and fauna. Floristic combination of the sanctuary includes different species of trees, aquatic and semi aquatic plants such as Phytoplankton. Different species of Phytoplankton found in the sanctuary include Oscilatoria sp., Microcystis sp., Volvox sp., Anacysistis sp., Oscillotoria sp., Spirogyra sp., Ulothrix sp., Diatom sp., Ceratium sp., Selenastrum sp., Microcystis sp., Anabaena sp., Zygnema sp., Closterium sp., Hydrodictyon sp., Tribonema sp., Chlorella sp., Navicula sp., Melosira sp., and Synedra sp.
The emergent vegetation found in the sanctuary includes Trapa bispinosa, Utricularia flexuosa, Eleocharis pantaginea, Nelumbo nucifera, N. lotus, Nymphaea alba, N. rubra, Sagitaria sagitifolia, Euryale ferox. Ipomea reptans, Oelia alismoides, Marsilia minuta, Limnophilia aquatica, Monochoria leaqinolis.
The submerged plants found in the sanctuary area include Potamogeton crispum, Valisnaria spiralis, Hydrilla verticillata, Najas foveolata, and Paspalum serobiculatum. Halophila ovata, H. Beccari and Ruppia maritima etc. The other cultivated and non-cultivated plants species available in the sanctuary area are Alium cepa, Pisum sativum, Brassica juncia, B. rugusa, Beta vulgaris, Momordia charantia, Ducus carrota and Triticum aestivum. The weeds which are prevalent in the sanctuary area are Amaranthus spinosus, A. Viridis, Cyperus rutundus, Cortoria strata, Agaratum conyzoid, Solanum khasianum, Cassia tora, Cassia occidentalis, Solanum torvum, Lucus aspera, Michania scandenses, Cynodon dactylon, Xanthium strumarium, Polygonum hydropiper, P. plebum, P. occidentalis, P. barbahim, Hydrocoliu japonica, Cyperus esculentus, Cyperus flavidus, Elusin indica, Cyperus silletensis, Cyperus flavidus, Elusin indica, Cyperus silletensis, Eupatorium odoratum, Achyranthus aspera, Cyperus esculonsis, Pharagmites karka, Imperata cylindrica, Vitax trifolia, Accum basilium, Saccharum spontaneum, Arundo donax, Lentena caemera, etc. The dominant tree species found in the sanctuary area are Tamarind indica, Ficus bengalensis, Ficus religiosa, F. glomarata, Cleofropis gigantia, Dillenea indica, Phoenix sylvistris, Megnifera indica, Albizzia lebbek, Albizia procera, Zigyphus mauricianus, Alstonia scolaris, Casia fistula, Bombax ceba, Bambusa vulgaris, B. aurundinaceae etc.
There are many species of birds in the Deep Beach and its surrounding areas. Some of these are migratory birds. There are many different species of birds including the Kailangi, Daikala, Panidubi, Panikauri, Maniari, Gabog, Panibag, Barbag, Vela, Barbag, Majubag, Kanamuchari, Itaguria. Nalchupi, Shamukbhanga, Bartokola, Eagle, Dhritaraj, There are many different types of ducks. Species like woodpecker, vulture, rampar, spider, sand ant etc. are notable. Apart from birds, the lake is home to various species of fish such as roe, bhakua, shall, kavai, roe, barley, bhakua, kandhuli, puthi, khalihana, magur etc. Elephants sometimes come down in flocks at night from the Rani and Garbhanga reserves adjacent to the sanctuary to feed Similarly, wolves , pigs, leopards and tigers also visit the sanctuary. The flora of the sanctuary is mainly aquatic. There is some forest in the southwest of the sanctuary. Aquatic plants include small puni, vet, shingri, meteka, vet, helchi, and kalamau.
Ornithologists recorded occurrence of 219 species of birds, including more than 70 migratory species in the sanctuary. Different species of birds found in the sanctuary include 10 feeding guild species, 80 from Insectivorous feeding guild species, 38 from Picivorous feeding guild species, 30 from Birds of prey feeding guild species, 16 from Granivorous feeding guild species, 12 from Herbivorous feeding guild species, 11 from Frugivorous feeding guild species, 5 from Carnivorous and Necterivorous feeding guild species and 4 from Scavengered feeding guild etc.
Faunal species found in the sanctuary include Wild Asian Elephants (Elephants maximus), Leopard, Jungle Cat and the protected Barking Deer, Chinese Porcupine and Sambar etc. Visitors can spot 20 amphibian, 12 lizards, 18 snakes and 6 turtle and tortoise species and 50 commercially viable species of fish, belonging to 19 families of aqua fauna also in the sanctuary.
Deepor Bil is open throughout the year. But the best time to visit the lake is during the period of October to March. Visitors can have spectacular view of different species of flora and fauna in the lake. Visitors are advised to get in touch with officials of the sanctuary for complete information on entry timings and fee etc.
The first mesmerising sight that captivated me with its vivid blues and greens was the water body called Dipor Beel. It was October. Migratory birds had not arrived yet. The calm blue of the freshwater lake looked brilliant even as it blended with the bright blue autumn sky laden with dense pristine clouds.
Surrounded by shades of wise old trees bowing with their abundant green leaves and full branches almost touching the serene water! A solitary boat lay amidst the wilderness of weeds. We stopped by the lake awhile. Just resting in solitude or reading a book under the shade of a tree, could make one's day right there.
Dipor Beel, 13 km south-west in the direction of Guwahati, on the bank of the Brahmaputra, is bounded by highlands. Precisely on NH 31 on the Jalukbadi-Khanapada bypass.
As one reads under a tree shade, or walks a bit along the grasses, one could often be greeted by a water fowl walking in careful gait.
The beautiful freshwater lake gets is showered with rainwater as it also gets water from Basistha and Kalmani rivers. Heard one needs to visit Dipor Beel in winter when it is home to 19,000 kinds of birds in just a day! Among them, some globally threatened species of birds. Birdlife International has marked it among the best bird- sighting areas of the country.
We were attracted by the variety of aqua vegetation along the lakeside. There were orchids, medicinal plants, all in effortless wilderness. When we visited, it was afternoon. Aquatic grasses, water hyacinth, water lilies rested in silent whispers as submerged vegetation. The marshy lands, the emerged vegetation , an egret at a distance perched atop a bare tree stump. It was all wild. All silent. All soul- healing yet mind-enhancing.
This wetland with Burma Monsoon Forest vegetation, has the beautiful name 'Dipor Beel' is inspired from the sanskrit word dipa which means elephant and beel in Assamese indicating a large water body, inhabited by elephants. As we sat in silent contemplation at the still blue waters, I remember, had read somewhere that Dipor Beel was an important dockyard of the Tai-Ahom as well as the Mughals, taking us to medieval history of the conflict between Tai-Ahom and the Mughals.
Dipor Beel, a blue green healing yet rejuvenating balm to the mind and soul, is a welcome entry to the wonders of the north-east. Undeniably an unmissable stop on the way from Guwahati. Not having spent an hour soaking in its beauty, much more so in winter would be missing out on an apparently small yet abundantly beautiful resting spot.
