Anchar Lake lies to the north of Dal Lake, connected to it by the Hazratbal arm and separated from Nagin by reeds and aquatic vegetation. It is shallower and less developed than both Dal and Nagin, making it more productive birdwatching territory during the migratory season and less visited by tourists the rest of the year. Grebes, herons, cormorants, and ducks are resident year-round; Siberian migrants join them from October onward.
The lake is surrounded by villages that still depend on fishing and aquatic agriculture — lotus cultivation and water chestnut harvesting are common — and the landscape around it has the feel of the Kashmir Valley before it was developed for tourism. A shikara from the northern end of Nagin Lake can reach Anchar without joining the main Dal Lake circuit. The Hazratbal Mosque is visible across the water from the southern end of Anchar, providing orientation. For visitors who want to see the wetland ecosystem of the Srinagar lakes without the tourist traffic, Anchar is the alternative to recommend.