Srinagar Travel Packages

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Tags : Lake

Location : Soura, Srinagar, Jammu, and Kashmir 191111

How To Reach :

Travel northwards through the Kak Sarai Safa Kadal Road, then onto the Dr. Ali Jan Road. Continue on Dr. Ali Jan Road and move on the Ganderbal Road to the Soura area. The Anchar lake is 200 mts from here. 

Ideal Season : Winter (September- October to March -April)

Anchar Lake, Srinagar Overview

Anchar Lake, north of Srinagar and connected to Dal Lake by a channel, is a quieter alternative to the city's more touristy lakes. It's particularly scenic in winter, when migratory bird species gather here.

 

Must Know Before You Visit Anchar Lake

Must-Know :

  • You cannot access houseboats on the lake as frequently nowadays. Since the lake’s water conditions are slowly worsening, a trip to its middle is difficult, albeit possible through a few Shikara boats.
  • Bird watchers or bird enthusiasts can visit the lake in winters as you can sight migratory birds like pochards, mallards, snipes, etc.
  • Some parts of the lake are shallower and less visit-worthy than others, so ask the locals for an ideal spot. You can follow the directions or consult someone to find a scenic view of the lake.

Read More on Anchar Lake

Anchar Lake History

The Anchar Lake is connected to the Amir Khan Nallah, a small channel that reaches the Dal Lake. Some houseboats in Dal Lake made a round trip in the earlier years, but the pollution has made it difficult now. Some efforts, like the 1990 Mearplan highways project, also went underway. It was an effort to create a highway by the lake while still allowing water from Dal lake to drain in. But the waste materials and garbage from the river blocked all the pipes under the highways.
 
Anchar Lake is placed close to the city, but other banks on various sides are home to local communities too. The Hanji community lives near the banks of the river, and some other communities also have homes here.