Lonar

Lonar is a meteorite crater created in an impact about 50,000 years before present. It contains and is known for the salt water crater lake 1.8 km in diameter. The nearby town of Lonar gets its name from this lake. This is a municipal council in Buldhana district of the division of Buldhana of the region of Vidarbha in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The lake is almost perfectly circular. The depth is almost 200 feet. It is a taluka of the district of Buldhana and is located near Mehkar. It is known for Lonar crater and Lonar Lake, which is located at 19°58′N 76°30′E. There is a 12-inch fresh water stream that provides water into the lake. Due to evaporite effects, the lake is mineral rich and salty.

Lonar is situated around 360 km from Nagpur, around 100 km from Buldhana, around 100 km from Akola, 550 km from Mumbai, around 160 km from Aurangabad and around 140 km southeast of the Ajanta Caves, about 4½ hours drive via Buldhana.

Geography


Lonar is located at 19°59′06″N 76°31′23″E.It has an average elevation of 563 metres (1847 feet). Lonar Lake is a saltwater lake at Lonar in Buldana district, Maharashtra, India, which was created by a meteor hitting the Earth during the Pleistocene Epoch.


demographics

As of 2001 India census, Lonar had a population of 20,082. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Lonar has an average literacy rate of 66%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 74%, and female literacy is 58%. In Lonar, 16% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Temples

Lonar is not just the lake created by Meteor, the ancient Rishis understood its importance & built innumerable temples around the lake & also around the Rim of the Crater.

Flora and fauna

Lonar has its own ecological system. As sun sets, the entire lake appears differently. The lake water sweeps across the shore like sea water, the birds, wolves, peacock & other creatures start making their presence felt. Its a wonderful scene to watch the Sun rising Or setting below lake walls. The lake has remarkable presence of splinters of glass confirming the impact which caused the enormous temperature rise thereby turning the sand into glass.

Tourism

The nearest train station is Shegaon, Buldana near Khamgaon. Malkapur near Bhusawal railway-junction, on the Mumbai - Bhusawal - Nagpur route of Central Railway of Indian Rail and is around 100 km from Lonar. Buses also run to Lonar from Nagpur, Akola, Buldhana, Malkapur and Jalna. If travelling from Nagpur, take a bus till Mehkar near Washim & then head to Lonar, from Mumbai or Pune, the most convenient route is to first reach Aurangabad via bus (Mumbai and Pune) or train/flight (from Mumbai only) and then take a state transport bus to Lonar. From Pune, air-conditioned and regular buses run every hour from the Shivajinagar bus stand to Aurangabad.

Maharashtra Tourism runs a resort just 50 meters from the lake. This property is modern, well maintained and cheap. There also are several low cost and simple accommodations called lodges available in the town.

The food available in Lonar has influence from both, Khandesh and Marathwada cuisines. It is unique, simple, but spicy.

Lonar Lake

A hot bed for scientists and explorers, Lonar is a tiny town located in Maharashtra that is home to the only meteorite crater in India. The town is nestled next to the Lonar Lake, the crater that was formed by a falling meteorite some 52000 years back and is a picturesque place that must be visited by a traveler, especially women as the place is very safe for a lone woman. The lake is the only one of a kind to have basaltic rock in its waters. Many researchers from The Geological Society of India visit this spot for conducting extensive studies. It is also a hub for causal tourists that come here to picnic as well as watching wildlife like fowls, gazelles, lapwings, moor hens and magpies. The crater offers a nesting ground for many migratory birds as well which makes it a paradise for bird watchers. There are quite a few temples around that can also be visited. Lonar is a charming hamlet and will make your trip a memorable one!