Lonar Travel Guide
The pleasant window is about October to March , the cool season, ideal for the crater walk and birds; the summer is very hot.
The best time to visit Lonar
The pleasant window is about October to March, the cool season, ideal for the crater walk and birds; the summer is very hot.
- October to March for the cool seasonThe best time to visit Lonar is roughly October to March, the cool, pleasant season, when the days are mild and the descent into the crater, the walk to the lake and the temples, and the birdwatching are comfortable. This is the classic and by far the best season for the Deccan and for a Lonar trip, with winter also the prime time for migratory birds at the lake. For most travellers, these cool months are the clear choice for Lonar.
- Winter for the birdsThe winter months, roughly November to February, are especially good for birdwatching at Lonar, when migratory birds join the resident species around the saline lake and the sanctuary, a delight for birders. The weather is pleasant and the light lovely for the crater and the temples. If you are drawn by the birdlife as well as the geology and the shrines, plan your visit for these cool winter months, the richest and most comfortable time at Lonar.
- Avoid the fierce summerThe summer, about April to June, is very hot on the Deccan around Lonar, making the descent into the crater and the climb back out genuinely exhausting and the open site tiring. Unless you have a specific reason, it is best avoided. If you must come in summer, do the crater walk very early in the morning, carry plenty of water, wear a hat and sunscreen, and rest in the heat of the day, as the crater bowl can be fierce under the midday sun.
- The green monsoonThe monsoon, about July to September, turns the crater slopes and the surrounding country green and lush, a beautiful time, though it is humid and the paths into the crater can be muddy and slippery. The rain also fills the streams that feed the lake. For green landscapes and a fresh, dramatic crater with fewer visitors, the monsoon can be rewarding, with a little care on the slippery paths, though the cool season remains the easiest and best.
Lonar is at its best in the cool, pleasant months of about October to March, ideal for the crater descent, the temples and the birdwatching, with winter (November to February) the prime time for migratory birds. Avoid the fierce summer of about April to June, when the crater bowl is exhausting; if you come then, walk very early and carry water. The monsoon turns the slopes green but the paths muddy. Whenever you come, carry water and sun protection for the crater walk.
How to reach Lonar, a remote crater
Reach Lonar by road, about 140 to 160 km from Aurangabad and 79 km from Buldhana, with Aurangabad the usual gateway.
Lonar is most often reached by road from Aurangabad, about 140 to 160 km away, roughly a three to four hour drive across the Deccan plateau, making it a long day trip or an overnight from the city. A hired car is the usual and most convenient way, and buses also run via Buldhana and other towns. Aurangabad, with its own great sights and good connections, is the natural gateway to remote Lonar for most travellers.
Lonar is about 79 km from the district town of Buldhana, and is reached by road from there and from other towns of the region such as Mehkar. Buses and shared taxis serve Lonar from these centres, though services to this remote spot can be limited and slow. For those already in the region, a hired car or a bus from Buldhana or a nearby town brings you to the crater, on roads across the plateau.
The nearest airport is at Aurangabad, about 140 to 160 km away, with flights from Mumbai and other cities, and the nearest railheads are at Malkapur and Jalna, some distance off, with Aurangabad the main railhead for most. From the airport or railway, Lonar is reached by road, by hired car or bus. Most travellers come via Aurangabad and drive out, often combining Lonar with the Ajanta and Ellora caves on a Maharashtra trip.
At Lonar, the crater and its temples are the sight, reached by walking down a path from the rim to the lake, the temples and around parts of the crater, a descent and climb of real effort. The Daityasudan temple is in the town nearby. A local guide is well worth it to find the temples, understand the site and walk safely. For the crater itself, good shoes and a willingness to walk down and back up are what you need.
Lonar is a remote crater, about 140 to 160 km and three to four hours from Aurangabad, its usual gateway, airport and main railhead, or about 79 km from Buldhana. Because of the distance and the crater walk, it is best as an overnight rather than a rushed day trip. Come by hired car from Aurangabad, take a local guide for the crater and temples, wear good shoes for the descent, and combine Lonar with Ajanta and Ellora on a Maharashtra trip.
The crater, the lake and the temples
The draws are the meteor-impact crater and its saline lake, the ring of ancient Hemadpanti temples, and the carved Daityasudan temple.
- The meteor-impact crater and lakeThe great sight of Lonar is the crater itself, a vast bowl about 1.8 km across and some 150 metres deep, blasted into the hard basalt of the Deccan long ago by a meteorite, one of only a handful of such basalt impact craters known on Earth. In its heart lies a near-circular saline, alkaline lake, ringed by green slopes and old temples. To stand on the rim and take in the whole crater, then walk down to the lake, is to see one of the most extraordinary natural sites in India.
- The remarkable soda lakeThe lake at the crater's heart is remarkable in itself, being both saline and alkaline, a rare soda lake, with a neutral outer zone and a highly alkaline inner one, each home to its own microscopic life. It was this unusual chemistry that, in June 2020, briefly turned the lake a striking pink, when salt-loving microbes bloomed in the changing water. Fragile and strange, the lake is a place of real scientific wonder, to be admired from its shores, not entered or disturbed.
- The ring of ancient templesAround the rim and down the slopes of the crater stand many ancient temples, several in the old Hemadpanti style of Maharashtra, of dry-fitted black basalt, a rare and atmospheric ring of shrines encircling the sacred lake. Some are ruined, some still worshipped, and to come upon them among the trees as you walk the crater is deeply evocative. This ring of old temples, wrapped around a meteor lake, gives Lonar a sacred and human dimension found at no other crater.
- The carved Daityasudan templeIn the town of Lonar stands the Daityasudan temple, the finest of all, an ornately carved shrine to Vishnu attributed to the Chalukya dynasty, its walls covered in intricate stone sculpture of gods, dancers and mythical beings. It is one of the architectural treasures of the region, and a rewarding contrast to the natural wonder of the crater. Do not miss it: the Daityasudan temple shows the rich artistic and religious life that grew up around the mysterious lake.
Lonar is a fragile, ecologically special and sacred site, a protected wildlife sanctuary and Ramsar wetland with a delicate lake, ringed by ancient temples. Treat it with real care: do not litter, pollute or wash in the lake, do not disturb the birds or the water, stay on the paths, and behave respectfully at the temples, which are living shrines. Take nothing and leave nothing. Treading lightly at Lonar helps preserve this rare natural and heritage wonder for those who come after.
The experiences that make Lonar
Walk down into the crater, explore the ring of temples, watch the birds, and see the carved Daityasudan temple.
- Walk down into the craterThe signature Lonar experience is to walk down into the crater, on the path from the rim through the forested slopes to the shore of the strange saline lake and the old temples around it, and to feel the scale and stillness of this meteor-born bowl from within. It is a descent and climb of real effort, best in the cool of the day with good shoes and water, ideally with a guide. Standing by the lake at the bottom of the crater is an unforgettable, otherworldly experience.
- Explore the ring of templesAs you walk the crater, seek out the many ancient temples around the rim and down the slopes, several in the old Hemadpanti basalt style, some ruined among the trees, some still worshipped, a rare and atmospheric ring of shrines encircling the lake. A local guide helps you find them and understand their history. Coming upon these old temples in the quiet of the crater, with the strange lake below, is one of the most evocative and memorable pleasures of Lonar.
- Watch the birdsLonar is a protected sanctuary and Ramsar wetland rich in birdlife, so bring binoculars and watch the many resident and, in winter, migratory birds around the lake and the crater, from the rim and the shore, along with other wildlife. The saline lake and its green bowl are a haven for birds in the dry Deccan. For birdwatchers and nature lovers, the crater is a rewarding place to spend a quiet dawn or dusk, watching the life around the mysterious waters.
- See the Daityasudan templeIn the town, give time to the Daityasudan temple, the ornately carved Chalukya-era shrine to Vishnu, one of the architectural treasures of the region, its stone alive with intricate sculpture. It is an easy, rewarding visit and a fine contrast to the crater walk, showing the rich art and faith that grew around Lonar. Take in the carvings with respect, as it is a living temple, and it adds real heritage depth to a Lonar trip beyond the natural wonder.
The descent into the crater and, above all, the climb back up are a real physical effort, especially in the heat, so wear good shoes, carry plenty of water, go in the cool of morning or late afternoon, take your time, and turn back if you are not up to the climb. A local guide helps you walk safely and find the temples. Those who cannot manage the descent can still enjoy the crater and lake from viewpoints on the rim.
Where to stay, and how long to give it
Stay at the MTDC resort or a simple hotel at Lonar, or base in Aurangabad, and give Lonar a day or an overnight.
- Stay at Lonar itselfThere is a Maharashtra tourism (MTDC) resort on the crater rim at Lonar, with views over the lake, and some simpler hotels and guest houses in and near the town, suited to a remote, offbeat stay rather than luxury. Staying overnight at Lonar lets you enjoy the crater in the soft light of dawn and dusk, the best times for the walk and the birds, and see the temples at leisure. Book ahead, as options are limited in this remote spot.
- Aurangabad as a baseBecause Lonar is remote and stays there are limited, some travellers base in Aurangabad, about 140 to 160 km away, with its wide choice of hotels and its great sights, and make Lonar a long day trip, though this means much driving and a rushed crater visit. For the crater at its best, an overnight at Lonar is far better, but Aurangabad is a comfortable base if you prefer, and the natural hub for combining Lonar with Ajanta and Ellora.
- Give Lonar a day or overnightLonar's crater, lake, temples and the Daityasudan temple can be seen in a full day, but the site rewards an overnight, to walk the crater in the cool of dawn or dusk, watch the birds, and explore the temples unhurried, rather than rushing a long day trip. Given the distance and the crater walk, a night at Lonar makes for a far more relaxed and rewarding visit. Do not try to squeeze this remote wonder into a hurried few hours.
- Fit it into a Maharashtra tripPlan Lonar within a wider Maharashtra journey rather than alone: with Aurangabad and the magnificent Ajanta and Ellora caves, world heritage wonders, and the wider Deccan circuit. Weaving Lonar into a trip that includes the great caves turns a lone crater visit into a rich Maharashtra journey, blending a meteor-born lake and ancient temples with some of the finest rock-cut art in the world, a superb and unusual combination of nature and heritage.
Because Lonar is remote and the crater walk takes effort, an overnight at the MTDC resort on the rim or a simple Lonar hotel is far better than a rushed day trip, letting you walk the crater at dawn or dusk and watch the birds; Aurangabad, 140 to 160 km away, is the alternative base. Give Lonar a day or overnight, and pair it with the magnificent Ajanta and Ellora caves near Aurangabad for a superb offbeat Maharashtra trip of nature and heritage.
A gentle guide to the cost of a Lonar trip
Lonar is very affordable; the main costs are the transport to reach this remote site, a simple stay, and a guide.
- Getting there is the main costLonar itself is very cheap to visit, so the main cost is the transport to reach this remote crater, a hired car from Aurangabad, or buses via Buldhana. A shared car or a car split between a group keeps this reasonable for the long drive. It is the travel to and from remote Lonar, more than the site itself, that largely sets the budget, and the crater, lake and temples are essentially free to enjoy.
- Simple, affordable staysStaying at Lonar is affordable, from the Maharashtra tourism resort on the rim to simpler hotels and guest houses, all modest rather than luxurious, part of the remote, offbeat character. Food is simple local fare in modest eateries. This keeps a Lonar trip gentle on the pocket, and a night at the crater need not cost much. For an unusual, uncrowded natural and heritage experience, Lonar is excellent value, with the remoteness its own reward.
- A guide is worth itA local guide is well worth the modest cost at Lonar, to walk the crater safely, find the many temples around the rim and slopes that are easy to miss, and understand the science and the history of the site, which is otherwise hard to appreciate fully. Budget a little for a guide, and your visit to this remarkable, complex site is far richer and safer. It is one small cost that greatly improves a Lonar trip.
- Carry cashCarry enough cash for the transport, a guide, food and small buys, as Lonar is a small, remote town with very limited card and banking facilities, so do not rely on cards or machines here. Draw cash in Aurangabad or a larger town before you come. As at many remote sites, a little cash in hand for the everyday keeps a Lonar trip smooth and free of any trouble far from any working bank or reliable card facility.
Practical tips: the crater walk, the season and conservation
A few facts help: come in the cool season, prepare for the crater walk, take a guide, and tread lightly at this fragile, sacred site.
- Come in the cool seasonPlan around the season: Lonar is best in the cool months of about October to March and very hot from about April to June, when the crater walk and the climb out are exhausting. Come in the winter if you can, ideally for the birds too, and in any season carry plenty of water, a hat and sunscreen, and do the crater walk in the cool of morning or late afternoon, not the fierce midday sun. Respecting the season and the heat is the first rule of a comfortable Lonar visit.
- Prepare for the crater walkThe descent into the crater and the climb back up are a real physical effort, especially in the heat, so wear good, grippy shoes, carry water, go at an easy pace, and be honest about your fitness, turning back or staying on the rim if the climb is too much. The paths can be rough and, in the monsoon, muddy and slippery. Coming prepared with the right shoes, water and a sensible pace makes the crater walk safe and rewarding rather than a struggle.
- Take a local guideA local guide greatly improves a Lonar visit: the many temples around the crater are scattered and easy to miss, the science and history are complex, and the paths can be confusing, so a knowledgeable guide helps you find the shrines, understand the site and walk safely. Arrange one through your stay or at the crater. For such an unusual, layered site, a guide turns a puzzling walk into a rich, understood experience, well worth the small cost.
- Tread lightly at a fragile, sacred siteLonar is a fragile, protected wildlife sanctuary and Ramsar wetland, and a sacred place of ancient temples, so tread lightly: do not litter, pollute or wash in the lake, do not disturb the birds or the water, stay on the paths, take nothing from the site, and behave respectfully at the temples, removing shoes and dressing modestly at living shrines. This rare natural and heritage wonder is easily harmed. Treating it with care keeps Lonar special for those who follow.
Three things make a good Lonar trip: come in the cool October-to-March season and prepare for the crater walk with good shoes and plenty of water, doing it in the cool hours; take a local guide to find the scattered temples, understand the science and walk safely; and tread lightly at this fragile, protected wildlife sanctuary and Ramsar wetland and sacred temple site, not littering, polluting or disturbing the lake and birds. With these, remote Lonar is a rare and rewarding wonder.
Safety at Lonar
Lonar is safe with care; the cares are the crater walk and heat, the remote setting, the lake, and the ordinary care.
- Take the crater walk seriouslyThe main safety point at Lonar is the crater walk: the descent and especially the climb back up are strenuous, particularly in the heat, so be honest about your fitness, wear good shoes, carry plenty of water, go at an easy pace in the cool hours, and turn back or stay on the rim if the climb is too much, especially for older visitors or those with heart or breathing conditions. Do not attempt it in the fierce midday sun. Treated sensibly, the walk is safe and rewarding.
- Mind the heat and the remote settingThe Deccan heat, fierce in summer, and the exposed crater can cause heat exhaustion and dehydration, so carry and drink plenty of water, wear a hat and sunscreen, and rest in the shade. Lonar is remote with limited facilities and medical help far off in the larger towns, so carry any personal medicines and a basic first aid kit. Coming prepared for the heat and the remoteness, and not over-exerting, keeps a Lonar visit safe as well as comfortable.
- Respect the lake and wildlifeDo not enter, swim in or wash in the saline, alkaline lake, which is ecologically fragile and not for bathing, and do not disturb the birds or wildlife of the sanctuary. Stay on the paths and behind any barriers. Beyond protecting the site, this keeps you safe from the unusual water and the uneven ground near the shore. Treating the lake and wildlife with care and distance is both a conservation duty and a sensible safety measure at Lonar.
- The ordinary careLonar is a small, quiet and safe town and site, and there is little to worry about beyond the crater walk, the heat and the remoteness. Take the usual care of your belongings, agree fares and guide fees in advance, and go with others rather than alone on the crater paths, telling someone your plans. Solo travellers, including women, generally find Lonar safe with normal precautions. With care over the walk, the heat and the remote setting, it is a safe and rewarding visit.
Lonar for every kind of traveller
Lonar suits science lovers, birdwatchers, heritage seekers and the curious, with a little care over the crater walk and the remote setting.
- Science and geology enthusiastsFor science and geology enthusiasts, Lonar is a wonder, one of the very few meteor-impact craters in basalt rock known on Earth, with a rare saline-alkaline lake at its heart, a place of real scientific fascination and ongoing study, once even examined by scientists studying craters on the Moon and Mars. Come to see the crater, understand its formation and its strange chemistry, and marvel at this cosmic scar on the Deccan. For lovers of science and the Earth, Lonar is unmissable.
- Birdwatchers and nature loversFor birdwatchers and nature lovers, Lonar is a rewarding, uncrowded haven, a protected sanctuary and Ramsar wetland rich in resident and, in winter, migratory birds around the saline lake and the green crater, along with other wildlife. Bring binoculars and spend a quiet dawn or dusk watching the life of the crater. For those who love birds and unusual ecosystems, away from the crowds, the meteor lake and its bowl are a special and rewarding place in the dry Deccan.
- Heritage and temple seekersFor heritage and temple seekers, Lonar offers the rare ring of ancient Hemadpanti temples around the crater and the exquisitely carved Chalukya-era Daityasudan temple in the town, a rich religious and artistic heritage wrapped around the mysterious lake. Come to explore these old shrines with respect, and pair them with the crater. For those who love ancient temples and the meeting of nature and faith, Lonar is a fascinating and deeply atmospheric destination, quite unlike any other.
- Curious travellers and familiesFor curious, offbeat travellers, Lonar is a fascinating find, a meteor crater, a strange lake and ancient temples far off the tourist trail. For families, it is an interesting and educational trip, with the crater and the science to fascinate older children, though the strenuous crater walk, the heat and the remote setting need planning, and it suits active families more than those wanting easy comfort. Come prepared, and Lonar rewards the curious of all ages with a truly unusual experience.
A suggested plan around Lonar
A graded plan: Lonar with Aurangabad and the Ajanta and Ellora caves over about three to four days.
- Day 1: to Lonar and the crater rimDrive from Aurangabad to Lonar, about 140 to 160 km, and settle into the rim resort or a town hotel. Give the late afternoon to the crater rim, taking in the whole meteor bowl and the lake from the viewpoints in the soft light, and visit the carved Daityasudan temple in the town. This gentle first day, with the great crater revealed at dusk, sets up the descent and the temples for the morning, and staying overnight lets you enjoy Lonar at its calmest.
- Day 2: the crater walk and templesRise early, in the cool of dawn, for the walk down into the crater to the lake and the ring of ancient temples, with a guide to find the shrines and walk safely, and for the birdwatching around the water, before the day heats up. Climb back up before the sun is fierce, and rest. It is a rich, memorable day of geology, ancient temples and birds in the extraordinary meteor crater, the heart of a Lonar visit.
- Days 3 to 4: Ajanta and ElloraReturn toward Aurangabad and give your remaining days to the magnificent Ajanta and Ellora caves, world heritage wonders of rock-cut temples and paintings among the finest in the world, near the city. These sublime caves, of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain art over many centuries, are a superb complement to Lonar, pairing a cosmic natural wonder and ancient temples with some of the greatest ancient art on Earth. Aurangabad also has its own sights to enjoy.
- Fit it into a Maharashtra tripWeave Lonar and Aurangabad into a wider Maharashtra journey, with the Ajanta and Ellora caves, and perhaps the hill forts, Nashik or the wider Deccan beyond. Over about three to four days, this offbeat circuit, Lonar's meteor crater and temples with the great caves, gives a rich, varied and unusual central Maharashtra trip, blending cosmic geology, ancient temples and world-class rock-cut art, far from the usual tourist trail and deeply rewarding to the curious traveller.
The real questions travellers ask about Lonar
Short, honest answers to the questions that come up again and again before a Lonar trip.
- How do I get there, and when to go?Reach Lonar by road, about 140 to 160 km and three to four hours from Aurangabad, its usual gateway, airport and main railhead, or about 79 km from Buldhana. The best time is the cool season of about October to March, ideal for the crater walk and the birds, while the summer is very hot. Given the distance and the crater walk, an overnight is far better than a rushed day trip, and Lonar pairs well with the Ajanta and Ellora caves.
- How was the crater formed, and how old is it?The Lonar crater was formed by a meteorite striking the Earth in the distant past, blasting a bowl into the hard basalt of the Deccan, one of only a handful of such basalt impact craters known on Earth. Its exact age is debated: older studies estimated about 52,000 years, while newer research suggests it may be far older, perhaps around half a million years. Either way, it is an ancient and remarkable cosmic scar, now filled by a strange saline lake.
- Can I walk into the crater, and see the temples?Yes, you can walk down into the crater on a path from the rim to the lake and the temples, a descent and climb of real effort best done in the cool of the day with good shoes, water and a guide. Around the crater stand a rare ring of ancient Hemadpanti temples, and in the town the exquisitely carved Chalukya-era Daityasudan temple. Those who cannot manage the descent can still enjoy the crater and lake from the rim viewpoints.
- Why did the lake turn pink, and is it safe?In June 2020 the lake briefly turned pink or red over a few days, when salt-loving microbes and algae bloomed in the changing water of the warm, shrinking lake, a natural and striking phenomenon that drew world attention. The saline, alkaline lake is fragile and not for swimming or washing, so admire it from the shore. Lonar is safe with sensible care over the strenuous crater walk, the heat and the remote setting, and by respecting the fragile lake and site.
Planning Lonar from abroad
For overseas visitors, Lonar is a rare meteor-impact crater lake reached through Aurangabad, best paired with the Ajanta and Ellora caves.
- Route in through AurangabadFrom abroad, fly into Mumbai and on to Aurangabad, then reach Lonar by road, about 140 to 160 km away, ideally as an overnight, and combine it with the Ajanta and Ellora caves. No permit is needed. Allow a day or overnight for Lonar within a Maharashtra trip. Aurangabad is the natural gateway, with the great caves nearby, and the drive out across the Deccan to the remote meteor crater is a rewarding, offbeat excursion for a visitor from abroad.
- A rare cosmic and heritage wonderFor an overseas visitor, Lonar offers a rare and fascinating side of India, a meteor-impact crater in basalt, one of very few on Earth, with a strange saline lake and a ring of ancient temples, far off the tourist trail. It is a wonder for lovers of science, nature and heritage alike. Combined with the world-class Ajanta and Ellora caves near Aurangabad, it makes a superb, unusual Maharashtra trip well worth building into an India itinerary from abroad for the curious.
- Come in the cool season, preparedTime an overseas trip for the cool, pleasant months of about October to March, ideal for the crater walk and the birds, and avoid the fierce summer heat. Come prepared with good walking shoes, plenty of water and sun protection for the strenuous crater descent and climb, and be honest about the fitness needed. A little planning around the season and the crater walk, and an overnight rather than a rushed day trip, makes for a rewarding Lonar visit from abroad.
- Respect the fragile, sacred siteOverseas visitors should treat Lonar as the fragile, protected and sacred site it is: do not litter, pollute or enter the lake, do not disturb the birds or wildlife of the sanctuary, stay on the paths, and behave respectfully at the ancient temples, which are living shrines. This rare natural and heritage wonder is easily harmed. Coming with care for the environment and respect for the temples, an overseas visitor finds Lonar a fascinating, memorable and responsible experience.
Money, connectivity and timing for overseas visitors
Carry cash, expect patchy connectivity, come in the cool season prepared, and pair Lonar with the Ajanta and Ellora caves.
- Carry cash from AurangabadCarry enough Indian rupees in cash for the transport, a guide, food and small buys, as Lonar is a small, remote town with very limited card and banking facilities. Draw cash in Aurangabad or a larger town before you come out. For an overseas visitor, do not rely on cards or machines at remote Lonar; arriving with enough cash for the whole visit is essential, and a card is useful only back in the city, not at the crater.
- Expect patchy connectivityMobile coverage can be patchy at remote Lonar and in the crater, and foreign SIMs may not work well, so download maps and details in advance, get an Indian prepaid SIM for the trip, and tell someone your plans. Do not rely on a strong signal at the crater. Connectivity is better back in Aurangabad. Treat the remoteness as part of the offbeat experience, and plan your logistics, the car, guide and stay, in advance rather than on the spot.
- Come in the cool season, preparedPlan the trip for the cool, pleasant months of about October to March, ideal for the crater walk and the birds, and avoid the fierce summer. Come prepared with good shoes, water and sun protection for the strenuous crater descent and climb. Timing an overseas trip for the cool season, coming prepared for the walk, and choosing an overnight rather than a rushed day trip, is the key to a comfortable and rewarding visit to remote Lonar.
- Pair with Ajanta and ElloraFor an overseas visitor, Lonar is best enjoyed with the magnificent Ajanta and Ellora caves near Aurangabad, on an offbeat Maharashtra trip. An operator or a self-drive itinerary can easily weave the meteor crater, its temples and the world-class caves into a rewarding, unusual journey of cosmic geology, ancient temples and sublime rock-cut art. Rather than a lone stop, treat Lonar as a rare, fascinating jewel of a wider Maharashtra heritage and nature trip from abroad.
A lake in a wound the sky made, ringed with old gods
Out on the dry black basalt of the Deccan, in the Buldhana country of Maharashtra, the flat plateau suddenly gives way to a vast round bowl nearly two kilometres wide and a hundred and fifty metres deep, its slopes green with forest, a still lake gleaming at the bottom. This is the Lonar crater, and it was made not by any earthly force but by a stone that fell from the sky: a meteorite that struck here in the deep past, tens of thousands of years ago, or perhaps far longer, the scientists still argue, blasting this enormous wound clean through the hard volcanic rock, one of the very few such craters in basalt known anywhere on Earth, studied even by those who study the craters of the Moon and Mars. The lake that fills its heart is as strange as its making: at once salty and alkaline, a rare soda lake, so charged with unusual life that once, in a single summer, its waters bloomed suddenly pink, as if the crater had blushed. And strangest and loveliest of all, this cosmic wound is not bare. Around its rim and down its wooded slopes, and in the little town beside it, stand old temples, many of them, some ruined among the trees and some still lit with worship, shrines of black stone raised by people who, long ago, looked into this uncanny bowl with its still, salt water and knew it for a sacred place. To walk down into the crater at dawn, past the old gods among the trees, to the shore of the lake the sky once made, and to stand there in the great circular silence, is to feel, as few places on Earth allow, the meeting of the cosmos and the human, the fallen star and the patient faith that grew around its scar.
Planning a Lonar trip?
Our Maharashtra travel experts plan your full journey for you: route, hotels, darshan timings and transport. You get a free day-by-day plan and an exact quote on WhatsApp, usually within a few hours. No payment is needed to get your plan.