Lonar - World's only salt water lake in basaltic rock

India's magnificent hypervelocity meterorite-impact crater

 Lonar is situated at central part of India, in Buldana District (Maharashtra)

Lonar Lake was formed about 52000 years ago, by a meteor hitting the Earth. Lonar is the second largest impact crater in basaltic rock and is partially filled by a salt water lake. Lonar crater is around 2 kilometer in radius and about 100 meter deep. The lake is both saline and alkaline in nature. In the lonar sarovar there are number of medicinal plants observed, some algae and bacteria found in this lake are said to have medicinal uses.

It has also got attention recently after important discovery that this crater has similarity to the craters on the Mars surface.

A mini crater lying nearby also known as Little Lonar Crater that houses Amber Lake. This crater is also thought to have originated from the impact of the small piece of Meteorite that split from the main body before hitting the ground. The diameter of this crater is 1,100 feet or 340 meters.

Lonar is named after the demon, Lonasura, and is ringed by fascinating temples, The Daitya Sudan Temple, Lord Rama Temple, Hanuman Temple, Vishnu Temple which are believed to built in the 12th century.

The Daitya Sudan temple is carved in a style similar to Khajurao temples. Kamalja mata mandir is situated in the sarovar.

Apart from the temples dotted inside the crater, there is also the famous Gomukh Temple that stands at its rim.

Lonar Lake has triggered NASA scientists and officials from the Geological Survey of India to attempt answers to questions like:
Why is the lake alkaline and saline at the same time?
Why does it support micro-organisms rarely found elsewhere on Earth?
Why do compasses fail to work in certain parts of the crater?
And what lurks at the bottom?

Many local and international scientists, activists, students and socialists are campaigning  to consider Lonar Crater Lake in the list of UNESCO World Heritage site.

Nearby touriest places -

• Ajanta Ellora (Verul) Caves - 140km
• Aurangabad (Bibi ka Maqbara, Panchakki), 140km
• Daulatabad, Khuldabad, Grishneshwar temple - 150km
• Chikhaldara (Hill station)-250km
• Sindkhed Raja (Birthplace of Veer Mata Jijabai, mother of Chhatrapati Shivaji) -60km,
• Swami Vivekanada Ashram (Hiwara Ashram).- 32km
• Shegaon (Shri Gajanan Maharaj Temple, Anand Sagar) - 90km 

How to reach Lonar -

• Flights - Nearest Airport Aurangabad ( 150 KM)

• Trains - Lonar is not on railway route, nearest railway station is Shegaon (90km), Jalna (100km).

• By Bus - Nearest city is Mehkar (23 KM). Buses are available from Aurangabad, Jalna, Malkapur, Khamgaon, Buldhana.

Shegaon - A Religious & Spiritual tourist Place

Shegaon is situated at central part of India, in Buldana District (Maharashtra).

 A well known holy place for saint Shri Gajanan Maharaj. 

The birth date & birth place of Gajanan Maharaj is unknown,  in Shegaon he was first seen by Bankatlal, a moneylender on 23 February 1878  (Magh Vadya Saptmi, shake 1799 - as per hindu panchang), eating food from abandoned patravalis (a plate made from tree leaves). When Bankatlal asked  why he is eating from abandoned patravalis when food is available nearby  a family function celebration. Maharaj told him that 'Annam Bramheti', Food is a Brahma (God) and should not be wasted.  Bankat Lal, very impressed with Maharaj's thoughts, he took Maharaj to his house and asked him to stay with him. Every year the day is celebrated as Prakatdin (Appearance day) as per hindu panchang.

There are various stories about Maharaj's origin, but there is no clear evidence to prove when and where Maharaj was born and how he came to Shegaon.

One story is that Maharaj was a erudite Brahmin from Telanghana (previously Andhra Pradesh). As some people have claimed they heard Maharaj speak in Telugu.

Some people's claim that Maharaj was born in Thal (a village near Motala Tahsil in Buldana district), he ran away from home when he was 12 years . Also some of these makes a Temple known to be Shri Gajanan Maharaj Janmasthan Pratishthan in Thal.

Gajanan Maharaj has performed many miracles in his life, such as gave a new life to a person, lighting the clay-pipe without fire, A dry well has been filled with water and never dry again. Leaves appears on a tree which is totally dry (no leaves). Devotees are believes that Maharaj had cure them from diseases, including a man who had leprosy is cured.

A devotee from Banaras gave a Chilim (clay pipe) to Maharaj, from then he was a regular smoker of the Chilim.

Maharaj oftenly chanted the mantra "Gan Gan Ganat Bote " means God is present in each and every thing around us. A trust Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan, was formed in the presence of Gajanan Maharaj,
in1908, on the hints given by Maharaj. A temple is constructed on the place suggested by Gajanan Maharaj.

Shri Gajanan Maharaj decided to leave the world and took samadhi on 8 September 1910 (Bhadrapad Shudha Panchami, shake 1831 - also known as Rushipanchami) Thousands of devotees gathered near his Samadhi place. Even today devotees believes that Gajanan maharaj is alive and always with him.

Daily thousands of devotees comes for Maharaj Darshan from all over the Maharashtra and other states. The no. increases on Thursday and Ekadashi. Many of the devotees regulary visits every thursday some of them visits pedal from nearby cities. On Prakatdin & Rushipanchami, the devotees figure goes in Lacs.


Shegaon can be described as the Pandharpur of Vidarbha. Every year a Palki consists of nearly 600 pedestrian known as varkari goes from shegaon to pandharpur (approx. 450 km) to reach before Aashadi Ekadashi (Pandharpur yatra).It tooks about a month to reach to Pandharpur. In every city in the route peoples welcome the Palki and some peoples go by some distance with the palki. In return when it reaches Khamgaon (17 km from shegaon), A procession in the city was carried out. And next day Lacs of devotees goes pedal with the palki to shegaon to reach with Gajanan Maharaj.

Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan, is believed to be India's first ever trust of neat and clean administration & management. Gajanan Maharaj devotees known as sevak gives the services very politely and with respectful behaviour for trust, many of the sevakas even not take any remuneration.

Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan provides many facilities for devotees/pilgrims such as free bus facility to railway station to mandir to Anand Sagar. Free Lunch (Mahaprasad) daily between 10.00am to 1.00 pm. Dinner between 7.00pm to 9.30pm at minimum cost.

Sansthan has constructed Bhakta Niwas for devotees at various places including Shegaon, Pandharpur, Tryambakeshwar, Omkareshwar, Alandi where rooms are available 'first come first serve' basis at nominal cost.

Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan runs the institution 'Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj College of Engineering, Shegaon' which is recognized in topmost in Vidarbha region.

Another touriest attraction in shegaon is "Anand Sagar". The Anand   Sagar project covered in 350 acres of area is also developed by the trust for tourist with all facilities at nominal rates.A big park is decorated with state of art artefacts and carvings all over having artificial lake, green lawns, meditation centre, an aquarium, children play grounds, toy train, temples, fountain-show etc.

Nearby holy places - 

• Shri Kshetra Nagzari (Gomaji Maharaj) -6km,
• Khamgaon (Jagdamba Mata Ghatpuri, Pachalegaonkar Maharaj Math) - 17km,
• Karanja Lad (Ek mukhi Datta) - 100km,
• Amravati (Ambadevi) - 127km,
• Nandura (105 feet Shri Hanuman murti). - 37km
• Mehkar (Famous Balaji Temple) - 97km
• Wari hanuman (Hanuman mandir, Dam) - 50km
• Chikhali (Sailani Baba Dargah)   - 93km

 Nearby touriest places -

• Lonar (Salt water lake) - 90km 
• Sindkhed Raja (Birthplace of Veer Mata Jijabai, mother of Chhatrapati Shivaji) - 130km   , 
• Ajanta, Ellora (Verul) Caves - 140km
• Hiwara Ashram (Swami Vivekanada Ashram) - 80km .
• Chikhaldara (Hill station) -140km 
• Chandrapur (Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve) - 350km.

  
How to reach Shegaon -

• Flights - Nearest Airport Aurangabad (225 KM), Nagpur (300 KM)

• Trains - Shegaon is on Central Railway, Direct trains available for shegaon station. 

                Below is list of trains available to reach Sheagaon.      

               Trains in Maharashtra - 

• Vidarbha Express
• Amravati Mumbai (CSTM) Express
• Maharshtra Express
• Sewagram Express
• Nagpur Pune Express
• Bhusawal Wardha Passenger
• Nagpur Bhusawal Passenger
• Narkhed Bhusawal Passenger

               Trains from Other States -

• Navjivan Express - Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujrat
• Surat Fast Passenger - Gujrat
• Secunderabad Bikaner Express  - Telangana, Gujrat, Rajasthan
• Gitanjali Express  - Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal
• Gondwana Express - Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi
• Puri Okha Express  - Gujrat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha
• Shalimar LTT Express - Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal
• Howrah Mumbai Mail - Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal
• Azad Hind Express     - Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal
• Howrah Ahmedabad Express - Gujrat, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal

       To find out stations covered by trains visit -  National Train Enquiry System - Indian Railways

• By Bus - Nearest city is Khamgaon (17 KM) which is located on National Highway No. 6. Buses are available every 15 minutes from Khamgaon. Direct S.T./Luxury buses available from cities Mumbai, Pune, Nasik, Dhule, Aurangabad, Akola, Amravati, Nagpur,  Chandrapur  to Khamgaon & Shegaon.