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.