Why is NASA interested in this site?

The Lonar Crater is not just another natural wonder. With its abundant flora and fauna, placid lake, temple ruins and terrific views, it's a must-visit destination in central Maharashtra

It would've destroyed dinosaurs. It would've spelled disaster to other creatures of the earth. It would've charred and destroyed a large portion of the green landscape. We are talking about the 20-lakh tonne, 60-km wide meteorite that travelled at about 90,000 km/hr and dented the earth about 50,000 years ago.


For decades, the Lonar Crater in Maharashtra has piqued the imagination
of scientists, astronomers and geologists from across the globe.
Pic courtesy/travelwithacouple.com

Compensating for all the destruction it had caused, it has given us an amazing ecosystem in the form of a crater with a lake at its base where one can experience nature in all its vivid splendour. This is what we recognise as the Lonar Crater in Maharashtra's Buldhana district. The overnight journey from Mumbai to Aurangabad in a luxury bus was very comfortable. The remainder of the 145-odd km journey to Lonar was not. In true backpacker-style, we waited at the Aurangabad bus station, for the 9.30 am state transport bus to Lonar. It never arrived. After testing our patience for over two hours, we realised it was futile to wait for a direct bus. So we hopped on to a bus that took us closer to our destination. From there, we boarded another bus, two taxi-jeeps -- the second one with people packed like sardines, gave us a taste of local travel in rural Maharashtra, and finally, an auto that reached us to the Lonar MTDC resort, the lone accommodation in the area. As with most MTDC resorts, it was a reasonable space.

Deep impact
Overlooking the crater, the resort is a good vantage point to marvel at the vastness of the crater. The tiring journey was soon forgotten, and we let ourselves to get awed by the facts and myths that surround Lonar. It was pleasant and peaceful to watch the sunset from the rim of the crater. The sparkling lake with its thick green border, and the last of sun's rays playing on the water was a sight to behold.


A temple within the crater

"The only hypervelocity natural impact crater in basaltic rock in the world," reads the information on The Geological Survey of India's plaque at the rim. But most of the locals are content believing the crater was formed when the goddess Kamla killed the ferocious demon Lavanasur. Also, the name Lonar is supposedly derived from Lavanasur.

Our guide Anand Mishra turned out to be more than just a typical guide; in the past, he has offered assistance to researchers from many international universities and institutions including NASA, who camp at Lonar every winter. As we discovered,u00a0 gradually, the whole world seems interested in this sleepy village, in the hope that every rock in the crater might reveal a secret or a clue about the origin of universe. Next morning, we followed Anand's footsteps and began our trek down to the crater. Those who are uninitiated in trekking and with no interest in initiating it in Lonar can take the safer option of steps, all the way down. We chose the adventurous, rocky and scree-strewn way. It took less than 30 minutes despite the careful teetering down.

The alkaline factor
Around the lake, you'll spot many temples supposedly built around the twelfth century. Most of them are in a dilapidated state, but the remnants are enough to revealu00a0 stories of a knowledgeable civilisation that once thrived in the area. A canopied pathway along the circumference of the lake, which is about 4 km, offers a pleasant nature walk. But at the time we reached, we could cover only one-half of the lake since the other half of the pathway was submerged. Many streams feed water into the lake, but there are no outlets for the water to recede. According to Mishra, evaporation is not enough to control the level of water and in monsoons, some of the temples too get flooded.

The lake is unique as it has two parts with different chemical compositions -- a neutral outer area with pH 7 and an alkaline inner area with pH 11. It is said that waters from these two parts do not mix and each houses distinct flora and fauna. The lake and the surrounding forests are home to many animals and birds, resident and migratory. While you're there, listen to chirping birds and watch the some of these feathered species laze around in the lake. As you soak in the experience -- it's possible to visualise history, geology, astronomy, ecology and mythology merge at this natural spectacle.

Around and about
We offered prayers at the one of the functional temples; spent some more time by the lakeside before tottering up to the rim. Bidding adieu to Anand, we walked along the 5-plus-km rim, notwithstanding the glaring sun, much to the amusement of the local cowboys. They mistook us for foreigners since most Indian visitors who came to Lonar didn't take such unconventional routes to view the crater. Viewing the crater from various angles was something we didn't want to miss. Tired, but excited we reached the Gomukh temple near the rim. Devotees visit the temple to take a dip in the perennial stream. Satisfied, we returned to the resort for yummy, simple fare and well-deserved siesta.

An evening walk around Lonar through the narrow lanes led us to Daitya Sudan temple. The walls of this Vishnu temple have beautiful carvings. At the peaceful temple premises, we enjoyed another beautiful sunset at Lonar. Our efforts to find more eating-places in village centre were wasted; we settled for the tried-and-tested
MTDC fare. Our last night at Lonar was wrapped up with a stargazing session on the open ground opposite the resort; the starry sky and the pitch-dark earth made for a surreal end to a magical experience in the
outdoors.

How to reach
State transport buses are available from Aurangabad, but hiring a vehicle will save time. In Lonar, every place can be covered on foot. The nearest airport is Aurangabad (122 km). The nearest railhead is Malkapur on the Mumbai-Bhusawal line.
Best time to visit
September to March
Where to stay
MTDC Guest House: Call 22845678 for details
Do you know
Lonar Crater is approximately 150 m (500 ft) deep, with an average diameter of almost
1,830 m (6,000 ft). The crater rim rises roughly 20 m (65 ft) above the surrounding land surface
Source: NASA