Lonar
| Lonar लोणार | |
|---|---|
| city | |
  Lonar Location in Maharashtra, India | |
| Coordinates: 19°59′N 76°31′E / 19.98°N 76.52°ECoordinates: 19°59′N 76°31′E / 19.98°N 76.52°E | |
| Country |
 India |
| State | Maharashtra |
| District | Buldana |
| Elevation | 563 m (1,847 ft) |
| Population (2001) | |
| • Total | 20,082 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Marathi |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
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 / 19.967°N 76.500°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. | image_skyline = Lonar crater.jpg
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.[1]
Geography
Lonar is located at 19°59′06″N 76°31′23″E / 19.98500°N 76.52306°E.[2] 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,[3] 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.
Daityasudan Temple
One of the most exquisitely built, this temple is on the rim of the Bowl of Main crater. One needs to go inside the narrow lanes of the Town to visit this master piece. What comes in front widens your eyes & jaw drops by the beauty of it. There are many erotic sculptures around this temple. This is a Vishnu temple with Durga, Sun & Nrusimha on three remaining sides of Temple. The east being the Main entrance. This temple has a base of 7 layers of stone platforms. It is not very clear whether the top was left incomplete by the architects or it was demolished /damaged by natural cause.
Lonardhar Temple
This is again a Vishnu temple built on the 1 foot wide water stream which falls into a "Kund" constantly throughout the year. Its the stream which was caused by impact of the main meteor. Its still not clear how & where the water stream is sourced from by this natural water stream. The rim is at muc higher altitude than surrounding areas thereby making it another mystery.
Kamalaja Temple
This is at the south end of the Lake. Dedicated to Goddess Kamalaja. Every year there is a festival held by the devotees.
Motha Maruti
This is a 9 feet long big Hanuman Temple, believed to be part of the splinter that might have fallen nearby.
Ambar Lake
Flora & 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.
Notable features
The Lonar crater is the world's only salt water lake in basaltic rock, believed to have been caused by a meteorite hitting Earth around 52,000 years[4] ago. It is surrounded by forests with a large variety of birds, particularly peacocks, owls, red-wattled lapwings and ducks. The Daitya Sudan temple is carved in a style similar to Khajurao temples. It has an idol that is composed of a stone-like ore with a high metal content.
References
- ↑ http://www.theindia.info/travel/lonarcrater.htm
- ↑ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Lonar
- ↑ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ↑ Active methylotrophs in the sediments of Lonar Lake, a saline and alkaline ecosystem formed by meteor impact. The ISME Journal advance online publication, 17 June 2010
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Chikhali | Mehkar | Washim | |
| Sindkhed Raja, Bibi, Sultanpur |  |
Risod(Washim district) | ||
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| Partur,(Jalna district) | Mantha |
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