Lonar is a small town in Buldhana district, on the Deccan plateau of Maharashtra, and it is famous for one thing: a round crater about 1.83 km across that holds a saline, alkaline lake. The crater was made by a meteorite impact, and it is unusual because it sits entirely in basalt, the Deccan Traps lava. Estimates of its age vary widely, from roughly 50,000 to over 500,000 years, and researchers still argue about the figure. A British officer, C.J.E. Alexander, brought it to wider notice in 1823.
The lake is also a place of worship. Legend ties the name to the demon Lonasura, said to have been slain here by Vishnu, and the town centre holds the Daitya Sudan temple, a medieval Hemadpanthi structure of dark basalt. Around the rim and down on the crater floor are more temples, shrines and ruins, some still used, many roofless. The lake and surrounding forest form the Lonar Wildlife Sanctuary, and the lake was designated a Ramsar wetland in 2020.
This is not a place for a packed itinerary. Most visitors need half a day to a day: the town temple, a viewpoint on the rim, and, if the knees allow, the descent to the water at Gomukh and Kamalja Devi. Facilities are basic, the best weather is from October to March, and the closest airport and main railheads are a long road drive away, so plan it as a short stop on a wider Maharashtra route, perhaps with Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
Before you plan
Lonar at a glance
- Best months
- October to MarchOctober to March; November to February is most comfortable. April to May is very hot and June to September is wet and slippery.
- Ideal trip length
- Half a day to 1 dayHalf a day to 1 day; an overnight stay lets you see the crater in early light
- Airport
- Chhatrapati SambhajinagarChhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad, IXU), about 135-140 km away by road, roughly 2.5-3 hours
- Railway station
- No station in townNo station in town. Jalna (JNA) is about 85-90 km away; Partur, Malkapur and Shegaon are also used, around 90-100 km
- Getting around
- Town sights are close togetherTown sights are close together; hire a taxi or auto locally, and reach Lonar by taxi or MSRTC bus from Jalna or Sambhajinagar
- Daily budget
- Roughly ₹1,500-₹3,500 per person per…Roughly ₹1,500-₹3,500 per person per day including a simple stay, food and local transport; a taxi from the railhead adds substantially
- Senior comfort
- Mixed: the town temple is easyMixed: the town temple is easy, but the descent to the lake is a steep, uneven stair path with little shade; viewpoints on the rim are a good alternative
- Language
- Marathi locallyMarathi locally; Hindi widely understood; limited English outside the MTDC resort and tour operators
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Lonar: January, February, November, December. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Lonar itinerary
One good day
1 day in Lonar
Reach the crater early, when it is cooler and the light is soft, and begin at a rim viewpoint to take in the whole bowl. If mobility allows, walk the stepped path down to Gomukh and the shrines near the water, and sit at Kamalja Devi in the shade. Climb back before the heat builds and have lunch in town. In the afternoon, visit the Daitya Sudan temple in the town centre, then return to a rim viewpoint late in the day for the light on the lake.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Lonar
Arrive by midday and settle in near the lake. Visit the Daitya Sudan temple when the stone is warm and the town is quiet, then walk the rim viewpoints in the late afternoon. Birdwatchers can scan the shoreline from the rim for waterbirds in winter.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Lonar
Travel in from Jalna or Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, allowing most of the day for the road. Visit the Daitya Sudan temple before dusk and have an early dinner.
Day-by-day plan →
